Bags made from old sailcloths that smell like the ocean breeze

Each item carries the stories of the sail it is made from

Each item carries the stories of the sail it is made from

Loyal to the principles of upcycling, a team of three young entrepreneurs started an innovative project in March of 2013. Using decommissioned polyester sailcloths, they transform them into useful accessories of high aesthetics and durability. Based in Corfu island in Greece, the start-up Salty Bag creates bags and travel items that carry in them the story of the sailcloth they are made from. The company’s moto is ‘Do not draw to highlight the shape, but design to showcase the story’.

The process

Choosing the sailcloth is the most important part, in order to maintain the bags’ special character and to bring out the interesting details. The cloths are mainly donated to the company from sailboat owners who receive a bag made from the donated cloth in return. Sailing boat associations in Greece and abroad also send their worn out sails. After the right cloths are selected, they are washed and dried. Depending on the bag’s design, the cloth is cut and sewn by hand, while the linings are put together and the leather details are added. The duration of the making process varies depending on the model, but it is generally slow since all products are handmade.

Ecological footprint

The cloths used are up to 40 years old and may come from boats that have participated in national and international sailing competitions. It is estimated that every year, 285 acres of cloth can no longer be used in boats and are thrown away, while Salty Bag reused 3,5 acres during its first year. Apart from the fact that the company mainly uses and upcycles a polyester material that would otherwise end-up in landfills, the rest of the materials are also carefully selected with environmental consciousness. The linings, made in Switzerland, are designed so that they can be returned to the factory and be reused, in order to never turn into waste. As far as the leather parts are concerned, they are by-products of the food industry.