Is the fabric a real sail or a sail-print design?

A real, retired sail. Panels often retain visible sail numbers, batten pockets or tell-tale windows from their working life.

Are sailcloth totes waterproof?

Sailcloth is highly weather-resistant by design, though seams and hardware are the more common points of water ingress on any bag — ours are bound and double-sewn to minimise this.

How much does a sailcloth tote bag cost?

Ready-made pieces range from $70 for smaller pouches to $400 for large totes, depending on size and sail material. Custom builds are quoted individually.

Will my tote look exactly like the photo?

Ready-to-ship totes are sold as shown — each is one piece of a unique sail. Custom builds are designed around your chosen or provided material, so exact appearance varies by sail.

How do I clean a sailcloth tote bag?

Wipe it down with a damp cloth and mild soap rather than machine washing. Sailcloth resists staining well, but avoid soaking the bound seams for extended periods, as this can affect the binding tape over time.

NSW Sustainability Award 2026 Nominee — Circular Economy

Sailcloth Tote Bag

Cut From a Real, Retired Sail

Not a sail-print fabric. Not a factory reproduction. Every RECOLAB sailcloth tote bag is cut from an actual retired sail — Dacron, laminate or spinnaker cloth that once caught real wind on real water — and hand-finished with marine-grade hardware in our Tasmanian workshop.

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Design a Custom Tote

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What Makes It a Genuine Sailcloth Tote

Real Sail Panels, Real Reinforcement

Retired Racing & Cruising Sails

Sourced from Tasmanian and mainland yacht sails — including genuine race sails, so panels can carry visible sail numbers, tell-tales or maker's marks.

Marine-Grade Hardware

All clips, D-rings and buckles are marine-grade and UV protected, matched to the fabric's own weather resistance.

Auto-Industry Webbing, Double-Sewn Seams

Straps use auto-industry grade webbing; every seam is double-sewn and bound with polyester binding tape for years of everyday use.

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Sailcloth Totes Ready to Ship

Each tote below is cut from a single, unique sail — once it sells, that exact material is gone.

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Specs

What You Get With Every Tote

Detail

Specification

Material

Genuine retired sailcloth (Dacron, laminate or spinnaker)

Hardware

Marine-grade, UV protected

Webbing

Auto-industry grade

Seams

Double-sewn, polyester binding tape

Origin

Handmade in Coningham, Tasmania

Shipping

Free, Australia-wide

Price range

$70 (pouches) – $400 (large totes)

Sizing

Choosing the Right Size

Because every tote is cut from a real sail panel, dimensions vary slightly piece to piece rather than following a fixed size chart — but most fall into three general categories. Everyday totes typically sit around 40–48cm wide and 30–37cm high, roomy enough for a laptop, groceries or a change of clothes. Smaller pouches and clutches run closer to 20–25cm, suited to essentials, cosmetics or as a padded pouch for cables and chargers. Larger weekend totes push past 48cm wide for overnight or beach use.

Each listing in our shop notes the actual dimensions of that specific piece, since two totes cut from different sails will rarely be identical. If you need a specific size for a specific purpose, our Build Your Bag service lets you specify exact dimensions.

three sailcloth totes side by side showing size range — pouch, everyday tote, weekend tote

Custom Option

Want Your Tote Cut From a Specific Sail?

Send us your own retired sail — a race win, a family boat, a boat you've sold — and we'll design a tote around it, with optional personalisation like initials, numbers or a logo.

Build Your Sailcloth Tote

FAQ