Earlier this summer I visited Portland, Maine on a press trip at the fantastic new (and first) boutique hotel in Portland, The Press Hotel (blog post coming soon). During my free time wandering the streets of this charming seaport city I saw a sign down by the harbor for Sea Bags Maine.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1045](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-8moyd2.jpeg)
I had forgotten that Sea Bags, which makes colorful totes from recycled sails and rope handles is based in Portland.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1040](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-31gCR8.jpeg)
I wandered down a dusty wharf road replete with pick up trucks and fishy smells.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1041](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-nrNtPj.jpeg)
Abandoned building with boarded windows and peeling paint has a great patina.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1069](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-hS5z6o.jpeg)
The Sea Bags shop and studio at Custom House Wharf, Portland, Maine.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1048](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-HTgf5d.jpeg)
The front section of the building offers lots of different styles of Sea Bags for sale.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1054](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-OKu3rM.jpeg)
I find the rope handles a bit too clunky, but they’re sturdy and authentic.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1055 - Version 2](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-OJWEoJ.jpeg)
Behind the racks of Sea Bags I spied sewing machines and supplies.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1056](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-dQgBkB.jpeg)
Women at the machines were constructing Sea Bags from sailcloth.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1058](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-GIu2LB.jpeg)
And sewing sailcloth appliqué designs, like this sailboat.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1061](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-e3RgsZ.jpeg)
You can trade used sails for bags through the Sea Bags recycling program.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1062](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-ty5T9m.jpeg)
A metallic gold star Sea Bag design.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1063](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-QLtf5B.jpeg)
Industrial size spools of New England ropes in natural and navy.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1068](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-n_FhW8.jpeg)
And more ropes.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1057](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-CWyGzt.jpeg)
Bins of materials
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1044](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-q41tFu.jpeg)
More Sea Bags accessories.
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine IMG_1071](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-Q2eA15.jpeg)
Read about Sea Bags’ newest retail stores in Rockport, MA and Cape Cod in The Boston Globe.
• • •
Shop Sea Bags at StyleCarrot partner ']);">J.Crew >
![Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine Designer Spotlight: Visiting Sea Bags In Portland Maine](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/126/1263618/designer-spotlight-visiting-sea-bags-in-portl-L-q5DnCB.gif)