What makes our One-of a Kind Bags, one-of-a-kind?
The best thing about our sailcloth, is that it comes from all over the world. We have sails sent from salty waters and others from fresh, some are used only once and others are aged. Imagine that your bag was what guided someone to safety during a terrible storm, or was a sail that brought together a young boy and his father, or even could have been a sail that traveled thousands of miles around the world...pretty cool to own a piece of that memory right? And its all transferred through an old recycled sail.
When a shipment of sails arrive we all gather around, excited to see the different markings, the unique numbers, and the smell of rustic dry water. Each design and marking is distinct in itself, which makes them their own personal character. Below I have listed parts of the sailcloth that vary from one sail to another and show the true uniqueness of each sailcloth.
The Telltale: The telltale is the string that is attached to the stay of the sails. It shows the amount of wind on the sails surface. This helps in sailing performance by using the telltale as a guide to trimming sails and steering the boat. Sometimes we see a beautiful pattern of a sail with the telltale attached. Not all sails have these, as some are taken off before they are shipped to us or others prefer not to use them. But we personally love the telltales because it shows the true adventure of the sail!
Type of Sailcloth: The Sailcloth also varies from sail to sail, ranging from colors and type. The main types of sailcloth are: Dacron, Kevlar, Spectra, Pentex, and Spinnaker. The most popular is Dacron, which is the white sails we see on most sailboats. Kevlar is a personal favorite, because it weaves extra strings for a more durable sail used in high performance sailing. Spinnaker is another popular sail because it comes in bright bold colors that really make some of our products pop.
Numbers: The numbers on the sailcloth could mean a variety of things. They could mean the hull number, a zip code of where the sailcloth was made, a state registration number, a certification number, a measurement, or just a random number that someone wanted on their sail. Most of our products come with numbers, because it adds a nautical feel to the bag as a whole.
Insignia: Insignias are especially unique to a competitive sailor because they show the class a sailor is in, ranging from sunfish to lighting. Just like in karate with belts, you work your way up the totem pole. Children and young adults usually start with sunfish and professionals are spotted with lightning insignias.
Our One-of-a-Kind pieces are not only fashionable and durable but special with their own individual story, from the origin of the fabric to the hours on the water. To see more of our One-of-a-Kind products, visit our website at www.ellavickers.com.