Handbags and Totes

The Sak vs Sea Bags

The short answer: Choose The Sak if you want an everyday bag with a craft story: hand-crocheted styles in recycled yarn and leather from gold-certified tanneries, from a certified B Corporation, across hobos, crossbodies and totes.

The Sak
Best For Crochet Craft
  • Best for Hand-crocheted and leather everyday bags
  • Made by Crochet styles made by hand by artisans in Bali
  • Materials Suede, leather, woven and recycled crochet yarn
  • Styles Hobos, totes, satchels, crossbodies, slings, clogs
  • Personalisation Not stated
  • Certifications B Corp since 2022; LWG gold-certified leather
  • Returns 30 days from ship date (US); cost depends on rewards tier
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Sea Bags
Best For Recycled Sail Totes
  • Best for Handmade totes with a sailing story
  • Made by Hand-sewn in Maine from retired sails
  • Materials Recycled sailcloth, US-made rope handles
  • Styles Totes, handbags, crossbodies, wristlets, duffels
  • Personalisation Custom Design and monogram pieces
  • Certifications GreenCircle stated for recycled content
  • Returns 60 days on ready-made; custom final once approved
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How The Sak and Sea Bags compare

Craft and materials

The Sak's crochet bags are made by hand by artisans in Bali, using Repreve and Oceanworks yarn from recycled ocean-bound plastic and fishing net, and its leather comes from Leather Working Group gold-certified tanneries. Sea Bags cuts and sews every bag in its Maine workshop from retired sailcloth, finished with US-made rope handles, and keeps character marks such as stitching on purpose. Both turn recycled material into the bag itself; the difference is texture, soft crochet and leather against sturdy sailcloth.

Styles and personalisation

The Sak offers the wider wardrobe: hobos, totes, satchels, crossbodies, slings and wallets, plus Bolinas clogs and Everly sandals. Sea Bags centres on totes, with handbags, crossbodies, wristlets, bucket bags and travel pieces, and adds Custom Design and monogrammed totes made with its design team. For a one-of-a-kind gift, Sea Bags is the brand that offers it.

Returns and certification

The Sak has been a certified B Corporation since 2022, and its US returns run 30 days from the ship date, with return costs depending on your Sak Rewards tier. Sea Bags allows 60 days to return or exchange ready-made bags and covers first-year repairs with shipping included, though custom pieces are final once the mockup is approved. Sea Bags ships to US addresses only, and orders on The Sak's Canadian site are final sale.

The Verdict

Choose The Sak if you want an everyday bag with a craft story: hand-crocheted styles in recycled yarn and leather from gold-certified tanneries, from a certified B Corporation, across hobos, crossbodies and totes. Choose Sea Bags if you want a tote with a sailing past: each one hand-sewn in Maine from a retired sail, with custom designs and 60 days to return ready-made bags. Join Sak Rewards before ordering, or start with an in-stock Sea Bags tote.

Read the full reviews

The Sak

The Sak

7.8/10

Hand-crocheted and leather handbags made since 1989 by a certified B Corporation, with crochet styles in recycled ocean-bound yarn. Shop now.

Pros

  • Hand-Crocheted Since 1989: The Sak's crochet bags are made by hand by artisans in Bali, and the brand has been a certified B Corporation since 2022.
  • Recycled Yarn, Certified Leather: Crochet styles use Repreve and Oceanworks yarn made from recycled ocean-bound plastic and fishing net, and leather comes from Leather Working Group gold-certified tanneries.
  • Well Rated Where It Sells Most: On Amazon the Sequoia Leather Hobo holds 4.6 across 2,501 ratings and the Los Feliz Large Tote 4.6 across 787.

Cons

  • Free returns depend on your Sak Rewards tier, so Welcome and Tier 1 members may see a return fee at checkout — worth knowing before you order two colours to compare.
  • Orders placed on the Canadian site are final sale, so Canadian shoppers should choose carefully or order from a stockist that accepts returns.
Read the The Sak review →
seabags

seabags

7.9/10

Totes, handbags and duffels hand-sewn in Maine from retired sailcloth, with rope handles and 60-day returns on ready-made bags. Shop now.

Pros

  • Made by Hand in Maine: Every splice and stitch is done in the company's Maine workshop, turning 8,000 to 10,000 retired sails a year into totes, handbags and duffels.
  • Recycled at Real Scale: Sea Bags reports more than 1.5 million pounds of material diverted from disposal since 1999, and states GreenCircle certification for the recycled content of its totes and bucket bags.
  • Sixty Days to Decide: Ready-made bags can be returned for a refund or exchanged within 60 days, and first-year repairs are covered, shipping included.

Cons

  • Custom designs become final once the mockup is approved and personalised pieces once the order is placed, so review the Visualizer preview closely, or choose a ready-made bag to keep the full 60-day window.
  • Delivery is US-only, free ground shipping starts at $500, and made-to-order pieces can take up to two to three weeks to ship, so order gifts early in the season.
Read the seabags review →

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