San Juan Canvas - Recycled SailCloth Bags handmade in the US

Posted: August 14th, 2022 // Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington USA // Editorial Dispatch Piece for MakersFinders

It’s Saturday August 1st, 2020. After a fairly unpredictable last 6 months, I took a slight solace in the fact that I could get to join my father on his 30ft sailboat for a week on the water in Washington State’s fabled San Juan Islands. 

Some background info - In 1998, my dad’s father, Jack Wilskey, or simply gramps. as I used to call him, purchased a 30ft 1971 Coronado Sailboat, named the Pebble II. All of life, gramps worked in the Maritime industry and designed tug boats as his livelihood. Unfortunately, gramps’ sailing years were limited, as in ’07 he passed away with lung complications. Before then though, he and my father had time to share on the water in this special activity and my father soon took over payments for the boat’s annual moorage. I can remember endless summers bouncing from island to island, cove to cove and harbor to harbor throughout Washington’s Puget Sound and San Juan Islands.

Prior to this trip, it had been a good 4 or 5 years since my last time aboard the Pebble II - mainly due to either summer internships, or living and working in NYC the last two years. So, as my father and I got off the Washington ferry and arrived at beautiful Friday Harbor, WA, I could sense this trip would have a special place in my heart. Throughout our trip to get to the Pebble II, my father and I brainstormed gift Ideas for my mothers upcoming birthday on August 9th, he mentioned how he had heard through a friend who was previously at Friday Harbor this summer, there was a shop that took upcycled Sails and turned them into duffle bags, wine bags, and luggage, hatch covers you name it…all of which are unique and one-of-one. Just from hearing my father’s initial description, I was captivated by this idea and even more, knew he and my mother would be too - sailing and the water has been around our family for as long as I can remember. 

My father couldn’t recollect the name of this shop, but luckily, after a quick internet search by his tech-savvy son, we had found our culprit - San Juan Canvas and even crazier we discovered this shop was right up at the top of the guest dock where we were first moored on that first Saturday of August!… Unfortunately, when we arrived up there, we saw a sign on the door that the makers were offsite and wouldn’t be returning to the shop until that coming Tuesday - long after we’d be out of Friday Harbor, exploring the San Juans on the Coronado. That said, though the shop was closed, the windows had no blinds - so peaking in at this operation was open and wow were we captivated by this workspace. Gazing above, I noticed dozens of beautifully crafted bags of all sizes hanging from the ceiling, while below were large worktables, scattered with sewing machines, tools, and different colors of beautiful fabric spooled up. After peering through that window, we knew we were starting at an epic gift for my mother, a sentimental product for my father, and a potential epic maker story of such a radical niche product and idea from a small business from a place near and dear to me and my family… Though they were closed on our first attempt, my dad and I were beyond stern (sailing pun intended) in the fact that we knew we’d be back when the doors were open. Luckily, our week’s plan and my return route involved me jumping back on that Friday Harbor Ferry, so we agreed on coming back either on that coming Friday or Saturday. To go the extra mile in ensuring they’d be around, I decided to pop an email to the shop that Thursday using the info I found online and that Friday Morning, I heard back from Lauren - one of the owners…success! After letting Lauren know about our desire to find a gift for my mom and also letting her know a bit of what I do for MakersFinders, she let me know they’d be open most of Friday and a part of Saturday, prior to when her husband and also Co-Owner of San Juan Canvas, Derek would be competing in a sailing race. 

Upon reading her email that Friday morning, and discussing over with my dad, we decided we should play it safe and smart and get there that Friday of the 7th. So after pulling up the anchor from the relatively close Harbor we were staying in that previous night, and brewing some coffee, we made the trek back to Friday harbor. There, in a twist of fate we were lucky to find a slot for the Pebble II at the VERY popular marina in fairly quick fashion… Once we tied up the Pebble II safely, we both threw on our masks and made our way to the end of the marina, up the steel ramp and right to the door of San Juan Canvas. There to greet us, was none other than Lauren! After introducing ourselves and staring at this beautiful shop/workspace we had previously only gotten a partial glimpse through the window of, I could sense this was a special shop and that we’d not only be getting something for my mother, but likely some keepsakes for ourselves (that we’d obviously wait to use until after my mothers bday lol). 

Lauren was wonderful to let me walk around the shop and take pictures, all the while she was letting us know a bit about her background and the history of San Juan Canvas. According to her, the shop has been around since 1979 and was originally founded by Peter and Susan Risser before another owner took over in 2006. Then, in 2009, Lauren and her husband Derek, both former school teachers from Carmel, CA had taken over the shop in 2009 from the previous owners and fallen In love with its location and amazing proximity to one of  the most beautiful and popular Harbors in all of the San Juans. Both have affinity for boats and the water. Her husband Derek loves sailing while she admitted to enjoying the pace and vibe of motorboats. Whatever the case, their shop’s view overlooks boats of all variety and provides a perfect workspace to stay inspired in their craft.  

As I peered through this beautiful workshop, Lauren pointed out the vintage Singer sewing machines in the shop that she and Derek are both obsessed. Lauren adds: 

“the small zig zag machine is probably from the 1920's and the long arm [machine] is from 1960. They never fail and believe or not, Singer still has parts for all of their machines. The new machines do not compare in quality to the old ones. We especially love the Singers because they are American made and part of our country's history. 

As we found out, all the manufacturing and work in making these awesome one-of-a-kind bags went down in that very room we were standing in. Though Lauren claims she and Derek have “No great creative process.” Through their work, they “try to honor the sail and keep any hardware, numbers, logos, or any other points of character. She adds that aside from the work to honor the sail, they “like to use different colors, numbers, embroidery or anything nautical to make each one different and unique. Old sails, remnants of canvas, rope and old hardware are the basis for [their] bags” Lying behind Lauren’s desk, was a map of the San Juan Islands, a plethora of different fabrics, and perhaps most notably, a beautifully marked canvas that displayed a myriad of logos of different sails. My father, an impassioned sailor and son of a long-time maritimer, looked like a kid in a candy store at this moment. I decided this was the perfect time and place to get a new duffel for the gym and other daytime adventures so selected a beautifully marked bag. My dad found an epic tote bag and medium size duffel for my mother, in addition to a large luggage sized bag for himself and his long duration summer trips on the sail boat…only seems fitting!

In a normal year, where pandemics aren’t on the global menu, Lauren let me know she and her husband were regularly whipping out a bunch of new bags each and every week. Though they aren’t currently for sale on the internet, due to limited bandwidth and an already large demand for their bags, San Juan Canvas’ presence is very much felt throughout the San Juans. In normal years, they’d be setting up stations with their bags for sale at the slew of different harbors that scatter this beautiful archipelago that is the gem of the San Juan islands in the Pacific Northwest. 

One final bit about San Juan Canvas we discovered from Lauren is that they accept trade-ins of old sails - whoever brings in an old sail will get free bags, dodgers, totes, hatch covers…you name it!… made for them, in return for allowing SJC to keep the remaining material.  This was particularly awesome news for my old man, who knows, eventually, he’ll want to get the Pebble II sails replaced but admittedly recognized letting go would be hard…. This way he’d always have a keepsake. 

After a week back on the water, the same water I spent many summers growing up and sailing around and exploring the many islands of the San Juans with my family, one final stop at such a magnificent shop only felt fitting and so right for a gift idea for my mother (well done, dad!). 

Even more memorable was the incredibly kind and welcoming service and conversation Lauren offered us during our time in the shop… I thoroughly believe that some of the world’s most Incredible products have incredible makers and San Juan Canvas has only reaffirmed that belief. If you ever find yourself in Friday Harbor Washington, do yourself a solid a pay Lauren and Derek a visit at San Juan Canvas.

You can find them at:

271 Front Street 

Port of Friday Harbor

PO Box 752

Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Email - Thecrew@sanjuancanvas.com 

Online at SanJuanCanvas.com