Every now and then a bag comes along that starts a conversation. For us, the Boatkin started dozens of them — usually in the middle of a grocery store.
The bag that started it all
It began in the fall of 2025. My wife was looking for a handbag with classic styling in a soft, fall-tonal color — something casual and easy that would carry her right through the season. She came across an online listing for a Boatkin in natural canvas with brown straps, and it was exactly the look she'd had in mind.
She'd actually seen news stories about the original, handmade Boatkins — the ones crafted from repurposed L.L.Bean boat-and-tote bags — and had been intrigued ever since. There was something about the style: unstructured, a little homemade-looking, relaxed in a way most handbags aren't. It didn't try too hard, and that was the whole charm. So she ordered one.
Then the questions started
At the time, we had no plans to carry these bags. This was simply my wife's new favorite — her go-to early-fall handbag.
But she couldn't get through a normal week without someone stopping her to ask about it. In the grocery store. At restaurants. Out running errands. The same question, over and over: Where did you get that, and where can I buy one?
When that many people go out of their way to ask about a bag a stranger is carrying, you start to pay attention.
Listening before we leapt
We've always believed that customer feedback should lead the way when you're deciding whether to branch into new territory — so before we committed, we listened. In October 2025 we began carrying a few Boatkins in our retail store here on St. Simons, and gradually added them to our online shop. Through the fall, we took our time and tried several different versions to see what our customers actually responded to.
The feedback came back remarkably consistent on two points: give us more color options, and find a way to bring the price into the $100 range instead of the higher prices that were out there at the time.
So that's exactly what we set out to do.
Building a better Boatkin
Since then, we've found wonderful suppliers who've helped us bring the Boatkin to life in a way that answers both of those requests. Today we carry two distinct styles:
- The original style — the classic, unstructured canvas boat tote with a gold turn-lock, in 7 colors.
- The zipper-top style — the same relaxed silhouette with a secure zip top and longer handles, also in 7 colors.
Two styles, fourteen colorways, and a price that finally makes sense. It's the Boatkin our customers asked for.
Come see them
What started as one bag my wife couldn't stop getting stopped about has become one of our favorite things to share with customers — in the shop and online. If you've been curious about the Boatkin, we'd love for you to see them in person the next time you're on St. Simons, or to help you find your color online.
Sometimes the best additions to a shop don't come from a trend report. They come from a bag you love, and a whole lot of people asking where you got it.