Mafia was founded in 2012 in Buenos Aires with a simple mission: build the ultimate bag for carrying wetsuits around the globe. What they discovered was that upcycled windsurfing sails—ultralight, water-resistant, and impossibly durable—made for the perfect material. No two bags are the same.
Today, Mafia operates out of California (their design studio is two blocks from our shop on 46th Ave) and has partnered with Patagonia Provisions, MoMA, and Stanford's Design School. Every bag comes with a lifetime repair warranty—they're committed to helping you buy less, but buy better.
Quick Pick: Which Mafia Bag Is Right for You?
- Beach day / Farmers market → Corse Tote ($75)
- Everyday carry / Work laptop → Discover Pack ($206)
- Surf travel / Wet gear → Deep Blue ($234)
- Weekend trip / Overnight → Tubo Duffle ($238)
- Minimal daily essentials → Sunny Pocket ($45)
- Ultra-light / Small pack → C Pack ($128)
How Mafia Started: Kites, Sails, and a Move From Buenos Aires
Marcos Mafia was the Argentine national kitesurfing champion at 22. Between competitions, he accumulated piles of retired kitesurf sails — too worn to fly, too durable to throw away. His sister Paz, an engineer, looked at the same pile and saw material. In 2012, they started cutting bags out of those sails on a table in Buenos Aires.
The first product was a wetsuit bag. Marcos had spent years traveling the kitesurfing circuit and couldn't find a bag that handled the plane-to-beach-to-plane cycle without falling apart or smelling terrible. Sail fabric solved both problems — it's naturally water-resistant, ultralight, and doesn't absorb odor the way nylon and canvas do.
After raising $25,000 through crowdfunding, they moved the entire operation to San Francisco in 2014. Their first workshop was on Clement Street in the Richmond. Now their studio is on 46th Avenue — literally two blocks from our shop. When we need to restock, Marcos sometimes walks the bags over.
Every bag is cut and sewn in that studio. The sails come from donations — windsurfing clubs, sailing schools, yacht clubs along the coast. No two bags use the same panel of sail, which means no two bags look the same. The color, the stitching patterns, the wear marks — it's all from the sail's previous life. Marcos calls it "the story the bag already has before you buy it."
The Full Mafia Bags Lineup
Discover Pack
The go-to daypack. Top pocket, padded laptop sleeve, water bottle holder. Made from a combination of kitesurf and boat sails—ultralight, water-resistant, built to last. Inspired by original mountaineering packs but designed for urban and coastal life.
Deep Blue Bag
The most technical pack in the lineup, designed by Yves Béhar (advisory board member of Sustainable Surf). Features a water-resistant pocket for wetsuits and gym gear, bottom loop for hang drying, waterproof zippers, and a secret stash pocket for keys/wallet/passport. This is the surf travel bag.
Tubo Duffle
The weekender. Made from strong, lightweight off-white sailcloth with occasional pops of color. Fully lined water-resistant interior, single interior pocket, one exterior pocket. Roomy enough to make you want to extend your trip.
W Pack
Mid-size backpack with three front pockets, large main compartment, interior laptop sleeve, and key fob. The geometry is as unique as the sails it came from. Ultra light, water resistant, and built to hold your most precious cargo.
C Pack
The minimalist's pack. Smallest backpack in the lineup with velcro flap for extra capacity, inner pocket, and padded back support. "Own less. Live more." Just like a small sail on high winds gets you moving fast—carrying less makes for lighter journeys.
Corse Tote
Traditional tote made resilient. Strong climbing rope handles, recycled dacron body. Perfect size for farmers market runs, beach days, or daily errands. Simple, sleek, indestructible.
ELI Bag
The everyday tote, evolved. Cross-body strap for when you're on the move, two shorter handles for easy carry. Two external see-through pockets (kite fabric) hold your basics. Whether it's laptop to work or picnic to the park—the ELI is your partner.
All In Bag
The ideal pouch, built from customer feedback. Slim profile, fits all the everyday carry basics. Optional shoulder strap for hands-free mode—a Japanese-inspired feature. Perfect for quick errands or as an organizer inside a larger bag.
Sunny Pocket
The fanny pack, reimagined. Soft nylon ripstop with detachable, adjustable buckle-strap. Wear it cross-body or classic hip-style. Ultralight, ultrabright, and guaranteed to add a pop of color to any fit.
Mini Mafia
The stuff sack. Roll-top closure with quick release buckle. Ultralight, water-resistant, made from kitesurf and boat sails. Perfect for keeping lunch, valuables, or random gear organized and protected inside a larger pack.
🐬 Pemulis × Mafia Collaboration
We worked with our neighbors at Mafia to create a limited-run Sunny Pocket using vintage 90s windsurfing sails. Each one is completely unique.
Why Mafia?
Upcycled materials: Every bag is made from donated windsurfing sails, kitesurf sails, or boat sails. Water-resistant, ultralight, and built to last decades.
Made in California: All products are cut and sewn locally. Their studio is literally two blocks from our shop in the Outer Sunset.
Lifetime warranty: Mafia repairs any product, forever. They're not interested in selling you another bag—they want the one you have to last.
No two bags are alike: Expect variations in color, original sail stitching, zipper pull rope color, and accent details. That's the point.
