IT ALL STARTED IN 2015
after his most recent trip abroad. During his travels, our founder Darryl would continually come across fellow travellers with patches sewn to their bags to represent the places they had visited. He loved the idea, but the flags were a little “loud” for his liking. He wanted something he could carry that was subtle and could serve not only as a reminder of the travel experiences he’s had, but as an inspiration to continue to see the world.
SO WITH $200 TO HIS NAME,
Darryl set out to create a product that could do just that. After many questionable prototypes, the first version of the Clip and Country Rings was born. And with his last $50, Darryl launched a simple website called Traveller Collective from his studio apartment in Vancouver, Canada. For years, it grew through word-of-mouth from travellers around the world, while Darryl hand-made every Clip and Ring that was ordered.
ALTHOUGH TC'S GROWN OUT OF THAT STUDIO APARTMENT,
and the copy-cat companies continue to come and go, not a whole lot has changed. At the core of what we do has, and always will be, to commemorate and inspire travel. The experiences we’ve had, the people we’ve met, those are the things that matter.
THAT ALL COMES AT A COST THOUGH
The massive increase in tourism over the past 3 decades has heavily impacted our planet. As strongly as we believe all people should experience the benefits of travel, we know it must also be done sustainably. Together, our Mission is to reduce the negative impacts of tourism. To reduce our footprint, while protecting the environment and communities we have the privilege to experience.
