Introducing Trip patches

For a long time, we dreamed of creating a custom Thread Caravan passport or stamp system — something tangible for our frequent travelers to remember each journey by. We wanted a keepsake that would hold meaning and evoke memories of their adventures.

Finally, one of our frequent guests and favorite creative collaborators, Monica from Bricolage Press, the idea of trip patches. It was the perfect fit. Patches pay homage to our textile roots and offer a meaningful way to co-create with artisans around the world. Launching them as part of our 10th anniversary feels like a beautiful way to celebrate both our past and our ongoing commitment to enriching the experiences we offer.

Beginning this year, each guest will receive a custom-designed patch for the trip they attend. We hope these patches find a home on well-loved travel bags or adventure jackets (shoutout Girl Scouts!).

To kick off the collection, we invited artist Tess Rubinstein to design our first series of patches. We’ve long admired Tess’s hand-drawn style, a playful ode to nature. She created designs for our Iceland, Oaxaca, Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia trips. Here’s what she shared about the inspiration behind each one:

“The patches all depict motifs rooted in craft, place, and the handmade. When designing these, I aimed for imagery that could be read on multiple levels.

Peru 

In the Peru patch, two hands join to form a steep path, an abstraction of the mountainous Andes. We see the silhouette of a Quechua woman wearing traditional dress leading an alpaca up the hillside. A line connects each element, shifting from rope, to trail, to woven thread, highlighting the interconnectivity between the textile processes, the landscape, and the cultural traditions of Peru. 

Bolivia 

For the Bolivia patch, I gravitated towards the triangle as a symbol with multiple interpretations: a representation of balance and unity, a graphic mountain peak, or even a tent. I included the silhouettes of alpacas, women trekking, and a sun at the peak. 

Oaxaca

The Oaxaca patch features a traditional Oaxacan ruin, an agave plant, and a ceramic vessel. In the center we see a sun, highlighting the warmth of the Oaxacan landscape and craft traditions. 

Guatemala

The design for the Guatemala patch functions in multiple orientations. In the first direction, we see the profile of a mountain or volcano at the base. When turned on its side, the land reveals itself as a face… a nod to Guatemalan folklore that volcanoes are sacred beings.   

Iceland

For the Iceland patch, I chose to highlight Icelandic sheep as the primary source of wool in Iceland, essential for textile traditions. I like the spiraling horn as a shape that’s visually powerful and symbolically relevant, reminiscent of a pathway, as well as a symbol for the creative process.”

For our Panama patches, we collaborated with our Guna artisan partners to create appliqué patch designs using the same embroidery technique found in their iconic mola textiles, but in a miniature format.

For our Japan, India, and Morocco patches, Thread Caravan founder Caitlin took the lead, experimenting with original designs inspired by the textures, colors, and cultural elements of each destination.

Thread Caravan frequent traveler Monica Medeiros took her patches — along with her Thread Caravan artist’s coat — to the Eastern Sierras of California for a sweet patch embroidery session.

As we slowly roll out this concept, we hope our travelers find joy in celebrating our journeys in a way that feels personal and creative with these collectable patches.