Bracelets to Give When You Travel!

Whenever I travel somewhere, one of the most important things to me is to make a connection with that place, and not only take a piece of it with me back home, but leave a piece of myself there as well. If you take a look at my wrists, they are often full of bracelets; some ratty and worn-down, others shiny and jingling, but most of all, they’re always changing.

That’s because when I travel, I not only collect bracelets to bring back for my friends, but I give them away to people I meet along the way too. I used to not do it on purpose, it typically happened because someone said they liked my bracelet, then asked if they could have it, and let’s be serious, how can I really say no?

Then I met someone with a similar story named Joseph (except he was the bracelet-wanter), who actually took the idea of sharing a bracelet with the people you meet when you travel, and turned it into an actual thing, called Trrtlz.

Trrtlz are little bracelets made up of small beads in the shape of various animals, in various colors. The idea behind them is that you choose the animal and color that represents you, and wear them along your adventures. But, they aren’t meant to be kept! They are meant to be shared like a sentimental currency for gift-giving! That means if you meet someone during your travels that really leaves an impression, you can give them one of your Trrtlz bracelets to remember you by.

When Joseph told me his own story of receiving his first bracelet from someone abroad, I laughed because of how similar the exact situation usually is for me. He had met a girl in Italy who wore a bunch of bracelets like I do, and among them was a simple string with a turtle charm on it. Joseph said he asked her numerous times if he could have her bracelet (but let’s be serious Joseph, that’s just a cute way of flirting), and finally when it was time for him to go home, she caved and gave him the little bracelet to remember her by.

Joseph turned that gesture and idea of gift-giving into something that everyone can do, and since I’m a huge fan of giving gifts, especially from my travels, we came up with the idea to work together so that I can send souvenirs from each of the places I travel to!

The souvenir is a postcard from the country I’m in, and a Trrtlz bracelet with an animal that I feel represents the area. Three (or more!) will be sent to people that are chosen from my Instagram giveaway, as a gesture of sharing a little piece of travel with others, and inspiring people to think about going on a trip themselves.

I’ll also be carrying along extra Trrtlz bracelets to give to the people I meet and interact with on my way, as a symbol of giving back a little piece of me, for the piece of the place I take back with me!