The story behind the Pilgrim Pouch began in 2011 when my dad Albert and I hiked the Camino de Santiago medieval pilgrimage route in northern Spain. We walked in memory of my mom Lillian and her two sisters, Arlene & Virginia, who all passed away within seven weeks of each other in 2010.
On the trek we realized the need for a small & lightweight pouch that would be handy to hold essentials. When Dad and I returned to Spain in 2013 to walk the Camino again, our gear preparation included searching for a lightweight carry bag. After not finding what we wanted on the market, I created the first version of the Pouch.
The Pilgrim Pouch proved to be invaluable on the trail and while sightseeing. Once home from the Camino, I developed the Pilgrim Pouch into a commercial product that would be perfect for any adventure, whether hiking, biking, traveling, or strolling around town.
The manufacturing process involved many steps, including getting a patent & trademarks in place, finding a U.S. manufacturer, and choosing eco-friendly fabrics. The Pilgrim Pouch first debuted in 2015 and featured my silkscreened design of the logo, a medieval style boot that represents the countless walkers who have trekked the Camino over the centuries.
Since then, the Pilgrim Pouch line has expanded with additional designs. New features include pockets, zippers made with recycled materials, & “ex-voto” zipper pulls, which were inspired by my art studies of ex-voto healing objects that pilgrims left at shrines during the Middle Ages.
See how it all started on the original Pilgrim Pouch Peregrinations blog.