Treeline Collective provides “Products with Purpose for a Life of Adventure”. We’re a brand that puts our people and planet first. We want to encourage an outdoor lifestyle to cultivate mental health and wellbeing for a happy planet. Every product in our collection inspires outdoor living for a happy planet. Our adventure began with Caro Arcila, Founder of Treeline Collective, who left her hometown in Colombia at the age of seventeen. Escaping civil war, she settled as a refugee in North America. With a strong desire to make a positive impact in the world, Caro dedicated a lifetime to peace-building, children’s rights, environmental conservation and conflict transformation. She spent years supporting child soldiers in Colombia, indigenous communities in the Andes Mountains, and subsequently in the Amazon Rainforest. The opportunity to work alongside individuals and cultures from around the world also allowed Caro to meet many inspirational creators and artisans. Through work and travel, she began to develop a vision for an inclusive brand that paid its people fairly and pursued higher standards for sustainable business. Treeline Collective was born with the idea to collaborate and design products that encourage a deeper connection to the world around us. Whether it’s a cozy blanket for a night around a campfire listening to the crackles of the oak trees, or a piece of silver jewelry that reminds you of the time you scaled a jagged mountain ridge, every piece in our collection has a unique story to tell and is the perfect companion for any adventure.
Question: How are you supporting other local businesses?
Answer: From hiring to printing, I do everything we can locally. I import products, but 100% of the services I buy are from local businesses. Our clothing line will be printed locally by Squamish Screen Printing and Wind Studio prints all our decals. I use Sea to Sky Courier to ship all of our products from YVR to our store. I’m working with My Networks copywriting and Level Up Web Design on our new website. I work with a Canadian co-operative (The Cooperators) for my business insurance.
A lot of my focus is how local businesses can support each other to thrive. When COVID-19 hit, I organized the “Ultimate Squamish Challenge” to support local businesses, raise awareness, and extend our reach on social media.
Question: What social and environmental practices are you proud of?
Answer: My customers want to come into my store and know that the products are ethically and sustainably made. products are imported, but I source ethically and I work with small artisans and small businesses around the world. Many of my products support women entrepreneurs, and women in other parts of the world need an alternative means of income to support themselves and their families. For instance, the clothing company we work with hires many single mothers over 40 who otherwise wouldn’t have much economic opportunity where they live. In order to ensure everything I source is ethically produced, I visit the people and places to make sure there are no children working in the facility, that they are reducing their environmental impact, that everyone is getting paid fair prices.
I believe connection is more important than consumption and reinvest our profits into projects that combat social and environmental issues. Treeline is a member of 1% For The Planet, so we’ve committed to donate at least 1% of our profits to environmental organizations. I used to live in the rainforest in the Amazon and I saw firsthand how quickly it’s being destroyed. I support environmental conservation organizations around the world; each year we work with a different organization. Last year we donated to One Tree Planted to support reforestation. We have a new line of product where a portion of proceeds will be donated – an ocean themed t-shirt that supports ocean clean up, and a tree themed towel that supports forest conservation.
I believe that adventures are for everybody, so I work really hard to make sure that everybody feels welcome and represented, from the models and images we use, to collaborating with Colour The Trails and hoping to start collaborating with Indigenous Women in the Outdoors (both local organizations that everyone should be following!). Eventually we hope to able to run events and bring people together. I want to make the outdoors inclusive for everybody. I’m hoping to do workshops and sport clinics, partnering with other organizations in the community. I’m also integrating Diversity & Inclusion into my hiring. I’m currently hiring a student, and I reached out to Squamish Settlement Services to see if I can hire a new immigrant before opening the opportunity up to the general public. I was a refugee and I want to offer employment to new refugees or minorities in the community.
Feature image credit: @flint_feather_photography
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