You might be surprised by how many emails we get each day from people with products and businesses they’d like me to review. I glance at each email, but most of them don’t interest me enough to contact the businesses. A while ago, Micah from Beyond the Backpack contacted me and when looking at his website and products, I liked what I read and saw. He sent me a few samples of both shirts and bracelets, so I wanted to let you know about them.

Here’s what Beyond the Backpack says about its mission:

“Beyond the Backpack’s sole purpose is to help save animals. The effects humanity is having on the ecosystem is leaving many animals in serious peril. Currently 100% of the profits from every sale are donated to animal conservation and the fight to save endangered wildlife. Ethical clothing and sustainable fashion driving our mission. By sourcing fair trade clothing it’s a full process of giving back. We’re serious about making a difference. It’s not an advertising strategy, or marketing ploy. It’s the whole point. And that’s why we’ve committed to giving.”

I asked Micah why he started the business. He told me he’d always been very passionate about animals, and knew he wanted to work in the field at some point in his life, but wasn’t sure how or when. Beyond the Backpack was an idea he came up with when he was volunteering in Belize with monkeys and manatees. He loved it, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of his life. Releasing the monkeys he was caring for into the wild had a profound effect on him. But as much as he loved it, he felt that he was making a small difference, and wanted to affect bigger change. On his journey home, he came up with the idea for Beyond the Backpack. It was about a year later he launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to get it going. He hit the goal and was able to order the tank tops made from recycled plastic bottles. That’s what Beyond the Backpack currently sells.

Micah came up with the name when he was writing a Facebook post during his travels. He usually backpacks and saw some things that upset him. He kept urging people to be more than just tourists, more than travellers, and to go beyond the backpack. This was actually a little bit before he came up with the idea for Beyond the Backpack, and when he was debating the business name, he thought it would be perfect. He is always inspired by his travels, and wants to inspire others to travel to see the amazing lives and wonders of our world. And above all else, he wants to do his part to make sure these wonders of the world don’t disappear into history.

Now that I’ve told you Micah’s story and given you a sense of his mission, I hope you’re wondering about his products. As you can see here, the main offerings are tank tops and bracelets. Micah sent me a teal tank top with the tree of life design, and also a black tank top. He calls his line of tops sustainable fashion. The tank tops are light and the fabric is soft. They wash well and would be perfect as a cover-up for a bathing suit or to wear anytime you just need a light top. The teal color is really pretty! Micah also sent along two bracelets. They are colorful, light, well-made and if you enjoy wearable art, you’ll like them.

Micah is a man on a mission. The last time he emailed me, which was just a few days ago, he was actually in Southeast Asia meeting with some animal sanctuaries to partner with. If you’re so inclined to support entrepreneurs and businesses like Beyond the Backpack, I hope you’ll check out his website!