We’re pretty excited to share this one.
Shea, Esmé, and Atollas were recently featured by Vineyard Vines as part of their Real Good People campaign, highlighting people and stories that reflect the places they call home and the things they care about.
For us, that meant talking about a few of our favorite things: fly fishing, Charleston, building a small business together, and the somewhat unexpected story of how Atollas came to be.
How It Started
Atollas wasn’t originally supposed to be a fly fishing company.
We started in 2018 with a completely different product: sink-proof straps for sunglasses. But when COVID brought production to a halt, we were forced to figure out what came next.
Around that same time, a fishing guide friend of Shea’s shared a sketch for an idea that would eventually become the Fly Caddy.
That simple sketch changed everything.
The Fly Caddy became the foundation for what Atollas is today, and over time we found our niche building minimalist fly storage and carry systems for anglers who fish on foot and like to keep things light.
In a lot of ways, the original idea behind Atollas is still the same. Take less. Move easier. Spend more time fishing.
Built Around the Way We Fish
For Shea, that philosophy comes directly from the way he likes to fish.
When you’re wading the Lowcountry flats, there’s not much reason to carry a bunch of stuff you don’t need. The goal is to stay light, mobile, and ready to move when the fish do.
That mindset has influenced everything we’ve built at Atollas, from the Fly Caddy to our fly boxes and the modular system that ties them all together.
Our current line is designed around that same idea: fly storage that adapts to the day, the water, and the way you move.
Charleston Is Home
Of course, Atollas wouldn't be Atollas without Charleston.
The Lowcountry is where we live, where we fish, and where most of the ideas behind our products get tested.
When we're not working, you'll usually find us somewhere around Charleston. Maybe we're catching a show, grabbing dinner, or getting out on the water to sight fish for redfish.
The place has become a pretty important part of the Atollas story. The marshes, tidal creeks, flats, and backcountry water are not just where we fish. They're the proving grounds for the gear we make.
Building Atollas Together
One of the things we enjoyed most about the Vineyard Vines feature was that it wasn't just about the products.
Atollas is a small business, and it's something we've built together.
There have been plenty of unexpected turns, plenty of challenges, and plenty of moments where we've had to figure things out as we went. That's just part of building a company from the ground up.
And honestly, that's what makes getting featured like this pretty special.
It's a chance to step back from the day-to-day work of running the business and realize how far that little Fly Caddy sketch has taken us.
From an idea shared by a fishing guide, to a growing line of fly storage products, to being featured by a brand like Vineyard Vines as part of their “Real Good People” campaign.
We certainly didn't have that part of the plan back in 2018.
Read the Full Story
We’re grateful to Vineyard Vines for including us in the “Real Good People” campaign and for telling a little piece of the Atollas story.
If you want to learn more about how Atollas started, how we like to fish, and what life looks like behind the company, check out the full feature below.