All About the Feather

I grew up in Southern Oregon, the son of two Beatnik parents bent on living off the grid on a self-sufficient farm. We were truly disconnected from modern conveniences — kerosene lamps for light, a wood stove for cooking every meal. I would wander the meadows and woods often, developing a deep appreciation for nature and the animals that thrived there.

My father had a particular passion for raptors. He was a wild man with a grizzled beard and the kind of magnetic personality that drew in friends like acolytes. His circle always included mystics, hippies, poets, and the like. But one friend, Scott, left an indelible mark on both my father and me.

Scott has a special reverence for raptors and birds in general. If he ever saw a dead owl or hawk by the roadside, he would pull over, give it a proper burial, and carefully pluck a feather before covering it over. He would often wind the quill with cord and hang it from a leather lanyard around his neck. This was the 1970s, mind you — perfectly normal for bearded, nature-loving freaks.

This left a lasting impression on my young mind. I have always felt a connection to those that fly. Often in my dreams, I am the one soaring with the winged ones — and those are the best dreams. Birds and their feathers have always had a sacred place in my imagination. A feather is a simple, delicate thing, yet powerful enough to carry the weight of a predator in flight.

My father believed in their magic, too. If he found a feather in his path, he would pick it up with a grin, say it was going to be a lucky day, and tuck it into his hat. It became part of his persona. He eventually wrote a book called Finding Feathers in Bhutan. Naturally, this love of feathers passed on to me, and I’ve carried it throughout my life.

My ancestry is partially Nordic, which is where the name FARA comes from. In Old Norse, fara means “to travel” or “to go” — a fitting name for a brand dedicated to bags made for journeys. The feather became our emblem, representing guidance, good fortune, transformation, trust, hope, and resilience. The notch — the flaw — in our feather reminds us that even after we fall, we can rise again and fly.

Feathers carried deep meaning in Old Norse culture as well. The raven, Odin’s messenger, bridged the realms of gods and men with its wings. Ravens were not only watchers, but guides, whispering knowledge and foresight into the world of mortals. To carry a feather was to carry a piece of that wisdom.

Other cultures, too, have seen feathers as magical and transformative. They are more than tools for flight; they are bridges between heaven and earth.

Among shamans and healers, feathers are tools of transformation. They brush away illness, clear the air between the living and the spirit world, and remind us that journeys are not always taken with the body, but with the soul.

In Native American traditions, the feather represents trust and honor — a gift not earned lightly, but bestowed as a sign of courage and resilience. A single feather can carry the weight of a warrior’s entire life journey.

In literature and art, feathers appear as both muse and metaphor. Emily Dickinson once wrote, 'Hope is the thing with feathers,' reminding us that even in the darkest storms, the smallest sign of uplift can be enough to guide us forward.

When we chose the feather as the heart of FARA, it was never meant to be just a logo. It is a compass — a guide for every journey our bags are built to accompany.

It stands for the Norse wisdom of the raven, the shaman’s tool of transformation, the warrior’s honor, the poet’s hope. It carries the memory of a boy in a meadow, holding a fallen feather and realizing that strength does not always roar — sometimes it drifts quietly, teaching us to rise, to trust, to journey forward.

Every FARA bag carries that story. Every stitch is guided by it. Because we believe that no matter where your path takes you — across city streets, through airports, or into the wild edges of the unknown — the feather will be with you: a symbol of hope, fortune, trust, and resilience.

Guided by the Feather. Built for a Lifetime of Journeys.