ABOUT US

Tellus Outdoor

Founded in 2022, Tellus was born out of a shared love for community, nature and the great outdoors.

"Adventure with Purpose"

Former Peace Corps volunteers turned entrepreneurs, Joe and Melissa built Tellus around a simple idea: "Adventure with Purpose.” Tellus blends a passion for adventure with a commitment to making a positive impact on both community and planet.

"We believe that every adventure is an opportunity to make a difference. Our goal is to create eco-friendly outdoor wear that not only shields against the elements but also protects the landscapes, waters and terrain we all cherish.”

- Joe and Melissa, Tellus Co-Founders

About Tellus Outdoor

Inspiration 

Named forTellus Mater — Mother Earth — our brand is built on the belief that protecting the planet must come before profit. Two known facts drive our work: Less than 2% of global charitable giving supports climate change and biodiversity loss, and the apparel industry produces nearly 10% of global carbon emissions. Part of the Tellus mission is to challenge those realities.

Through our GiveBack100 pledge, we donate 100% of net profits to programs that combat climate change and biodiversity loss. At checkout, every customer chooses which initiative to support — coral reef protection globally, U.S. land and water conservation, or reforestation in Colorado. Inspired by Newman's Own, we believe a company can thrive while giving everything back.

Tellus

Founders

Joe and Melissa come from different but complementary paths, and that balance defines Tellus. Joe brings the adventure. He has spent more than 30 years backpacking through Patagonia, the Dolomites, the Rockies, and the Rawahs. His time as an Outward Bound student and instructor deepened his love of the outdoors. After serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, he spent two decades growing a global food products company, gaining expertise in supply chains and partnerships that now guide Tellus’s sourcing and design.
Tellus

Melissa brings the purpose. She began her career at a public affairs firm in Chicago, working on advocacy campaigns ranging from supporting arts in education to promoting organ donation awareness and advancing sensible gun laws. That early work shaped her purpose-driven career — values that remain central to Tellus today and guide her work to advance the mission and impact of the brand. Joe’s adventure and Melissa’s purpose inspired Tellus’s founding principle: Adventure with Purpose.