What are your favorite independently owned clothing and accessories boutiques in Minnesota? For womenswear, we usually tell friends to check out Hazel + Rose, IDUN, Mille, Proper, The Fitting Room, Stranger & Co. and Roe Wolfe in Edina, and Golden Rule Gallery and GRAY Home + Lifestyle in Excelsior.
For menswear, we like BlackBlue (our Reason to Love Minnesota No. 180), Fella’s Haberdashery and Salon (Reason to Love No. 59), and Heimie’s Haberdashery in St. Paul; Pharmacie, MartinPatrick3, and Fisher + Baker in Minneapolis; and Ace General Store in Excelsior. For streetwear, Atmosfere or Phenom make the list.
This being Minnesota, there’s no shortage of well-made outdoors gear either. Check out Askov Finlayson, Nokomis Shoes, Faribault Woolen Mill Co. in Faribault (Reason to Love No. 121), Red Wing Shoes in Red Wing, Duluth Pack or Frost River Trading Co. in Duluth, Lake Superior Trading Post in Grand Marais, and Steger Mukluks and Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely.
Brick-and-mortar stores aside, we’re forever declaring our love of Minnesota makers and designers to anyone who’ll listen. For Part VI of our epic 2020 gift guide, we present #MNMade clothing and accessories.
1. Tis the season for lobster hands! These Nordic mittens ($78) from Steller Handcrafted Goods are made from upcycled vintage sweaters and lined with toasty polar fleece.
2. Another holiday classic: a tartan plaid wool scarf ($85) from Faribault Woolen Mill Co.
3. The groovy paisley windbreaker ($100) from NSOD Clothing Co. is made with recycled nylon.
4. First Avenue and Hippy Feet teamed up on these iconic star socks ($18). For every pair sold, another is donated to a homeless shelter and proceeds go toward providing transitional employment to individuals experiencing homelessness.
5. The Quill Skyline Giiwedin hat ($36) from Askov Finlayson features the Ojibwe word for north and was created in collaboration with Maggie Thompson, the Ojibwe artist and textile designer behind Makwa Studio.
6. Hello, beautiful! The semi-sheer silk Kate jumpsuit ($420) from Hazel + Rose comes in sizes XS-3X.
7. If we’re ever allowed to go to the theater or opera again, this gorgeous merino yarn Illusion shawl ($280) from Nokomis Knitting Company might come in handy.
8. We love the double-layered African print masks ($12) from Jillian Spence of Sew N Sew N Sew Designs in Minneapolis.
9. The hand-dyed Cotton Giant ($70) from Minneapolis’ Scarf Shop is available in 32 colors.
10. The Pizza Closet Haori ka Hanten Jacket #5 ($485) from Maat Mons is a short, quilted, kimono-type overcoat fashioned from salvaged work pants—and yes, it’s warm enough to layer in winter.
11. This raw silk mask ($22) from ACG in Minneapolis is cut from nubbly raw silk noil. It includes a filter pocket and nose clip.
12. The Vikings purple In Diversity We Trust beanie ($28) from Hybrid Nation is a total head turner.
13. The Fluorite hair pins ($30 each) from Lexie Rundquist of Aerow Handmade in Moorhead are made with one-of-a-kind gems and recycled copper.
14. Leggo my eggos! Quilt Queen’s zippered egg pouch ($95) features 10 quilted yolks, an egg fabric liner, and a leather tassel with a wooden bead.
15. It doesn’t get slicker than the Low 1 sneakers ($189.10) in monochromatic navy, designed by Oliver Cabell of Minneapolis and handmade in Italy.
16. Hop on the local love bandwagon with this boxy, cropped, and tie-dyed Minnesota top, $36.50 at Primp.
17. The waxed canvas rehearsal tote ($130) from LES Bags is the perfect structural carry-all.
18. What fun! These zanily-patterned socks ($16) from local artist Ashley Mary and Untold Rebel would make a creative stocking stuffer.
19. Karen Morris Millinery makes the most extraordinary hats — like this velour Brittany fedora ($325) with braided leather trim.
20. The Smokehide Woodland wraparound scarf ($99) was designed by Delina White, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and founder of IAMANISHINAABE.
21. Do you get Spoon & Theory Handmade’s Solidarity fist pin ($12), or her Kente cloth face mask ($16), or both? Decisions, decisions.
22. The Boone bowtie ($185) from Bird Dog Studios in Minnetonka was inspired by Minnesota summers. It’s made with sustainably sourced pheasant feathers and partridge plumage.
23. The reversible wrap jumper ($240) from Hackwith Design House in St. Paul is available in extended sizing; and look at how cute it is from behind!
24. Somebody please invite us to a Jazz Age lawn party so we have an excuse to wear this marigold Dent cloche ($250) by the supremely talented Celina Kane of Minneapolis.
25. The leaf top ($65), handcrafted by Gilded Roots in Minneapolis, is African wax print cotton with leather detailing on the sleeve hem.
26. Duluth is home to one of the most talented shoemakers in the state: Hemlocks Leatherworks. Order a pair of founder Candace LaCosse’s handmade Stonington oak-tanned slips ($210) or delve deeper into the shoemaking process by reserving a private two-day shoemaking session ($420) wherein you learn how to make your own lasted leather shoes from start to finish.
27. The mega-sharp, mega-warm winter parkas ($495) from Askov Finlayson have no feather insulation yet are rated comfortable to -20 degrees below.
28. Snappy sayings abound at Gigi’s Flair Emporium (see also: Cherry Moon Press and The Minnesota Pins). This mini Prince tribute retails for $10.
29. This pretty, flowy, soft teal robe ($108) is cut and sewn in Minnesota by De Nova. It’s available in sizes XS-3X.
30. If you wore only a shirt, undies, and these 3D cube mustard socks ($7) from Minneapolis’ LEVII & Co. on your Zoom calls, no one would know the difference. Just sayin’.
31. Fact: Denim is the world’s most universally flattering textile; everyone looks good in it. The Tanner denim shirt ($158) from Fisher + Baker in Minneapolis is no exception.
32. This Hmong fabric bow tie ($42) was hand-embroidered exclusively for Ice Cream Bow Ties by artisans in Laos and finished by hand in St. Paul. Amazingly, teen designer Aniki Allen founded this brand when he was just 9 years old.
33. The Persephone hat ($275) by milliner Anna Lee of Workerby, Ruby3 by Anna Lee, and the Gray Matter Series is the definition of jaunty.
34. Another decent stocking stuffer: colorful shoe laces from Benjo’s in Minneapolis. They make ’em for work boots, dress shoes, golf shoes, you name it.
35. Or maybe a gift card (starting at $25) for a cute Wild Isles bathing suit, made especially for cup sizes D+.
36. For the conventionalist: the Superior Double Back Double Front wool coat ($369) from veteran-owned outdoors outfitter Tradition Creek.
37. Twin sisters Kaja and Zoë of FOAT make their Gypsy yoga pant ($88) with eco-friendly fabric.
38. Here’s a groovy gift idea: Zhuzh up a pair of wingtips, boots, or chukkas with the signature colored soles of Greenwich Vintage Co. The re-crafting is done by master cobbler Tamas Pomazi in Waconia.
39. The Auryn wool cape ($268) from Minneapolis’ Dallas Daws is a layering workhorse.
40. How lovely is this textured brass Scalloped barrette ($62), hand-fabricated by Minneapolis artist Ann Erickson?
41. Calling anyone who knows/loves a MNUFC fan: The coolest club gear is made by Talisman & Co. in St. Paul. The Loons cap is currently on sale for $20.
42. Old-school cool: buttery deerskin leather driving gloves ($134.99) from Red Wing Shoes.
43. New-school cool: a rose gold Hmong flute time piece ($199.99) from XIXOmenswear, a Hmong-owned label that incorporates traditional Hmong design into modern accessories such as sneakers and bowties.
44. The retro stripe winter knit pom hat ($30) from Great Lakes Collection is designed and manufactured in Minnesota.
45. We never tire of looking at the North Woods scarf ($148) by textile artist Annabella Sardelis of Indigo & Snow.
46. Winter Project Artist’s hiker-cool canvas backpack ($150) is the genius work of graphic designer Sarah McNerney.
47. Know someone who rocks fashionable headbands, wraps, and turbanettes? Intro them to MOLARÁ, whose mother-daughter cofounders, Maama and Omolara, run the business from Nigeria and Minneapolis, respectively.
48. The design of the No. 070.3 leather sack ($386) by Montgomery Collection in St. Paul was inspired by the Mörby Centrum station in Stockholm. Bet you didn’t see that coming.
49. It doesn’t get much cozier than these voluminous velvet bubble scarfs ($42.95 each) from Isyoma Design of Prior Lake.
50. Latitude’s navy blue knit beanie ($20) is universally flattering.
51. Gift ’em a floral scrunchie with bow ($12) from Golden Rule Gallery in Excelsior and their top knot will thank you.
52. For the frequent flyer in your life who’s forever moaning about swollen feet: a three-pack of knee-high compression socks ($69) from Comrad.
53. And lastly, you can’t go wrong gifting a pal one of North Made’s super-soft hooded sweatshirts. Whatever Twin they like best, the STPL and MPLS versions both retail for $54.
Still shopping? Check out our other holiday roundups, including…
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Art + Home Goods
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Jewelry
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Food + Drink
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Kids
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Pets
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Beauty + Wellness
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Sports + Recreation
Minnevangelist’s Epic Minnesota Gift Guide: Experiences
