Today in 1973, Hermus Millsaps became the first winner of $1 million in the Michigan State lottery. The Chrysler factory worker from Taylor was earning $160 per week at the time. After striking it rich, one of his very first purchases was a 14 inch color TV. Today, his winning Mitten State lottery ticket would be worth about $4.8 million.
Love,
While packaging up orders today, we took a moment to think about all of the cool places that TMS ends up in: Michigan, California, Texas, Colorado, Europe, and US Army Bases to name a few. The Say Yes To Michigan shirt pictured above is going to Marne, Michigan today. Here's to wishing it safe travels with its new owner! We know our own shirts always bring on good conversation and good luck.
Love,
You love our shirts. We love you. Here's $5 for every friend you refer to us. Every time you share TMS with a friend and they make a purchase, you'll receive $5 in Mitten Money.
To begin earning Mitten Money, become a TMS member and check your individual Mitten Money link to share with friends, family, significant others, and anyone you want to impress with your unbelievably good taste. Post it to Facebook, Twitter, or E-Mail. When a friend makes his/her first purchase, you'll earn $5 in Mitten Money. You earn Mitten Money every time you introduce friends to TMS and they make their first purchase. You could become a Mitten Millionaire!
Get started by creating a TMS account or logging into your existing one. Once you're logged in, click on My Account at the top of the page to see your Mitten Money link.
Love,
Last night on the NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams shared some footage of Michigan as seen from space. The International Space Station orbited over us and sent footage back to NASA, showing a Mitten lit up by night activity. Astronauts aboard the ISS also got a great show of the aurora borealis, as seen by the green glow at the horizon.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Love,
On this day in 1985, the Stroh Brewing Company announced it was closing its Detroit plant. Just three years earlier, in 1982, Stroh's had purchased Schlitz, making it the 3rd largest brewery in the country.
Started in 1850 by German immigrant Bernard Stroh, the Stroh's brewery in Detroit was 135 years old when it was announced it would no longer be operational. The building was demolished the following year. We're still left with some of their great vintage commercials:
Drink Local, people.
Love,
It's Super Bowl Sunday! And even though our Lions aren't a part of it, there's still reason to have a rooting interest in either team. There are a total of nine players representing The Mitten State in this year's Super Bowl in Indianapolis:
New England Patriots
Tom Brady (Michigan), Brian Hoyer (MSU), Nick McDonald (GVSU), Zoltan Mesko (Michigan), Carson Butler (Michigan)
New York Giants
David Baas (Michigan), Greg Jones (MSU), Mario Manningham (Michigan), Thomas Devin (MSU)
Congratulations to all of the athletes participating in today's game, but especially to our Mitten State athletes.
Love,
110 years ago today, Charles Lindbergh was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1927, he flew for 33.5 hours and 3,500 miles across the Atlantic in the world's first non-stop solo flight. On May 1st, he crossed the French border, followed the River Seine, and touched down at Le Bourget Field at 10:22PM. He was greeted by a mob of 100,000 people.
Upon landing, he asked "Am I here?" "Is this really Paris?". Happy Birthday, Charles.
Love,
"The great trouble with baseball today is that most of the players are in the game for the money and that's it, not for the love of it, the excitement of it, the thrill of it." - Ty Cobb
76 years ago today, former Detroit Tigers Ty Cobb became one of the first players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a class that included Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. Cobb spent most of career with the Detroit Tigers (22 seasons), had a batting average of .367 and was known for his surly temperment and aggressive playing style:
"When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemenly as a kick in the crotch."
Love,
On January 25 - 27th, 1978, Michigan was hit by the Great Blizzard of '78. Massive amounts of covered the state and surrounding Great Lakes region. In this clip, ABC affiliate WZZM 13 anchors and meteoroligists reminisce about the event and share some great footage taken during the epic storm. Big thank you to the WZZm 13 staff for the blurb (even though they gave the wrong company name and website!). Check out the full coverage here and check out our super soft vintage Blizzard unisex shirt and women's shirt.
Love,
On this day in 1933, the Lone Ranger was first broadcast on Detroit's WXYZ and 7 other Michigan affiliates. The Lone Ranger's sidekick, Tonto, was a Michigan Potowatamie Indian, even though the show was set in TX. He called The Ranger "Kemo Sabe", which was taken from a boys' summer camp in Cheboygan. The show aired from the historic Maccabees building on Woodward (next to the Detroit Main Branch Library) three times per week for 21 years on WXYZ.
"HI YO-O SILVER-R!"
Love,
Today is Day 2 of the anniversary of the Great Blizzard of '78. It started January 25th and continued for several days to January 27th, 1978, covering Michigan in massive amounts of snow. We'll be giving away 2 more Blizzard shirts today on our Facebook page. Join the fun! Deadline is 6PM EST.
And read the MLive article here. It was one of the top headlines statewide yesterday. :)
Love,
34 years ago today, the Great Blizzard of 1978 covered Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes region with historic amounts of snow. Grocery stores closed, highways became impassable, snowmobiles were being used on the highway. Even the State of Michigan capital building closed, something that has not happened since. 10 to 15 foot snow drifts shut down major avenues and boulevards.
Who remembers that or has heard stories from it? Visit our Facebook page for a chance to win one of these super soft vintage shirts. Deadline is 6PM EST.
Love,
Welcome aboard, Northern Michigan University. This lil' puppy just came off the press. It's even softer than you think.
Nab one from our online store in Unisex and in Women's.
Love,
The Mitten State
This week, in 1837, we became a state. And then a few short decades later... we had phones?! People in Detroit were the first in the nation to have assigned telephone numbers in 1879. To put that in perspective, the American Civil War ended in 1865, most people were still using a horse and carriage, and Ford Motor Company wouldn't introduce the Model T for another 29 years!
The Motor City can thank Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the first phone in 1876 and started the Bell Telephone Company a year later. Pretty amazing.
Don't forget: in honor of Michigan's 175th birthday this week, Michigan Mittens is holding a Giveaway of Michigan gifts, including a TMS vintage shirt. Sign up HERE.
Love,
This Thursday, Michigan is turning 175 years old. To celebrate, Michigan Mittens is holding a Birthday Giveaway. Sign up and you could get a bunch of great local gifts, including a vintage TMS shirt.
And there's another (lesser known) anniversary coming up. We'll reveal a new TMS shirt for it this Thursday.
Love,
Detroit Tigers' pitcher Justin Verlander just has to have some Taco Bell before every game. Who knew? We did appreciate how Conan balanced out Verlander's endorsement by telling people not to eat Taco Bell. Fair and balanced, you are, Mr. Conan.
Love,
This super soft TMS vintage shirt is going to Tennessee today. We think Michigan might be the best represented state in the country. If you see someone wandering around Murfreesboro with a Love shirt on, be sure to give them a friendly Michigan hello. :^)
Love,
On this week's episode of NBC's The Office, Kevin and the gang get into pub trivia tournaments for money. In the waning moments of the episode, they go off their hot streak and start guessing incorrect answers. They answer one question with "a Mitten" instead of Michigan. We would have given him credit for that. NBC staff writers: please publish a retraction. :^)
Love,
We found this little gem from the vintage documentary series, Travel Talks by James A. Fitzpatrick. Check out those dune buggies! In this 8 minute clip, they cover Leelanau (Land of Delight!), Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Traverse City, among others.
We thought it was fascinating to see the rustic beauty of Northern Michigan as it was seen during the 1950s (this documentary was filmed in 1949). How could you not Say Yes To Michigan?
Love,
We're pretty sure that every bar in America has, at one point or another (but most likely on several occasions), played the uber-famous song "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. And if you're from Michigan, you're probably aware that the line "Born and raised in South Detroit" is kinda funny, considering there is no such place. There's an East Detroit, North Detroit, and a Southwest Detroit. So why did Steve Perry make one up? For years, there really was no explanation. New York Magazine recently interviewed Perry and got this explanation:
"I ran the phonetics of east, west, and north, but nothing sounded as good or as emotionally true to me as South Detroit," he says. "The syntax just sounded right. I fell in the love with the line. It's only been in the last few years that I've learned there is no South Detroit."
There you have it. He just liked the way it sounded when he wrote the song while in the Motor City in 1980. Well, Steve... That's it! We're boycotting your song!! Just kidding. We don't mind. We don't think anyone really minds.
Love,
In yet another close bowl game this post season, the Michigan Wolverines beat the Virginia Tech Hokies in OT, 23-20. What a great Sugar Bowl! And per yesterday's TMS Contest, we have 7 winners that each predicted the score within 5 points:
Kathleen Woods, Paul Zollner, J Edward Yonkers III, Lisa Douglas, Andrea Polveranto, Kimberly Lucik, and Joey Ranieri!
Shoot us an email at orders@TheMittenState.com to collect your free TMS Mitten Decal, guys!
Love,
Tonight, the Michigan Wolverines take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl. This is the first time the two teams are meeting and first BCS bowl for Michigan since 2006.
Contest time!
Head over to our TMS Facebook page and predict the score for tonight's game (make sure you leave the comment in the official contest post). The five closest scores will each win a free TMS Mitten Car Decal. Unfortunately, cars are not included. ;)
Love,
A little while ago, we met Matt Giraud backstage during a television interview. We've been big fans ever since, especially because he's a Michigan guy from K-Zoo. So while flipping through the channels this evening, we happened across him playing live at Fox 17's studio to promote his concert tonight in Grand Rapids and tomorrow night in his hometown.
And what's he wearing in studio? The Mitten in our super soft heather grey, of course. :)
Happy Holidays!
Forbes magazine recently listed Michigan as one of the country's hottest scenes for start-up companies. Calling us The Silicon Mitten, places like Ann Arbor (clean tech), Detroit (manufacturing), and Grand Rapids (medical) are leading the way in innovation. Go Michigan!
Love,
Even back in 1987, Petr Klima of the Detroit Red Wings knew that the real Mitten State is Michigan. In this vintage Vernor's commercial, he shares some sage advice about living in Michigan, including how to use his hand as a map to the Motor City. Because apparently, Klima was prone to getting lost in his new home state.
Love,
As you're probably well aware at this point, the local news in Michigan has picked up on the story that Wisconsin thinks it's The Mitten State. What was that state's Tourism Board thinking? We're not exactly sure... We don't take personal offense to it; we think it's a pretty funny story. But... why would you run an entire ad campaign that sets you up to look like a knock-off? Michigan is very clearly shaped like a mitten; there's really no question. Wisconsin? Well, sort of... But that sliver of a thumb is a real stretch. Looks more like a hangnail. You're the poor man's version of a mitten, Cheeseheads!
Here are a few reactions (including one from TMS!), courtesy of WZZM 13:
On Fox 17, we joked with Lindsay Kus that news of this story caused us to punch a hole in our office's wall. We told the Grand Rapids Press that the U.S.A. agrees with Michigan (obviously backed up by super scientific statistics and polls, of course!) and the ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, WISN 12, got in on the action, too.
Maybe team TMS should not cross over into Wisconsin's borders for a little while. We're thinking the reception may not be so great for us.
Love,
On March 15, 1975, the Michigan Tech Huskies won their third national hockey championship against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Under the coaching of John MacInnes, the Huskies won 6-1 in St. Louis Arena in Missouri.
Unisex here and Women's here.
Love,
We think online shopping should be the epitome of stress free living: you can sit comfortably on your couch, laptop or iPad in hand, wearing your favorite sweatpants. You select what items you want, and we deliver them to your doorstep. What could be easier? Well, sometimes sizing can screw the whole thing up. So to help take the stress out of figuring which size you need or worrying that you've ordered the wrong sizes, we offer FREE shipping and exchanges. When you register an account with us, you're automatically eligible for free ground shipping anywhere in the United States. And if you happen to in fact get the wrong size, we'll hook you up with a pre-paid shipping label. Easy as pie!
As a TMS member, you'll also notice something you rarely see online: no surprise additional charges at checkout. What you see on the main shopping pages are the final prices. If our vintage t-shirt says $26, you won't pay a penny more when you make your order. :)
Love,
Do you know where TMS products come from? All of our apparel, including our super soft vintage t-shirts and hoodies are made in the USA. And our Mitten Car Decals are made right here in Michigan. We think it's important for a few reasons, some of which might not be obvious right away: 1) we think we have a responsibility as an active American business to support our local and national economy, 2) quality assurance can be difficult to monitor overseas, and 3) we prefer building relationships with our neighbors.
What does this mean for you? Well, to some degree, it might not really matter. But what we hope it conveys is peace of mind. When you buy a TMS product, you can rest assured that it was not manufactured under sweat shop conditions in a dreary factory in Southeast Asia by underage employees. Moreover, because we source locally, we can keep an eye out for quality assurance and ensure that you're receiving the highest quality possible, on a consistent basis.
We hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and not letting the stressful parts of it overshadow the many positives. :) Shop local!
Love,
Or...
Mitten Decals make the best stocking stuffers. Today and Cyber Monday, load up on these little suckers for family and friends this Christmas. Designed to go on your car, you can place the dot anywhere you're from on The Mitten. Each Mitten Car Decal is made in Michigan. Shop local, folks. :)
Get a free Mitten Decal with each TMS shirt or hoodie ordered by typing in "CyberMonday" at checkout. Or... load up on stocking stuffers and get each Mitten Decal at $4 (over 30% off). Deal good today and Cyber Monday.
Love,
2 years ago, we opened up shop here in MI. You could buy any shirt, as long as it was in blue. Ha. We've come a ways since then, and we want to thank all of you for supporting TMS. We wouldn't be here without you.
In honor of that and Small Business Saturday, we're keeping the "BlackFriday" 20% off code working today as well.
Love,
Where has the time gone? It seems like we were just outside, enjoying a hot summer day. And now it's already the Holidays?! Geez. Time flies. And so does the Black Friday sale. Get 20% off everything in our store this weekend. Type in code "BlackFriday" at checkout.
Happy Thanksgiving, Michigan!
The Gift Insider scours boutiques, magazines, and the web for the best and newest gifts and then places them in thoughtfully categorized entries on their great website. There's no charge, they do all the work for you, and the best part? The girls that run this company are from Michigan.
When they contacted us recently, we were honored to be included in their catalog of recommendations. Check out their review of our vintage TMS Love shirt here. And because they are selective about what they include, you can rest assured that you'll find a great idea for this holiday season on their website. Although, you'll most likely be buying TMS stuff anyway, right?
But seriously, we love them because they understand the same thing that we value most at TMS: thoughtfully branded products that keep customers happy and that form the basis of a solid reputation. Check them out at TheGiftInsider.com.
Love,
Ferris State vintage shirts have arrived! Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, the Crimson and Gold Bulldogs are the only school in the state to have been stared by an individual.
Get the Ferris State Bulldogs shirts in Unisex and Women's at our super awesome online shop. Guaranteed to be super extra special soft. :)
Love,
Here's the latest project we've been working on: making TMS Decals more accessible to our friends in Michigan. The display boxes just arrived! Hopefully you'll be seeing them at your favorite retailer soon. (Hint: Check out any 7-Eleven in the state in the next week or so). And of course, you can always buy them online directly from us!
Love,
The Mitten State
This SNL short with Adam Sandberg and Ben Stiller had us laughing. We've had a lot of requests for v-necks here at TMS. Some people love them, some don't. As long as they aren't too deep, we are fans. We'll probably avoid the Ben Stiller "double v". Probably. They should be arriving soon...
Love,
The Mitten State
TMS hoodies are finally arriving! The first three come in super soft 50/50 vintage blends of heather charcoal, navy, cranberry, and vintage green.
These will remain simple, clean, and uber-soft. Upcoming pullovers will get the graphic treatment, for those of you hoping to sport a Drink Local or Love TMS during colder months.
Love,
The Mitten State
Central Michigan University shirts have arrived! All on super soft vintage blends, in unisex and women's cuts. Pictured above is the vintage CMU seal on a heather grey shirt. Women's version available, too. Take a look around The Mitten State store, there are two other CMU shirts...
Fire up, Chips!
Love,
The Mitten State
Emily Richett from Fox 17 Morning News invited us over this morning to discuss our new line of vintage college shirts. Made exclusively for the state of Michigan, of course. GVSU and WMU shirts have launched, and CMU shirts should be available this afternoon. Explore the store, there are a few designs for each school...
Love,
The Mitten State
In 1988, the WMU Broncos galloped out of the gate and pounded their first five opponents, outscoring them 177-65. They beat the University of Wisconsin, their first win against a Big Ten team and went on to face CMU in a rivalry game that set an attendance record at Waldo Stadium. After winning an outright MAC conference title, they traveled to California where they beat Fresno State. Go Broncos!
The shirt pictured above is the WMU 1988 Conference Champs unisex shirt. There's also a women's shirt available.
Love,
The Mitten State
We've just released our Western Michigan University vintage shirts. Three super soft, totally vintage, heathered t-shirts that will drape so gently against your skin you'll never want to take them off. The one pictured above is our vintage WMU Broncos unisex shirt in a heathered black tri-blend. So, so soft. Also available in a women's dainty cut.
Get them while the gettin's good. Go Broncos!
Love,
The Mitten State
Grand Valley's football program started in the 1970's. But it wasn't until the 1980's that a surge to prominence started up. Arguably, it began in 1985 when Coach Tom Beck took over the program after a 14 game losing streak. Coach Beck turned things around quickly and the next five years saw the Lakers earn playoff berths as well as become pre-season and post-season ranked fixtures.
Celebrate GVSU's success on the field with the 1985 GVSU Lakers vintage shirt in unisex and women's sizes.
And check out the rest of the Grand Valley collection at TMS.
Love,
The Mitten State
In 1989, Grand Valley State University's football team went undefeated for the first time with an 11-0 record. A school record was set by beating Valparaiso 91-0. Four players earned national awards. Go Lakers! Men's 1989 Conference Champs shirt here and women's 1989 Conference Champs shirt here.
Check out the other GVSU shirts in the What's New section.
Love,
The Mitten State
After years of hard work, we're finally in a position at TMS to start offering officially licensed collegiate apparel. We'll be debuting some vintage TMS shirts for Michigan universities and colleges soon. And of course, we'll be putting our vintage touch on each of them. Which schools, you ask? Stay tuned...
Love,
The Mitten State
A few weeks ago, we were doing a TV interview in Grand Rapids. While waiting for our segment backstage, we usually get a chance to talk to the other guests and got lucky enough to meet Matt Giraud. He performed live on the show and we gotta say... this guy can "kinda" sing. And by "kinda" we mean "really". His rendition of Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" made us totally forget we were being interviewed after him!
Best of all, he's one of the nicest, most genuine people we've met. Clearly, it's because he's a Michigan guy from K-Zoo. Check him out on American Idol Season 8:
Check out more of Matt at his official fan page or hit him up on Facebook.
Love,
The Mitten State
While checking our TMS Facebook page today, we saw a post from fellow Michigander Chad Ryskamp that caught our eye: a WZZM News segment featuring our Drink Local shirt. It appears that chef Amy Sherman (D & W Fresh Market) thinks it's a good idea to drink local. That, or she just loves the buttery soft feel of our shirts.
But really the news segment is about today's Summer Craft Beer Festival. That's going on over at John Ball Park in Grand Rapids, sponsored by WGRD and D & W Fresh Markets! If you need a great way to spend an afternoon, head down, pay the $15 entry fee (that gets you four drink tickets and a commemorative glass) and sample some awesome local beers and food.
Drink Local, people.
Love,
The Mitten State
Good Morning America held a contest to see what people thought was the most beautiful place in the good ole' U.S. of A. In June, viewers nominated hundreds of places all over the country. Of those, 10 were selected to be placed in the contest: (1) Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI (2) Newport, RI (3) Cape Cod, MA (4) Point Reyes, CA (5) Aspen, CO (6) Sedona, AZ (7) Destin, FL (8) Asheville, NC (9) Lanikai Beach, HI and (10) Grand Teton National Park, WY. Over 100,000 participated and today they announced the winner: Sleeping Bear Dunes! We're feeling lucky to be living in The Mitten State.
Love,
The Mitten State
A big thank you to Take Five's Stephanie Webb and associates for having TMS on their show this morning.
Love,
The Mitten State
The Love Michigan Blood Drive has come to a close, and TMS is honored to have been a part of it. During the three day event, two thousand people turned out to donate in 7 different cities across the state. We had prepared all summer for it, so it was quite a thrill to find out that this event has cemented itself as THE MOST SUCCESSFUL blood drive in Michigan Blood's 55 year history.
Here's what people had to say about the event:
"...I waited an hour and a half tonight to give blood in GR because so many people turned out. Well worth it to get my awesome shirt...oh, and save some lives, too! :) Thanks!"
- Molly Frendo
"I was going to donate anyway, but I'll admit I went this week just because of the shirt. Love it!"
- Norma Sheller Pszczolkowski
"Just left awhile ago, the goodie bag is great, but the shirt is amazing. Thanks TMS!"
- Terri Baker McCready
"Thank you TMS!!! Love the shirt!!! They only had large and XL left, so my husband got a new shirt tonight! He says thank you too!!! :)"
- Beth Debri
"Got mine! Donate Blood! Save a life....or two!"
- Thomas Mansfield
"I was happy to donate, but even happier to get a TMS shirt!!"
- Renee Pattison
"WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Almost 1,200 donors [in Grand Rapids] walked through our doors in 3 days and we have TMS to thank for that :-) Ahhhhh....the power of TMS shirt!"
-Kristen Sisson, Public Relations at Michigan Blood
Thank you to Michigan Blood for organizing the event, Pure Michigan for supporting the media campaign, Vernors, Hudsonville Ice Cream, Better Made Chips, Old Orchard and Meijer for being part of the gift bags and most importantly, thank you to all of you for showing up and donating blood to our Michigan communities.
Love,
The Mitten State
Big thank you to Take Five for having Michigan Blood and The Mitten State on air today to promote the Love Michigan Blood Drive. Don't forget: it starts tomorrow! Seven cities all over Michigan. More information here.
Love,
The Mitten State
Michigan Blood approached us earlier this summer about helping make the Love Michigan Blood Drive their best event yet and now we are LESS THAN 1 WEEK AWAY! Every person that donates blood August 2-4 at any one of their seven donation centers will earn a special edition TMS vintage shirt... for free (you can thank Michigan Blood for picking up the bill).
We've been working hard all summer to get this event ready. Michigan Blood set up several media spots to promote their event and they dragged us along. We shot PSA's and Pure Michigan commercials:
And personally got down and sweaty with our local printer to help keep the costs down for 1,000 TMS vintage shirts:
It's been a blast. We hope you guys make it out to the event; it's a truly great cause. Every pint of blood collected can save up to 3 lives. Because Michigan Blood is a local operation, you're literally saving your friends, family, and neighbors right here in our home state. And on behalf of everyone benefitting from your generosity, we say THANK YOU! :)
Love,
The Mitten State
It's amazing what you can find in old boxes sometimes. While finishing up the clean out of an old family property in Ada, Michigan, TMS found a few more relics from our state's recent past. The one pictured here is a 1987 YES M!CH!GAN Guide to Cabins and Cottages. The cover photo is listed as "cottages along the shore of Houghton Lake". We can't help but wonder how much that area has changed in the last 25 years. Or if anyone recognizes the houses from the photo.
Here's the full cover:
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And here's the inside cover with tremendous late '80s style piercing through to your present day eyes:
We love the Lego man haircut, Mr. Blanchard! It seems all business guys had it.
Here's a Michigan state park map from the same year:
Love,
The Mitten State
Michigan Blood's commercial, in association with Pure Michigan, will be airing for the next few weeks leading up to the Love Michigan Blood Drive. Show up early and get a limited edition TMS vintage shirt for donating blood.
Love,
The Mitten State
Yesterday was a hot one. We know because we spent the majority of the day inside America's hottest print shop, aka Citizen Shirt in downtown Grand Rapids. Outside temperatures nearly hit 100 degrees, while inside it was a good 5-10 degrees warmer. YOWSA! But, the good news is that we helped finish our first major charity event t-shirts (Love Michigan Blood Drive).
Here's a short video of our TMS vintage shirts being made:
Gotta love a heat wave (and no, I don't actually get 132 MPG... I wish!):
Some of the shirts ready for Michigan Blood's event:
The event kicks off in less than two weeks!
Love,
The Mitten State
Not too long ago, we were contacted by a concerned citizen asking us to help raise awareness about the dispute occurring over the Saugatuck Dunes. We love our Michigan communities, so who are we to refuse such a request?
Since we weren't familiar with the situation, a little research was in order. According to The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, this area of Michigan is "one of America's most endangered historical sites". Additionally, the Alliance has been working for over 60 years to preserve this piece of Michigan history:
"For more than sixty years, the State of Michigan, the U.S. National Park Service, and regional business leaders have sought to protect the Saugatuck Dunes giving special attention to the Denison property at the harbor mouth of the Kalamazoo River. Efforts were made over the years to purchase this property with the aim of keeping it in the public trust. Most recently, in 2004, philanthropists and regional business leaders sought to purchase the property to ensure an unbroken natural shoreline connecting Oval Beach with the Saugatuck Dunes State Park."
A dispute has occurred because a real estate developer purchased a portion of this stretch of land in 2006 with plans to build a 9 story hotel, 6 story condos, and a golf course. The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, along with the State of Michigan, the National Park Service, and regional businesses are in opposition to this, having zoned the area to preserve these dunes, a process that started in 2001. They have tried to purchase the property unsuccessfully.
So... what say you? Should we save the Saugatuck Dunes? Is there enough support to help move this developer elsewhere? Should TMS release a SAVE THE SAUGATUCK DUNES vintage t-shirt?
We want to hear from you, Michigan. Send us an email, comment on Facebook, leave a comment at the bottom of this post.
More information can be found at NPR, at The Saugatuck Coastal Alliance, and at MLive.
Love,
The Mitten State
So the Love Michigan Blood Drive is just over 2 weeks away. Yikes, time is flying this summer. Yesterday, we met up with Michigan Blood and filmed a public service announcement (PSA) at the WYCE recording studio in downtown Grand Rapids. Yes, it's cheesy, yes, it's for local access channels, and yes, we loved every minute of it. :)
Once you figure out which donation center and time works for you, please give us a heads up on the FB Events page. This is going to be a great way to give back to the community AND earn something cool in return. Thank Michigan Blood for hooking up over 1,000 TMS vintage t-shirts for this event, too!
Sincerely,
The Mitten State
And another Friday is upon us, which meant that we gave away another free TMS vintage shirt! Each week, one lucky fan on Facebook is chosen at random to receive one of our impossibly soft Michigan vintage t-shirts. To join in on the fun, like our FB page and watch for the weekly post. Entries must be received by 12PM EST.
Love,
The Mitten State
Yesterday evening, we found ourselves at a lovely property in Ada, Michigan (hometown of Amway World Headquarters!). We were clearing out nearly 1,000 books from a guest house and stumbled across a little gem from 1987. It was nearly overlooked and recycled away, but thankfully the ever vigilant eyes of TMS spotted it.
Back in the 1980s, the state's official slogan was "YES M!CH!GAN" and in 1987, The Mitten was celebrating it's 150th birthday, all year long:
"Michigan was admitted to the union, as the 26th State, on January 26, 1837, and will observe its Sesquicentennial with a year-long celebration in 1987."
The back of the travel map explains the 1987 vintage slogan:
"YES M!CH!GAN is more than a slogan. It is an affirmation of all that is good about Michigan. Its natural beauty as the centerpiece of the Great Lakes... its endless opportunities for travel and recreation in all of its state and national forests and parks, its thousands of lakes, rivers and streams and miles and miles of beaches along the nation's inland seas...."
It's signed by Governor and Mrs. James J. Blanchard and Jay.
And the 1986 commercial celebrating the Michigan Sesquicentennial:
Love,
The Mitten State
Since 1955, Michigan Blood has been providing our home state's hospital systems with blood to help save lives. This summer, they asked us to join them in a very special 3 day event they're calling the Love Michigan Blood Drive. Every person that donates during the event will receive a special edition TMS vintage t-shirt. The event is taking place in 7 cities across Michigan: Bay City, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Midland, Saginaw, St. Joseph, and Traverse City.
For more information, visit our Events page.
Love,
The Mitten State
Order a soda in Michigan, and you're most likely considered an outsider. Do the same in New York, and no one will flinch. According to Bert Vaux, a linguistics professor at Harvard University, "many Americans are overly passionate about how they refer to the popular beverage family". It may not make sense, it may not be logical, but we don't care. It's called pop. Not soda.
We weren't planning on releasing these babies just yet, but a preview on our TMS Facebook page changed our mind. So, here they are: Men's It's Pop Not Soda vintage t-shirt and Women's It's Pop Not Soda vintage t-shirt. Enjoy. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
For about a year now, we've been giving away a free TMS vintage t-shirt to one lucky fan over at our Facebook page. Each Friday, Mr. Mitten leaves a post inviting fans to join the drawing by leaving a comment. Everyone on the page that joins in on the fun by 12PM EST is entered into the weekly drawing for a chance to win a free TMS shirt of their choosing.
We think at this point we've given away over 60 free t-shirts, and a few random goodies along the way as well. We love to give back to the fans that help make TMS a fun-loving brand and keep us in business doing what we rarely consider to be work.
You can access our FB page here. Become a fan and get LUCKY!
Love,
The Mitten State
The Hundreds is a clothing brand based out of L.A. They started several years ago, sometime around 2003, I think. The guy who had a hand in launching it was originally in law school, and dropped out (maybe he finished? Can't remember) to start the brand. They've got a mostly urban / streetwear feel, which isn't our bag, but we appreciate their design nonetheless. Perhaps what's most impressive is that they're running an online store, several retail locations, AND a magazine. They generate so much content we literally can't keep up with all of it. And readers dig it: they get over 1 million unique visitors to their website per month.
Anyway, enough with the introductions. We were snooping around their store and happened upon their stickers. Their main logo is a little guy called Adam Bomb, which we love. But what really caught our eye was a variation of it on a beach. At first glance we nearly missed it, but what they did with their original Adam logo is incredibly clever:
1. A palm tree bends in a perfect arc to shape the top hemisphere of the original bomb.
2. Two surfboards stuck upright in the sand serve as the original eyes.
3. The palm tree leaves replace the explosion blast from the original bomb.
Truly impressive. Things like that really inspire us to keep getting better. What inspires YOU?
Love,
The Mitten State
On Saturday, in preparation for Father's Day, we stocked the fridge with a few beers. At the grocery store a bit earlier, we were reminded of how we go through the same beer purchasing routine nearly every time:
Step 1: Walk up and down the aisle to inspect all of the available brews, as if to wait for one of them to scream "PICK ME!"
Step 2: Choose a variety of 6 packs. These have to be local and seasonal.
Step 3: Round out the rest of the purchase with run of the mill domestic brews, usually Bud Light.
Clearly, we follow the classic two pronged approach of "start with your favorite beers and if you're still thirsty afterwards, drink something cheap and boring". On this particular weekend, the local brews that made the cut were Arbor Brewing Company's Blonde Ale, Arcadia Ale's Whitsun Ale, and a perennial summer favorite, Bell's Oberon Ale.
We feel lucky to be in a state where we can Drink Local with pride. What are your Michigan favorites?
Pictured: Our TMS Drink Local vintage shirt. One of our all-time faves. Sometimes people miss that the mug is the lower peninsula and the foam is the U.P. Silly people! :)
Love,
The Mitten State
Local TV show, The One Seven, just had us on to talk a little about TMS' history and what we're up to these days. Despite appearances and the fact that we've done a few interviews before this one, we were actually pretty nervous. Maybe it was because we spent a little while in the studio, waiting for our turn. Darn you, anticipation! A big thank you to the staff at Fox 17, and to hosts Michelle DeSelms and Tim Doty. And to Pure Michigan, they had a great segment just before us and we might do some collaboration in the future.
Anyway, upon review we weren't as bad as we thought. We have a greater appreciation for the Mark Zuckerberg sweat-a-palooza interview now.
And we still remain doofuses.
Love,
The Mitten State
Pictured: Staircase leading from the beach up to the lake house. What a hike! But so worth it.
After working nearly every day since... well, since... January(?), The Mitten State team took a well deserved night off at a beach house on Lake Michigan. Even the cooler temperature and on-again off-again rain didn't hamper our spirits. There's just something fantastic about being near the water. Ironically, none of us wore our Love Lake Michigan vintage shirts. Definitely an oversight on our part. But we didn't forget the beer, brats, and hamburgers.
Here are a few more photos of our mini-vacation:
Exhibit A - The cable car. If you couldn't make the trek up the stairs, it was nice to have an alternative.
Exhibit B - The cable car controls. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to use them. Darn it all!
Exhibit C - The view from the house. Grey skies that day, but who cares when you're staring at such a beautiful spot!
Exhibit D - The buried picnic table. The beach has apparently really been washed up by Lake Michigan in recent years. There are benches buried in there, too.
Exhibit E - The view from the beach. Thanks for the memories, Lake Michigan!
Love,
The Mitten State
It was on October 14, 1960 that President Kennedy gave a speech to 10,000 cheering students, inspiring the start of the Peace Corps. During the 1960s and 1970s, Ann Arbor continued to be a hub of student activism, a reputation that still stands today. Super soft print on a vintage t-shirt blend of 50/25/25 (cotton/poly/rayon). This Michigan shirt was designed and printed locally. Made in the USA.
Click here for the Men's Ann Arbor vintage shirt and the Women's Ann Arbor vintage shirt.
Love,
The Mitten State
The Mt. Pleasant shirts are now available at TMS. Click here for the Men's Mt Pleasant Vintage T-Shirt and here for the Women's Mt Pleasant Vintage T-Shirt.
Get 'em while they're hot and fresh. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
One of our favorites: The Say Yes To Michigan! vintage shirt. It's printed on a heather navy tri-blend, which makes it super soft and light. Cause that's how we roll here at TMS. We also love the Sufjan Stevens song by the same name, from his album, "Michigan: The Great Lake State".
Still, I often think of going back
To the farms, to the farms
Golden arms, golden arms
To remind me if the lakes took the place of the sea
Love,
The Mitten State
Wow, it's been hot lately in The Mitten State. Like, 95 and humid hot. There's a cool down coming, which sounded great until we thought about it-- we actually love the heat and sun and we say, bring on the Dog Days of Summer! Even as I type this, the office windows are revealing a cloudy sky and winds are picking up. Hopefully it heats back up soon. Cause vintage t-shirt weather is where it's at for us!
Any way, to the point: we work pretty hard at TMS. As you can see by the photo above, sometimes we stray from our fanatical compulsions to keep organized and streamlined. It may not look too messy to some, but if you were to spend any amount of time at the TMS office, you'd know that messy desks mean we're getting hammered on the workload front. In fact, we're getting busy enough that we got our first intern (OHHH YEAAAAH!!). So if you've sent us an email and didn't hear back from us right away: we apologize. We're going through our inboxes as quickly as we can, and we'll answer everyone's questions. :)
And now for a little test: we're wondering how many people actually read our blog. We know some do when we post a link on our TMS Facebook page, but other than that... we're thinking our overall traffic doesn't support a large blog audience. So... If you've read this far you're about to be rewarded. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post (be sure to click on the post title to access the individual post) and the first, oh... 3 people to respond will receive a free Mitten Decal. :) After posting, shoot us an email at info@TheMittenState.com to collect!
Love,
The Mitten State
We love design here at TMS. In fact, it's an obsession. And although we've carved our own niche in terms of what makes The Mitten State unique in our minds, we always love finding new, creative inspiration from other areas. Here are three websites that we love, and always deliver when we're in search of some cool new products:
1. Svpply.com
This is a website that pools together products that people find on the Internet. In their own words, "Svpply is a growing collection of 550,000 products, hand selected by our community". The way it works is you join their community (free) and then any time you happen upon a great product anywhere online, you click on a link in your browser toolbar that automatically adds it to your Svpply account.
Why We Love It: Ever find something online by accident that you just have to have? We do all the time. We're also quick to forget where we found it. This site lets you save those products, share them on the site with a photo, and access it any time down the road by just logging in to your free account. You can find price ranges from $1 to over $5,000, but what really sets this site apart is the quality of stylish and trendy products being shared. You can follow other members' growing lists (as well as The Editor's Picks and Gift Guides), which makes finding great stuff even easier. You can even spot a couple TMS products being shared here. :)
Similar to Svpply, but less commercial. On this site, the premise is the same: share cool stuff you've found with others. But the main difference here is that you can share things that you might not find online-- some of the coolest things are simply photos someone took while passing by in the street. In their own words, "Pinterest is a place to catalog the things you love".
Why We Love It: We're big fans of the grass roots, urban feel of this site. Whereas Svpply is centered on brands and niche products, this site lets your imagination run wild. Where else can you find quick words of wisdom like this one? Probably a bit more female-centric than Svpply as well. And what do you know? A few TMS shirts have snuck their way in. :)
3. Uncrate.com
This site shares products with you in a blog format: every day, they post 2-5 awesome products. They call themselves a "web magazine for guys", and they do a phenomal job digging up cool finds, ranging from books to supercars. The site is clearly guy-centric, but we also realized it makes for a great gift guide for anyone looking for shopping ideas.
Why We Love It: It makes for an incredibly easy 5 minute break from the monotony of a work day. Since there is no community involvement, it's all layed out for you in an editorial style. And while we definitely appreciate the social aspect of the other two sites, there is something to be said for being served (and served well).
Love,
The Mitten State
It's officially official: TMS is starting to grow up as a company. From a bedroom office less than 2 years ago, through 4 website revisions, and countless mistakes along the way, we're finally starting to feel less like an operation held together with paper clips and duct tape, and slighltly more like an actual business. Don't get us wrong, though: we still vividly remember one of us sleeping in the room next door to our original home office, waking up just in time to saunter a few steps over to the desk and start working away on a dream. Even though we've moved on from those beginnings, we're still certainly a family-and-friends-run operation. When you call our office, you're more than likely to talk to one of the co-founders. And we like it that way.
For quite some time now, we've been wanting to incorporate our own private label. Something unique to Michigan, for Michigan, and by Michigan. Starting this week, we're excited to announce that our vintage t-shirts will be labeled just for us Michiganders. Official TMS shirts will feature a label with the Mitten logo on the front, and sizing and washing instructions on the back. There will be a little bit of a transition, as we produce new labeled shirts alongside existing inventory.
We want to thank everyone for their continued support and loyalty, and we hope to continue serving up what we love best: quality Michigan apparel and goodies, with a vintage twist. We think you'll like what we have up our sleeves this summer. ;)
Love,
The Mitten State
Grand Rapids made the news again, this time on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer! They named GR their "Person of The Week", citing the city's tremendous sense of community. So a big congrats to the city of Grand Rapids, to everyone that was involved, and to Michigan! We're proud to be from this great state.
As an added bonus, they flashed our TMS shirts. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
As a local company, we love to stay connected to our Michigan community. For a little while now, we've been having a little fun every Friday at The Mitten State Facebook page. We call it our TMS Weekly Giveaway. One lucky Michigander wins a vintage Michigan t-shirt of their choosing, designed by The Mitten State right here in our home state, each week at noon.
How does it work? Simple:
1. Go to The Mitten State FB Page.
2. Become part of the TMS family by clicking "Like" at the top of the page.
3. Respond to the Friday posts to be included in each week's drawing.
4. Perform a rain dance, clutch your lucky rabbit foot, or throw salt over your shoulder to increase your chances of being the TMS Winner at 12PM EST.*
Love,
The Mitten State
*(This might not increase your chances of winning, but who are we to argue with the cosmos?)
After a lil' bit of a wait, the East Lansing vintage shirts are now available at the store. Just in time for summer. As the Kool-Aid Man would say, "OHHHH YEAAHHHH!!!". Click the links below:
Men's East Lansing vintage shirt and Women's East Lansing vintage shirt
Love,
The Mitten State
We just got the first shipment of Marquette shirts in. Printed and designed right here in Michigan. Get them here: Men's Vintage Marquette T-Shirt and Women's Vintage Marquette T-Shirt.
Love,
The Mitten State
In January, Newsweek released a list of dying cities with Grand Rapids at spot #10. It ruffled a few feathers. In response, Grand Rapids gathered 5,000 citizens and put on a world record-breaking video to the tune of Don McLean's "American Pie". It was shot a few days ago downtown and was filmed using one single shot.
Newsweek responded today, citing its support of GR and deflecting responsibility:
"To the Grand Rapids crowd:
First off, we LOVE your YouTube LipDub. We're big fans, and are inspired by your love of the city you call home.
But so you know what was up with the list you're responding to, we want you to know it was done by a website called mainstreet.com--not by Newsweek (it was unfortunately picked up on the Newsweek web site as part of a content sharing deal)--and it uses a methodology that our current editorial team doesn't endorse and wouldn't have employed. It certainly doesn't reflect our view of Grand Rapids."
We personally didn't take offense, since we work out of Grand Rapids and fully know that this isn't a dying city. But it is nice to see the community band together against bad publicity. We even got a little exposure... Notice the Mitten and Love Michigan shirts @2:45min? :^)
Love,
The Mitten State
It was 5 years ago that a few of us decided to start up a t-shirt company. We didn't really know what we were doing. Frankly, we didn't really know how to design, either. But progress comes to those willing to put in the hard work and persistence, right? Out of about 10 original designs (on a website that no longer exists), we came up with one gem: the Grand Rapids Boxes t-shirt. That shirt would become the genesis for The Mitten State.
In 2008, plans for a TMS website started taking shape, a proposition complicated by 3 business partners in 3 different states. It launched in 2009, with designs dedicated to our home state. We had but two shirts: the Grand Rapids Boxes (original unisex version) and the Grand Rapids Hand (original unisex version). You could get them in any color, as long as it was blue.
Eventually, we added more cities: Ann Arbor, Detroit, and East Lansing. And things were good. As our brand developed, and we honed our design skills and tastes, we moved away from our 2 original designs, leading to the current line up you see here.
And so it is with great pleasure that we re-introduce some of our original vintage Michigan t-shirts, straight outta the TMS archives. We're only selling what's left, so snag one at half price while we have them in stock. You can find them here: TMS Originals.
Love,
The Mitten State
It wasn't very long ago that we quit our jobs and set out to start a company that would celebrate the best of Michigan and its people. We believe that the Mitten State speaks to us all in a unique way and means something a little different to everyone, but unifies us nonetheless by way of our communities, citizens, and places. Where else can you use your hand as a map and not get strange looks? (We tried out West. It only served to confuse people and make us miss home).
So on this sunny day in late May, we'd like to take a moment and list a few of the reasons why this state is so great:
- There are more 5 star rated golf courses in Michigan than in any other state in the USA. [Golf Michigan]
- Michigan ranks #6 in number of breweries and #16 in breweries per capita. [Drink Local]
- We have over 3,200 miles of shoreline, more than any other state except Alaska. [Love Lake Michigan]
- Standing anywhere in Michigan, you're never more than 85 miles away from a body of water.
- 11,500 lakes. Need we say more?
- Despite its current stuggles, Mo-Town remains one of the most iconic and well-known cities in the world. [Motor City]
Love,
The Mitten State
Everyone from Michigan uses their hand to to point out where they're from (see our Grand Rapids Boxes T Shirt). And we all love our Great Lakes. Here are a few "Michigan-isms" we thought were pretty funny...
Love,
The Mitten State
Alright, TMS fans... We love and appreciate your support, so the next 100 fans will get 25% off their order. Type in code "First100" at checkout. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
In 1992, Grand Haven was officially designated "Coast Guard City" by an act of Congress. The city on Lake Michigan is home to miles of sandy beaches, bike trails, a state park, and a Great Lakes port that imports limestone and exports... you guessed it, sand.
Click here for Men's Grand Haven T-Shirt and here for Women's Grand Haven T-Shirt.
Love,
The Mitten State
In 1976, America celebrated it bicentennial. In Holland, Michigan, the tulips were in bloom and the annual festival was honored to host President Gerald R. Ford as its guest. Each year, Tulip City plants hundreds of thousands of flowers to celebrate the "Best Small Town Festival", an event that brings in over 1 million people.
Love,
The Mitten State
Head over to the TMS Facebook page and decide which design should be released next. Most votes wins. :)
Choices are:
1) Ann Arbor 2) East Lansing 3) Mt Pleasant 4) Golf TMS 5) Ski Da U.P. 6) Marquette
Stay tuned for more...
Love,
The Mitten State
We've been including 15-20% off discount codes all winter long inside customer orders. And they expire when Michigan hits it's first 70 degree day. According to the local forecasts, that is tomorrow! If you've got one and haven't used it, get 'er in before then. And if you haven't purchased from us yet, now's your chance. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
If you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of a few new designs. :)
Love,
The Mitten State
Rambling down Grand River Avenue, taking in all the sights and sounds of East Lansing, one realizes how awesome this city is for thousands of college students and residents. The coffee shops, bars, and college related businesses give a sense of a community alive with youth and passion. We give it a thumbs up. Look for its release on our online shop soon.
Love,
The Mitten State
Along with the K-zoo shirts, we'll be launching our Home shirts (early April). You can visit a lot of places in this world, but you'll always love where you're from. So whether you're currently living in Michigan, or you've moved away, you can always call the Mitten State your home.
Update: Home TMS shirts are available here (Men's) and here (Women's).
Love,
The Mitten State
After a couple of impromptu polls on the TMS Facebook page, we have a winner. The next TMS shirt will be K-zoo, in impossibly soft heather black with a gold print. We'll release more color options after the inital launch, and then design number 2 for Kalamazoo will make its way into the store as well. As always, you'll be able to choose which Michigan charity sees a portion of your purchase benefit. And take a look at our sizing charts before ordering- the women's shirts in particular are S-N-U-G!
Update: K-zoo shirts available here (Men's) and here (Women's).
Love,
The Mitten State
We just released a new shirt: Traverse City. Boasting the largest production of tart cherries in the USA, we thought it was perfectly fitting to celebrate it in a wonderfully vintage inspired design. Get the women's version HERE and the men's version HERE. And remember, if in doubt, order a size up (they are vintage cut, meaning they are designed to gently drape over the body).
Thanks to all of you who purchased a Groupon this past week! If you're wondering what the next step is, here's a quick rundown:
1. Groupon sale was Wed Feb 23 and Thu Feb 24.
2. Groupon will provide each customer with an individual code, to be redeemed right here, on our site.
3. Coupons can be redeemed starting this Sunday, March 27 via our online store. Shop as you normally would, and at checkout, type in your Groupon code where it says "enter discount code here".
4. Enter your credit card information to successfully checkout (if your order total is $0.00 you won't be charged).
And a few reminders:
-Groupon codes are applied to t-shirts only (one per sale/transaction)
-Becoming a TMS member gets you free shipping!
Happy shopping!
Why hello, there! We've totally upgraded our TMS store. Here are a few highlights:
1. FREE shipping and exchanges for members: Register an account with us and get free shipping on all products (except coffee mugs, those suckers are heavy!)
2. Order Status: check your order directly on our store.
3. New Stuff: we're rolling out new items, including new designs, hoodies, kid's sizes and baby tees!
4. Charity Options: A portion of every purchase benefits local charities. You can now choose which charity you'd like to see benefit from your purchase!
