Stormy Kromer uses U.P.-grown wool to create new cap

A pair of companies with long-standing roots in the Upper Peninsula have come together to create a unique product, blending the design and manufacturing skills of one and the talents of raising sheep and producing wool from the other.

We’re talking about the iconic Stormy Kromer (Jacquart Fabric Products) and the Lake Superior Woolen Company. Together, the companies have crafted a limited-edition cap, the Lake Superior Woolen x Stormy Kromer Cap, available while supplies last. The hat features a leather brim, adding to its unique feel.

Gina Jacquart Thorsen“For us, this partnership is about more than just creating a product,” says Gina Thorsen, who is CEO of Stormy Kromer. “It’s about celebrating the U.P. and the passion for quality that’s woven into everything we do here. I couldn’t be prouder to see this project come to life with such an amazing partner in Lake Superior Woolen Company.”

What’s happening: Two family-owned heritage brands from the U.P., Stormy Kromer and Lake Superior Woolen Co., have joined forces to create a limited-edition cap. Similar in design to the iconic Stormy Kromer cap, this new cap, however, is made from wool produced in the Upper Peninsula. The cap is aptly called the Lake Superior Woolen x Stormy Kromer Cap. It also features a leather brim and is available while supplies last.

Joel MarottiAn array of the iconic Stormy Kromer caps on display at the company's store in Ironwood.

The back story: Thorsen says Eric Wallis, whose family owns the sheep farm, reached out to her in the past and as recently as January about the possibility of a partnership. “The way their wool is woven is a little different than the wool we typically use, so we weren’t sure we could work with it, but after a few experiments where we literally cut up some of their blankets and made hats out of them, we decided we had a great collab on (our) hands,” she says. 

The collaboration: The cap is made of wool raised from sheep in Rudyard by Eric Wallis and his family at their historic farm, which has been certified by the Michigan Centennial Farms Association.  Lake Superior Woolen shears its sheep and then sends the wool fibers to a mill on Prince Edward Island called McAusland’s Woolen Mill and McAusland’s usually then turns those fibers into blankets.  “For this project we worked with them to turn the fibers into continuous yardage that we could cut into hats,” Thorsen says. The fabric returned to Ironwood, the home of Stormy Kromer, where sewing machine operators turned the fabric into the iconic cap.

More than a cap: To the collaborators, the cap captures the rugged beauty and the authentic craftsmanship that define life in the U.P. “Stormy Kromer has long been regarded as the ‘unofficial hat of the U.P., and working with another family business committed to the land and heritage makes this project even more special,” the companies said in a press release. 

Where to get the cap: It’s available for $75 from either Stormy Kromer’s website or in person at Lake Superior Woolen Company store in downtown Mackinaw City. Only a limited quantity is available. Could the cap become more than a limited-edition product? “Yes, it’s definitely something we would consider again if it’s successful. It’s a pretty long lead on the supply chain side, so I could see it possibly being an annual release,” Thorsen says.

About Stormy Kromer: The iconic brand is part of Jacquart Fabric Products, operated by the second and third generations of the Jacquart family. The Stormy Kromer brand traces its beginnings to the early years of the 20th century in Wisconsin. It became part of Jacquart Fabric Products in 2001. Jacquart Fabric Products occupies more than 90,000 square feet at its Ironwood facility. It employs more than 100 Midwestern workers.

Partnerships: Stormy Kromer has a long history of working on collaborative products with other Michigan companies like Carhartt and Merrell. Last year Stormy Kromer partnered with Snowtrekker Tents of Viroqua, Wisconsin, to produce a portable sauna tent. Recent collaborations have come with Vermont Flannel Company and First Lite. “We love partnering with other like-minded brands, and it’s a great way to introduce SK to new audiences while thinking a little out of the box on products,” Thorsen says.

About Lake Superior Woolen Co.: Lake Superior Woolen Co. traces its roots to a homestead in 1915. The great-grandson, Eric Wallis, has transformed the family’s traditional sheep farming operation into an innovative wool products company. The company has a single flock of sheep grazing at its farm in Rudyard, near WHER. The fleece used in the company’s wool blankets and mattress pads is 100 percent virgin wool. Eric’s oldest daughter, Kristy, opened Lake Superior Woolen Company’s storefront in Mackinaw City.

“Lake Superior Woolen Company is not only honored but feels very blessed to have been given an opportunity to partner with Stormy Kromer,” Kristy Currie says. “We greatly value the U.P., the businesses within it, and the local support and community that only this piece of Michigan can bring.”

Freelance writer Jason M. Karel occasionally writes for Rural Innovation Exchange and UPword Michigan.