Minnesotans know cold, or so we’ve been told. So who better to design and manufacture cold weather gear? How about a husband and wife team whose expertise and experience includes dog sledding, expeditions to the North Pole, clothing design and living in Minnesota. For almost 20 years, Wintergreen Northern Wear has been designing and manufacturing cold weather outdoor clothing from the small town of Ely, Minnesota.
As it turns out, the beginnings of Wintergreen Northern Wear goes back even further than 20 years. In 1985, Susan Schurke designed Eskimo-style apparel from new synthetic fabrics that were to be used on numerous expeditions often involving her husband, Paul. These first garments were the beginning of Wintergreen Northern Wear. Since those days, Wintergreen Northern Wear has been worn to just about every cold weather location on earth including Greenland and the Russian Artic.
The current line up from Wintergreen Northern Wear includes anoraks, jackets, vests, woolens and base layers for both men, women and kids. There is also cold weather gear for your four-legged, canine friend. Along with garments, they also manufacture hats, gloves, neck gators and even a reusable shopping bag – all of these products are made in America, right in Ely.
We’ve also heard that the snow does eventually melt in Minnesota, and Wintergreen Northern Wear has those few days covered. The Canoe Shorts are made from quick-drying, breathable 3-ply nylon with DWR (durable water repellency) and are specifically designed for hot summer days. For year round comfort, the Boundary Waters Shell Pants have features like being windproof, bug proof, quick dry, breathable and are manufactured using the same 3-ply nylon with DWR as the Canoe Shorts.
Wintergreen Northern Wear is proud of the fact that their products are U.S. made:
We take great pride in being one of the largest private employers in a small remote town where jobs are scarce but garment making talents and pride in workmanship are in abundance. We’re one of the last full-line outdoor clothing makers in the U.S. Our country has become a throw away society because we can get cheap goods from overseas. Wintergreen clothing is made to last so if it means purchasing a garment made by an American worker at a higher price, we feel this is a good thing. Buy less, keep it longer and throw away less!
Made in America and producing a product that lasts, we couldn’t agree more this concept!