There is no better place to spend your summer months than Minnesota, home of the Boundary Waters, The Twins, and of course, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream. Check out sota clothing’s ultimate guide to “Fun-Minnesota-Summer-Adventures” below.
All good adventures include food. It’s just a fact. Here are some of our favorite Minnesota food and drink stops to complete any summer adventure.
We can all agree that Summer is the greatest time to explore our wonderful state and all of its natural beauty. While the list of outdoor highlights in Minnesota is endless, here are a few to get you started on your “adventure-ing”.
Pro tip: these are spectacular places for a family photo op!
School is out and entertaining your kids has become your full-time job again. Let us help! Save this list for when your kids need to get out of the house and you are lacking inspiration.
We hope you enjoy our recommendations. Be sure to tag us on your socials when you post at our favorite Minnesota spots. One last thing…don’t forget to share your Minnesota love by stopping at our Sota retail store in St. Louis Park or Stillwater, Minnesota!
Author: Kate Corona
]]>In 2021, sota clothing had the opportunity to partner with Minneapolis-based non-profit Pillsbury United Communities.
For more than 140 years, Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) has been co-creating change towards a more just society where every person has personal, social, and economic power. Their united system of programs, neighborhood centers, social enterprises, and partnerships connects individuals and their families throughout the Twin Cities.
Through co-branded merchandise, our summer warehouse sale, OMNI Brewery's Sota Sippin' craft brew, and the RoundUp at checkout, we were able to raise nearly $19,000 so PUC can continually increase their impact in our community.
With the year ahead, we will continue to strengthen those who've dedicated their lives to serving on the front lines, bringing hope and restoration to our communities. In 2022, we will be doing this through our partnership with St. Paul-based non-profit: Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
With the year ahead, we will continue to strengthen those who've dedicated their lives to serving on the front lines, bringing hope and restoration to our communities. In 2021, we will be doing this through our partnership with Minneapolis-based non-profit: Pillsbury United Communities.
In the year ahead, we invite you to join us in standing with Pillsbury United Communities in the restorative work they are doing within our own community.
1. Purchase our MN Nice Tote bag
4. Donate directly to Pillsbury United Communities
5. "round up"to the next dollar on on-line orders at sotaclothing.com to donate to PUC
Early shopping:
If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our email list so you can stay in the loop about Black Friday weekend discounts as soon as they are released! This holiday season is going to demand greater creativity and diligence from us all, but we are grateful to be in it with you.
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First and foremost, sota clothing has been a place for a whole lot of learning. Learning how to blend a staff with varying degrees of experience, everything from "over-qualified" to "I've never done this before." The former group learning how to operate on a small-scale dynamic, and the latter getting oriented to a new role for the first time.
We've had to learn what it really takes to tend to the different stages of a brand and a business. Discerning when it's time to grow the team or cut back, when to thin out inventory or look for a new space that will accommodate the demand.
We tested and stretched our limits when we bought a building to renovate while prepping for the State Fair, turning out new product, functioning as landlords, and launching our first retail store at the same time.
sota became a place for social gatherings of so many kinds: happy hours, birthday parties, holiday dinners, and even a wedding. Providing a spot big enough to host both ping-pong tournaments and dance parties simultaneously after Christmas dinner. It's also common for out-of-town family to stop in as they come or go, and rare is the occasion they don't get assigned a task while they're in.
Johnson family Christmas dinner at Sota Clothing's Doc's Hall | December 2018
sota clothing has also been a "post-retirement hangout" of sorts. Gathering ladies from the neighborhood for "coffee and tagging" parties as they help us tag bulk inventory shipments while talking about the latest neighborhood gossip.
It’s a place for our mom and dad to connect with each other and their adult kids, often making daily stops to check-in and offer a hand where needed. Our Uncle Joe, living just shy of a mile from the office, has also found his "retirement job" in sota. He has become our go-to-guy for help wherever its needed, whether it be painting the warehouse, setting up pop-up shops, or modeling at the State Fair.
It's even been a place for match-making. The first "non-Johnson" we hired, our event coordinator Melissa, ended up working a "not-so-accidental" shift at the State Fair with our brother Nick (who was working to pay off his cell phone bill). Three years later we no longer have an event coordinator, and she and Nick moved out to New York while he pursues PA school.
Lastly, we've found sota clothing to be a place for transitions. Amongst our team, we've had employees coming from corporate, education, home-life, finance, and music. Some employees jumped into roles they may have been over-qualified for, and other's navigated their new role for the first time. Either way, sota has been an experiment for some in seeing if small-family-business life works for them, or if it's just a pit-stop along the way as they pursue their next endeavor.
Amidst the span of sota clothing's still young life, we know we've come up short of perfect more often than we'd prefer. But we are committed to keep trying, providing a place that's ripe for turning co-workers into friends, mistakes into lessons, and dead-ends into new beginnings.
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Our mom painting the finishing touches to the sota caravan | Summer 2016
The sota caravan gains sota clothing entry inside the State Fair Grounds! | Summer 2016
Sota Clothing outgrows NE Suite and moves to Golden Valley | October 2016
Sota Clothing lands first commercial with Honda | Summer 2018
sota clothing renovates and moves to St. Louis Park's historic Walker Building | Summer 2018
First sota clothing store front opens in St. Louis Park | August 2018
sota clothing launches Classic State, providing headwear that showcases the unique lifestyle’s of each state within our Union
And of course, sota clothing is far from a solo ordeal. We've been fortunate to have endlessly creative and hardworking people join our team over the years, each having left their own mark in helping shape sota clothing to what it is today.
sota's come along way since it was first dreamt up in a UMD classroom in 2011. Sometimes, especially when we feel overwhelmed, we like to joke that Spencer may have taken his class project a little too far! It's been a wild ride to say the least, and we are so excited to see how our story continues to unfold.
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With the year ahead we will continue to help strengthen those who've dedicated their lives to serving on the front lines, bringing hope and restoration to our communities. In 2020, we will be doing this through our partnership with a Minneapolis-based non-profit: Still Kickin. They've become famed for helping awesome people going through terrible things. Each month, they select a new hero and gift them a "a no-strings-attached financial grant to help them get through whatever tough thing they're dealing with." These funds come from purchasing Still Kickin merchandise as well as donations from their ticketed events.
In this new year, consider how you too can use your talent, time, and dollar to make a greater impact and strengthen our local heroes alongside us.
1. Purchase our MN Nice Tote Bag
6. "round up"to the next dollar on on-line orders at sotaclothing.com to donate to Still Kickin
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Anyone who looks in for only a moment may question why we'd ever stay. The summers hot and sticky, mosquitos surfacing every night, and the winters long and cold, with the threat of being trapped by snow always lingering. What they don’t understand is that we relish in the adversity. Becoming stronger and more ourselves when we’re pushed to the limit.
Only those who have weathered the long winters can fully enjoy those first moments of spring when the crocuses start to pop out of the ground. Only by sticking through the stickiest times of summer do the fall trips north to see the leaves change color feel the most refreshing.
And honestly we love the opportunity to show how tough we are when all the elements seem to be against us. It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have our stories of going out into blizzards, getting stuck in snow drifts, pushing our neighbors out of snow banks, and then wrapping up in our favorite blankets with a cup of coffee in hand. And even when it’s hot and sticky the summers at the lake are what dreams are made of. Cooling off in the glassy water, casting line after line hoping to catch the one, and then gazing at the shooting stars while the loons sing nourishes the soul in ways that keep our spirits high.
Surely there will be days that we start to question how much longer we can stand it, living through all the highs and lows, but this one predominate claim will always ring truest, “You betcha! We love it here.”
Mural was done by artists Robb McNeill, David Chang, and Ian O'Neill. Rob McNeill's Minneapolis based Impulse Creative has painted numerous murals throughout the Twin cities. The mural was painted over the course of 10 hours during sota clothing's block party in September 2019.
We welcome all Minnesota natives and visitors to come by and snap your photo to showoff your pride and joy for the place we all call home! Mural located at 6518 Walker Street, St. Louis Park, MN
]]>When the 1972 Chickadee Caravan first came rolling down our driveway, we were all a bit taken aback. It was coming back from its trip to the paint shop, and with no windows or trim work yet, it really just looked like a giant ball of teal. In time, the white accents and branding would pull a look together that gained us entry to the Minnesota State Fair.
Since then the sota caravan has become a staple for fair-goers strolling through the Northwoods quarters. Customers were just as likely to approach our booth to look inside the camper, as they were to shop our gear. Now, the sota caravan is welcoming a new addition to the mobile fleet- the sota caravan 2.0. With an additional 6 feet in length, our new 1967 Fan Camper will offer a more streamlined experience to better serve state fair shoppers.
With the first caravan, we learned a lot about the importance of maximizing a space to intentionally use every square inch. Now we get a chance to apply what we've learned in revamping this next mobile shopping experience. We reached out to BIG INK who’s Move Mobile Marketing team designed and managed the interior build-out and exterior face-lift of our sota caravan 2.0.
Tom Jaeger, the lead craftsman in the project, retired from United Airlines in 2011. In dealing with the intricacies of the remodel, he likened it to his time as a pilot. Remarking that each airport came with its own challenges, and it was a puzzle to figure out- similar to his projects in the wood shop.
They were able to incorporate our inspirations from the North Woods as well as the state’s Nordic roots into the campers aesthetic. The exterior paint job is again marked by the iconic teal hue, but now with a horizontal stripe cutting through the middle.
p/c Trey Fortner & Big Ink
Sota clothing’s recent collaboration canoe with Merrimack Canoe will also be displayed at the booth. Our friendship with Merrimack and Sanborn Canoe Co. has grown over the past several years and we are continually impressed with their unparalleled craftsmanship.
At this year's booth you'll be able to shop early releases from our fall line as well as this year's Twin Cities Live collaboration hats. Sota Clothing’s booth is located on Cooper Street, 1/2 block south of Randall Ave. and will be open from 8am to 10pm.
We're so excited to see you there!
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Growing up, we vacillated between being moderately and extremely competitive with each other. Our dad would instigate push-up contests during commercial breaks, and family reunions called for ping-pong tournaments with a substantial pot of cash on the line. If we weren’t playing for money, we were playing for “double-or-nothing” back-rubs. Aside from the thrill of it, competition seemed to be a primary means for relating to each other.
Fortunately for us Johnsons, the sota clothing team has embraced this competitive nature as it surfaces in the office.
This June will be our second staff fitness challenge. It’s based on a point scale that will be tallied at the end of the month. Points can be gained by lunging down the hallway, parking your car a few blocks away from work, planking at your desk, and unloading the office dishwasher. Five points are deducted from your score if you bring an unhealthy treat to share, but those points can be gained back if you bring something healthy.
The one disclaimer to this challenge is that all exercises must be done at work. Any morning or evening work-outs count for nothing. One would think that Spencer would want these exercises to happen outside of the 9am to 5pm, to optimize workday hours and productivity, but he knows that would really carve out half the fun. What we learned growing up, is that it’s best to find ways to play as you work. In playing together, we pave the way for deeper connections, creative thinking, and the kinds of laughs that make your load feel a little lighter.
With that, we want to encourage you to turn up the play in your own circles. Whether it’s a fitbit challenge, or implementing silly exercises in the workplace, consider getting this kind of momentum going and see where it takes you. If you need some ideas, feel free to borrow from our list!
His most widely known graphic embodies our claim as “the land of 10,000 lakes” with the iconic crossing oars, as well as our establishment as the 32nd state to join the union. Little did he know that countless of Minnesotan’s would embrace his designs as well, now having a wearable expression of their state pride- cultivating their own sense of home.
Over the past eight years, we have brought sota clothing to county fairs and state fairs, pop-up shops and retail boutiques. Its emblem cutting across demographic barriers as an expression that unites.
In interacting with customers, one common question continued to surface.
“When will you start making designs for other states?”
It's a request that reveals a common desire, from coast to coast, to show pride for where one comes from. To nurture and claim a sense of home.
Knowing this undertaking was not sota’s to fulfill, it paved way for what we are proud to introduce to you as Classic State. Influenced from the clean and timeless designs of sota clothing, Classic State identifies and displays the unique culture and lifestyle’s of each state within our Union. Providing wearable expressions to showcase the pride you have for the land you call home.
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It was time to reach back out to our realtor Colin to search for sota’s next home, hopefully something that would last longer than a year and a half this time.
Based on the parameters he received, Colin showed us the historic Walker building in St. Louis Park. Erected in the 1880’s, it was the city’s oldest commercial building although the interior reflected the era of its 1990’s remodel. Spence was struck by the possibility of restoring the building and bringing back its original character. But beyond its potential for aesthetics, the space would provide what we desperately needed most—room for growth. We’d be leaving what quickly had become a cramped 3,200 square foot building and taking on a vast 12,000 square feet.
Walker Building 1955 - p/c: St. Louis Park Historical Society
Spencer’s internal idea generator was kicked into high gear as he entertained the countless endeavors this place could launch. He was developing plans for knocking down walls, exposing ceiling beams, brick walls, and hardwood floors. The only problem was that up until this point, our “renovations” mostly involved shiplap, barn doors, painting and wallpapering projects. If we were really going to try flipping the oldest building in St. Louis Park, we knew we needed to look beyond our circle. As it turned out, we didn’t need to look very far.
Mike Pattison is our graphic designer’s dad. Before going out on his own as a contractor, Mike had careers in both engineering and sales, and from personal experience we knew he did quality work. Over the next four months he worked closely with Rebecca Rudduck, our key visionary and designer for the buildout.
After extensive negotiating and back-and-forth talk with realtors and loan officers, contracts were signed and the keys to the historic Walker building were in our hands. Sota was now its own landlord.
Over the next four months, Spencer sent us out (with the exception of our sister Lauren, who was five months pregnant) to assist with renovations. Mike found ways to utilize and coach us rookies and turned us into a functioning demolition crew.
Enthusiasm ran high as the first walls came down and the maze-like interior opened up. Artifacts were found in the rafters that spoke to the building’s history, such as peanut jars and an old pair of women’s boots. Eventually demo week turned into demo months. Our move-in date was pushed back to the end of June.
On the eve of the move, we were outlining product placement on the shelves at the new warehouse, prepping what we could to assure a smooth transition for the next day.
The only thing we didn’t plan for was the text we received from Lauren in the morning. She was on her way to the hospital, already in the beginning stages of labor. An integral part of our team was out, and beginning her maternity leave on our biggest move to date. It was time for the team to rally.
General Moving Experts took two loads with their 30 foot truckbed, and as staff we used our personal vehicles to move the smaller, miscellaneous items. By mid-afternoon we were already making our final trips. The conference room table was placed in the middle of the warehouse, everyone would work from there until the office space was up to code. By the following day, order fulfillment was up and running, processing orders around everyone working from the table. As soon as things were feeling settled, Spence and I went straight from the warehouse to the hospital to meet our newest niece, sweet Nellie.
All of sota’s merchandise was now at the Walker building, but the office and retail space renovations would still continue for two more months. The opening date for our retail store was pushed further and further back. Once the second date was missed, Spencer reluctantly adjusted the window sign, this time adding “-ish” to the end of delayed. We were making great progress, but still struggling to settle on a date we could promise. We wanted to assure that the sota clothing experience would live up to everything our customers were hoping for, which called for more diligence and patience than we initially anticipated.
Day-by-day, projects were crossed off the list and all the city codes were passed. Before opening up the store to the public, we had a soft launch for family and friends. In our usual style, we were working into the last moments. Painting trim, pulling away painter’s tape, and covering up outlets and vents just minutes before the party started, quickly changing from our work to party clothes as guests were walking in.
By August 20th, we were welcoming customers through our doors. One of our biggest dreams -sota clothing’s first retail store- was now a reality. We all took a moment to celebrate and find our bearings, before quickly shifting our focus to what lay ahead. Seven days later we hauled the sota caravan to the MN State Fair to set up shop for the next twelve days. For the first time, we navigated inventory and staffing between online sales, the storefront and the State Fair.
So the hustle continued. And to our great joy and relief, 2018 went down as yet another year that grew us, rather than broke us.
Shoutouts:
Sota clothing employees: Rebecca Rudduck, Kyle Kunzmann, Gabe Pattison, Melissa Miller, Lauren Johnson, Kristin Carlson, Katie Weed, Carson Albrecht and Taryn Welch. Whether it was immersing yourselves in renovations or picking up the slack during the transition, you all went above and beyond for us.
*A special thank you to Gabe Pattison for his craftsmanship in the retail store and Doc’s hall. Kyle Kunzmann for his six weeks of consecutive demo-days on-site, and to Rebecca Rudduck who has had her boots on the ground since the beginning, and is still going with lower-level renovations.
Family and friends who worked alongside us in the final countdown: mom and dad, uncle Joe, Brian Castle, Nick Johnson, Mitchell Johnson, Mark Jeffrey, Andrew Fischer, Bryan Szmergalski, Lois and Mitch Hegland, Sandy Pattison, Danielle Pattison, and Zach Pattison. We’re beyond grateful to have you on our home team.
The man behind the renovation: Mike Pattison. Thank you for looking out for us all along the way, and making things happen. We’d still be in “demo-week” without you!
Walker Building - February 2019 - p/c: Spacecrafting Photography
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This fleet of mobile entrepreneurship is the beginning of that exception.
Sota Clothing and Handsome Bicycles have come together to launch the first annual Minnesota Mobile Market, a band of like-minded entrepreneurs who see the value in putting wheels beneath their craft in order to engage new communities. Spencer Johnson, founder of Sota Clothing, was first attracted to this avenue of customer engagement because of the way it challenged retailers to find new ways to sell their product. He also enjoyed the element of surprise in catching their customers off guard with where their product could be found.
Within the mix of retailers at Minnesota Mobile Market’s first gathering, you’ll be able to approach a vehicle’s window sill in pursuit of a pair of running shoes from Mill City Running, bike gear from Handsome Bicycles, a paddle board from Paddle North, a summer blouse from Style Trolley, or a beach tank top from Sota Clothing.
In the future, Minnesota Mobile Market has plans to travel greater distances. Making stops throughout the state so mobile vendors can engage new communities as well as strengthen existing relationships- turning online interactions into personal connections.
Although the decision to purchase the deteriorating farmhouse was made by both of our parents, the vision for what it could be was admittedly all our mom. She saw past the rotted wood and a failing roof, and to a place where her six kids would find adventure, growth and rest. Likely, her most convincing case for getting our dad on board was the notion that the farmhouse would teach us kids how to work.
Saturday morning cartoons were not much of a thing for us growing up. Our Saturday mornings were reserved for whatever yard work the season demanded. If a friend was still on the couch from the previous nights sleepover, they were enlisted too. Fortunately, there were too many kids for our parents to keep a close eye on us the entire time.
We learned to make games and competitions out of most of the chores. We received five bucks for whoever gathered the biggest pile of sticks and dared each other to jump from the garage roof into leaf piles after a days worth of raking. Of course, the chores would have been completed quicker if we weren’t intermittently sneaking back into the house for snack breaks, or to just plain out hide in the bathroom for ten minutes at a time. Certainly, a work ethic was being developed, but it had a style that was unique to us.
It’s a work ethic that to this day, I can see in the undertones of Sota Clothing’s beginnings and culture today.
Like our mom with the farmhouse, Spencer was not afraid of dreaming bigger than his existing skillset. Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota- Duluth, Spencer moved home to continue tending to the designs he first sketched in the classroom. Gradually, rooms throughout the farmhouse began taking on new functions. The screen porch was used for screen printing, the basement resembled a photo studio, and our garage was housing bins of t-shirts and pop-up tents, rather than cars and lawn mowers. The farmhouse seemed to indiscriminately give to Sota Clothing what it gave to us kids growing up: a place to grow and expand as its first few chapters were being written.
Sota Caravan undergoing construction outside of the garage - Summer 2016
When it was time for Spencer to start gathering a team around him to see to Sota’s growth, it was natural for him to reach out to the first co-workers he ever knew- his siblings. We carved out our own areas of responsibility to oversee, just like we did with yard work growing up. Each person taking charge of an area that catered to their gifts.
Fortunately our stamina has grown since we were kids, as our livelihood now depends on it. We no longer catch each other hiding in the bathroom or taking excessive snack breaks, but we still hold to the importance of play and camaraderie throughout the day. Snack breaks have strategically turned into coffee breaks as we gather around the espresso machine to talk about the days work. Our lunch table intentionally converts into a ping pong table for spurts of energy when our creativity and endurance is running low.
And similarly to the lingering friends who were coaxed into working alongside us at the farmhouse on Saturday mornings, we have been fortunate to yet again turn friends into co-workers at Sota Clothing. They have brought with them skills and resources that have been invaluable to our growth as a company.
Our parents couldn’t have ever known the extent to which the farmhouse would teach us how to work, and furthermore, teach us how to work together. Neither could they have predicted the dreams it would launch. Surely, the farmhouse was faithful in being to our family all that our parents hoped it would be. And now, for the first time in over thirty years, a for-sale sign is perched upon the property’s limits. Signaling its readiness to see to the growth of another family, to weave together a new legacy. The kind of legacy that will be perfectly unique to them, yet totally unforeseen.
Johnson family farmhouse- Winter 2018
*If you're interested in learning more about the farmhouse's listing, click here.
]]>For our 2018 Minnesota Nice Project, our ambition of being a healing presence in the world of cancer remains. While touring Children’s Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis, we were reminded of the numerous trials that multiply for a family post diagnosis. The daily demands involved in a fight for life can leave a family’s emotional, physical, and financial resources nearing depletion. We learned that priorities that once lived at the top of a parents list may get left by the wayside as they come to terms with a new reality.
In light of this, Children’s Minnesota established the Cancer Kids Fund as a means for meeting emotional, spiritual, and financial needs for both the patients and their family.
The Gillespies are just one family who were assisted by the Cancer Kids Fund when their seven-year-old son Teige was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Through the fund, Teige’s family was able to experience some reprieve from the daily demands of life that do not get put on hold when cancer enters the story. Resources like parking passes, meal vouchers and assistance with two mortgage payments were made available to them through the Cancer Kids Fund.
In our 2018 Minnesota Nice Project, we want to invite the Sota Clothing community to join us as we rally for families shaken by cancer. By supporting Children's Minnesota Cancer Kids Fund, we can come alongside families whose hearts are tried and tired, and give them some reprieve so that they can focus on what is most important: championing their children through the fight of their lives.
Some ways to jump in on Sota's 2018 Minnesota Nice Project
Children's Minnesota Cancer Kids Fund donation page:
]]>He already had most of the equipment a young twenty-something needs to furnish an office: a computer and a printer. What he didn’t have was a table. With the attic being at the top of four stories of switchback, narrow stairs he decided he’d design a table to be built right in the attic itself.
Over Thanksgiving dinner he explained the layouts of his design to the most able and willing handyman we knew, our Uncle Dick. To no one’s surprise he volunteered to help Spence. He showed up at his front door the next day with our Uncle Joe, a fully-equipped toolbox, and a full head of ideas to make sure this table was built to last. A few weeks later, with the help of our cousins Ryan and Kelsey, and his roommate Roy, the table was standing and Spencer was ready to start playing office.
Cousin Ryan, Uncle Dick, Uncle Joe- fall 2014
It didn’t take long before his friends, who were also in the beginning stages of building their own businesses, got wind of the attic-office table. It quickly became a gathering place for them; like boys in a tree house. Except, this was a mature group of young men who found support and encouragement from one another as they laid the groundwork for their dreams.
Jackson Mann spoke about what the times around the table meant to him as he was in the beginnings stages of founding his high-fidelity earplug company- Vibes.
Ahmed El Shouragy, Co-Founder of the pet goods and apparel line Lucy and Co., was also a regular around the table. He recalled,
“Every one of us was still in the very early stages of our individual endeavors. It feels like somehow those sessions were the spark we all needed. Friendships were formed and hearts were inspired. We all signed our name somewhere on the underside of the table as a way to immortalize those work sessions. I was so honored to be part of something like that.”
left to right: Andy Blaschko, David Chang, Roy Son, Jackson Mann- winter 2015
Naturally, as their businesses grew, the space required to run them did too. The gatherings around the table grew sparse as leases were signed for the budding businesses. The tables first season— as launching pad— had run its course.
The table would be disassembled and reassembled twice over the next year. Once down a flight of stairs into Roy Son’s photography studio (also a dining room), where it functioned as a prop for photoshoots and to hold gatherings of people sharing meals. The second move was in October of 2016, this time across city limits to Golden Valley, MN. It was then assembled into its third and current role as Sota Clothing’s first official conference table.
Golden Valley office- fall 2016
The gatherings held around the table look quite different from its early days of hosting entrepreneurs in hot pursuit of their dreams. Yet the energy upon its panels, emitted from ideas being explored and ambitions tended to remains. In any given week product is developed, collaborations are formed, interviews are conducted, conflicts resolved, and next steps are spoken at this four-paneled table.
On Sota Clothing’s horizon is yet another move to find a building that will accommodate this past year’s growth while also providing extra space to grow into. As we explore our options we have plenty to keep in mind. Questions like: How can we re-work the warehouse? Whose office will be where? Which walls can come down and which ones cannot? This next move will give us more square footage to play with than we have ever had before. Yet, it is difficult to visualize how to best optimize the space. Perhaps we will defer to what has served us well in the past. We will let the table claim its space first, serving as our point of reference, enabling the rest of the space to follow suit. And as its next role is claimed we will all be anticipating the fruit that is yet to be born atop our cedar planked, four paneled table.
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Fast-forward twenty-some years and here he is with a company called Sota Clothing, were he gets to use his love of buying stuff as a tested and effective marketing technique. His first big purchase with company money was the 1972 Chickadee camper, now known as our Sota Caravan. Having purchased it in the spring of 2016, we were able to renovate it in time for the summer season. We hauled it around to pop-up shops all around the Twin Cities, with its biggest stop: a spot at the Minnesota State Fair.
When Spencer was initially dreaming up this mobile store ambitions of getting into the State Fair were already in mind. He knew the camper would help set us apart from the other numerous vendor applications. He drew up layouts to make it both unique and functional and hopefully something anyone would fall in love with. When these dreams became reality with the Sota Caravan, the business picked up new steam and it reinforced the way he wanted to do marketing.
Sota Caravan at Art-A-Whirl in NE Minneapolis
Then came the 1969 F100. Spencer was in northern Minnesota when he drove by a creamy-white pickup on the side of the road with a for sale sign on its window, he dreamt about how cool it would be if it became the company truck. A few moments later he found himself pulled-over on the side of the road searching for its listing on Craigslist; he made arrangements to purchase it the following day. Spencer branded the truck to look like Sota Clothing's very own forrest ranger vehicle. The F100 now serves as a significant player in Sota's various marketing efforts, including photoshoots in the Northland and also a staple for our display during the State Fair. It even brings people to our booth who really have no interest in our clothing but just want to know how much we'd be willing to sell the truck for!
F100 incorporated into our booth at the State Fair
Most recently Spencer's buddy sold him on the concept of a fully branded Sota Cafe Racer Motorcycle. Spence started with a 1974 Honda CL360 purchased off of Craigslist for $800, then his buddies at CROIG spent the next few months customizing it to fit our brand. We debuted the bike in a recent fall shoot up north, and were amazed to see those photos be amongst our most liked and shared to date- allowing us to gain exposure with new audiences that we wouldn't have reached otherwise. In addition to the F100 and Sota Caravan, the Cafe Racer has proven to push Sota Clothing forward in ways that traditional advertising rarely achieves, giving Sota Clothing new ways to express its values and lifestyle.
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We had been planning—not necessarily physically prepping—for this August bike ride since winter: Chainbreaker’s inaugural ride for cancer research. A cause that hits so close to our family and sota clothing as a whole. Right when we learned of the ride, we wanted to sign up for the distance that would raise the most money and decided on the two-day 180-mile ride. Riding this distance meant we were required to raise $14,000.
I think our hearts were in the right place, but surely our legs and lungs were not.
Most of us bought new bikes. Lauren printed out a training plan that was supposed to prep us for the ride, and we verbally committed to group training sessions throughout the summer. Spencer even initiated some bike to work incentives to add to our training regimen.
As August came and we knew we were only a few weeks out from the ride, we scurried to get in a few more long training rides. On the morning of the race, we met before sunrise to carpool to the start line in Eagan. From Eagan, we would pedal 100 miles to St. Olaf College in Northfield. From there, we planned to spend the night in the dorms, and wake up for another early morning to finish the second leg of the race- the 80 mile cycle to Exclesior.
Throughout the duration of the weekend, we would learn that the ride would be as rich as it was challenging. We discovered that each person pedaling alongside of us had their own unique experiences with cancer, yet shared the familiar ache it leaves in the heart once affected. We learned that sore butts ebb and flow, and that while “drafting” behind a bike is a thing, “drifting” is not. Upon crossing the finish line after two hours of pedaling through the cold rain, we all recognized that no amount of lactic acid build up, sweat in our eyes, or sunburn on our shoulders would compare to the challenges our heroes living with cancer face everyday.
Chainbreaker served as sota clothing’s first candidate for our Minnesota Nice Project. This campaign is a philosophy that urges everyone to take whatever it is that they do best, and do it in a way that brings restoration to the brokenness around them. Even if it just means finding ways to support those who have already dedicated their lives to being on the front lines of issues like disaster relief, fixing broken school systems, or cancer research. With that in mind we looked to what we do best— designing t-shirts— to create the Minnesota Nice Project Tee. Though only a t-shirt, it is our way of standing behind a local charity, generating funds to strengthen their momentum while also exploring ways to work beside them. We believe that as their support grows, their effectiveness and impact will, too.
Day two start line: St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN
Sota Clothing Peloton approaching finish line in Excelsior, MN
Cousin Ryan Langlois (left) researcher at U of M was the one who informed us of Chainbreaker's Ride & bike courier Robbie Polinske (right) joined our peloton along the way, braving the whole ride on his fat bike!
*Though Chainbreaker’s ride is over, the Minnesota Nice Project Tee will continue to generate funds for cancer research at the U of M Masonic Cancer Research Center for the remainder of 2017. See below for links to purchase the Minnesota Nice Project Tee, contribute to our goal of $14,000, or learn about how you can get get involved with Chainbreaker!
This is Rebecca, we call her Bex. Bex has acquired a wide variety of retail experience in both Australia and the U.S. Quick witted and hard-working, she is a welcomed presence in all areas of the office, using her diverse skill set to lift up the team as a whole.
"Everyday is different. I get to work on future planning projects and daily tasks, color/trends forecasting for upcoming seasons, participating in events, and packing orders in the warehouse."
Melissa Miller
Melissa joined us in September of 2016 after spending the summer interning with us. She was wrapping up her final coursework for graduation when she learned about sota clothing's first internship opportunity.
"My sister tagged me in the PR intern post on FB during my finals week, so I didn't study for my last final and put all my effort and time into making my resume look appealing so I could get an interview!!! I failed my final, but I got the internship!!"
After completing her internship she agreed to stay on as our Event Coordinator, taking the lead role in organizing kickball tournaments and 5K races, while also managing pop-up shops and most recently becoming a Personal Shopper for sota clothing customers. Melissa is an absolute delight, bringing laughter with her wherever she goes (even if it's unintentional).
Lauren Johnson
When Lauren joined in October of 2015, she brought the skills necessary to keep the momentum going that was generated during the summer of 2015. Having worked in corporate retail for four major companies, she was well-equipped to help sota clothing develop the back-bone it needed to withstand the retail industry. Laying down sustainable systems for sourcing, tracking inventory, and managing the growing wholesale accounts.
“One of the first things I did was look at our current inventory situation, and realized that we were not keeping enough inventory on hand to keep up with orders, which is a great problem to have but also hard when all we had to work with was the attic for warehouse space, and then carrying all the inventory up 4 flights of stairs.”
McKenzie Johnson
This is me, Kenzie. Upon graduating from Winona State University I chose to immerse myself in several part-time jobs before locking into one job full-time, knowing each line of work contains lessons of it's own. I was working in geriatric home care while spending my evenings as a barista when Spencer asked me to help him with order fulfillment in his attic warehouse. I continued to balance the three part-time job thing for over a year before finally deciding to come on full-time as the lead for Customer Care and Shipping.
Spencer Johnson
I have often thought of Spencer as an idea generator, often churning up his best ideas when something that ought to be demanding his full attention failed to grab his interest. Such was the case during his senior year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, when he etched his initial designs for sota clothing during geology class. Little did he know where this design would take him, now seven years later overseeing a staff of seven and still seeing to its potential. He does a good job keeping his staff happy too, incorporating espresso machines and "gym class" into our workday.
Kyle Kunzmann
Kyle joined us this June to help in the warehouse. Detail-oriented, caring, and efficient, he's strengthening Sota's values of serving our customers with timely shipments and follow-up service. He's well on his way to being the quickest packer we've ever known, as well as being the closest thing we've ever had to a forklift!
"I get to work in several different areas within Sota Clothing and it gives me new perspective about the opportunities and challenges that exist within small businesses. People are always willing to help out in different areas depending on what is most pressing."
Kristin Carlson
Kristin arrived right in the brink of time. As we've been growing and expanding sota has been needing assistance in merchandising and wholesale accounts. Having experience as an Executive Team Lead at Target and a Planning Analyst at Best Buy, we are excited for all Kristin continues to bring to the table.
"I'm excited to work for a small company, knowing I will get to wear multiple hats and help wherever is needed. Working with sweet people and an awesome brand that cares about helping people, at the same time giving suggestions and seeing them come to light."
Gabe Pattison
Gabe is the most recent addition to sota clothing, but it hasn't taken long for him to leave his mark. He spent over seven years in the ad agency world before joining us, and his skill set and zeal for the northland manifests itself instinctively in his graphic design work. He is tending to the designs already established by sota clothing while also exploring new ways of expressing Minnesota's lifestyle and culture.
"I love thinking about design with a holistic view of how our customer will be interacting with the brand. Its more than just a shirt they buy online, it's all the little touch points in between [...] being able to design that overall experience is something I love."
Margaret Johnson (sota mom)
Meet our mom, although not actually an employee she joins us as at her leisure to assist in the warehouse while simultaneously acting as our consultant for all things decorating. Rare is the occasion that we embark on an office space project without first seeking her advice. Since she is not an employee, she says her favorite part of the job is it's flexibility. She enjoys making it a point that she decides when she comes and goes.
]]>One solution we’ve landed on at Sota Clothing is to do whatever it is that you do best, in a way that supports those already in the fight. This is the whole idea behind Sota Clothing’s Minnesota Nice Project. We want to hone in on what we do best, designing t-shirts, to support those already on the front-lines of such issues. To do this we will be debuting our Minnesota Nice Project Tee this June. Although only a t-shirt, we hope it serves as a reminder of a value so deeply embedded in our state: that you don’t need to know someone before caring for them, that all people are worth fighting for.
Proceeds from the Minnesota Nice Project Tee will continually be going to various charities in our state. Its first stop being Chainbreaker, a two-wheeled grassroots movement chasing down cancer through cycling. Originating in Ohio, they will be bringing their race to MN this summer to raise funds for the Masonic Center at the University of Minnesota. Where there resides a group of researchers on the brink of cutting edge cancer research and treatments. Diligently doing what they do best in order to care for generations to come.
*Click here to see what else we are doing to support Chainbreaker and how you can join us on the ride!
]]>Roughly this time last year Superior Goods, a premium American-made line birthed from Sota Clothing, was breaking it’s way into the public. For most its introduction came through our kickstarter campaign, which was our way to fund the first product of the line: the North Star hoodie.
Having design elements inspired by Minnesota winters, this hoodie was purposed for much more then just special occasions. Whether it was down hill skiing or shoveling the driveway, we wanted the North Star Hoodie to be versatile in many conditions. Making it the go-to grab from the coat rack as you walked out the door.
Early January of 2016, the kickstarter video was released. On average only 10% of kickstarter campaigns are successful. We hadn’t the slightest idea how we would fair. Between fabric, working with our technical designer Jeanna Palkowitsch, and hiring sewers, the amount we needed to start breathing life into this project was set at $30,000. Kickstarter operates in an all-or-nothing fashion; if the goal was not reached in its entirety the donors would receive their full donation back, leaving us at square one.
In just eight days our goal was reached, it was clear that there were plenty of like-minded people who also wanted to see this project come to fruition. Each donation came with some kind of reward. The average donation of $85, called the early bird special, was rewarded with a North Star Hoodie from the very first batch. The largest donation was set for $1,000. This amount was rewarded with a North Star Hoodie as well as a personal lifestyle photo shoot with Spencer. Only three donors fell into this category, one of which was our mother.
Our original plan for production was to contract the work out to the sewers at the women’s prison in Shakopee, MN. It wasn’t until the campaign was completed that the women’s prison realized how technical the hoodie would be, and advised us to seek production elsewhere.
The funds were raised, the fabric had been ordered, but our sewers were yet to be found. Spencer received a couple contacts for local sewers from our hat guy, Roddy, and Lauren followed up on the leads. One of which got us in contact with Kathy and Houen Seng, both tailors out of Monticello, MN.
In time, we learned that Kathy and Houen first learned to sew in elementary school in Cambodia. As teenagers Kathy and Hoeun were forced to flee Cambodia to a Thai refugee camp because of the war. After spending two years in the camp, Kathy and Hoeun married before heading to the U.S., where they eventually honed the skills they first learned in grade school and earned their living as tailors here in the states.
After Lauren explained the concept behind the North Star Hoodie and all that it involved, the Seng’s agreed to partner with us in its production. They worked closely with the patterns our designers made to establish each step involved in production. Seng built a 8x15’ table to start in on the various cuts that would need to be made. Each step of production provided challenges of its own. Extensive conversations between Spencer, Lauren, Jeanna, and Rebecca Radduck, one of our consultants, were had over aspects of a hoodie that the average consumer might take for granted; things like zipper sizes, the fit of the thumbhole along the wrist, and how to tweak the cuts for the hood so that one didn’t look like a knight heading into battle. The Seng’s produced several prototypes in each size before the final product was achieved, each time being analyzed for adjustments by our team. The early birds who so generously supported us back in February would receive their hoodie as their size was completed, between August to October of 2016.
Spencer and I went to the shop this winter to get more familiar with the production process. We saw the table Hoeun built to cut the fabric, the sewing machine he uses to topstitch, and the machine across from him Kathy uses to surge each piece of the garment together. Since the final version of the hoodie was established, the Seng’s have produced over 900 North Star Hoodies for this past winter season.
Having come from Sota clothing, Superior Goods has made it a point to design each garment with one of the four seasons in mind. We hope Superior Goods will inspire both the avid outdoorsmen and those reluctantly on the sidelines to take their next step into greater adventures. By providing them with clothes that they are proud to wear because of it’s production, style, and functionality.
Superior Goods has since expanded to include the Split Rock Henley, Two Harbors Puffer Vest, and a line of finely designed graphic tees by 10,000 Designs.
]]>That being said, for years I had the dilemma of not knowing how to display the pride in where I’m from, without the struggle of defending the merits of whatever team I have on display. And let’s be real, our state is way more than just sports teams. Other states have to rely on their teams to have any sort of cultural identity, but from my experience we Minnesotans have a unity beyond a common team. Just the way we talk causes us to stand out! The amount of times I’ve been called out for being Minnesotan just for stressing the letter “O” or saying “hafta” instead of have to. And even though this caused me to be the butt of some jokes, it never gets to me because I just have too much pride in where I come from for it to ever be used against me. And I’ve seen that as a common attribute of Minnesotans; we have pride in where we’re from, and we’re not afraid to show it.
Which is where sota clothing comes in. Instead of having to represent only one particular team associated with our state, I get to show my love for the whole state. Minnesota love goes well beyond sports, but expands deep into the beautiful nature we are surrounded by. Having lived both in the Twin Cities Metro and the Northwoods I’ve seen firsthand much of what our state and fellow Minnesotans have to offer. And what we have is exceptionally diverse. Our Twin Cities is a hotbed of artistic and cultural energy. We are the O.G. Hipsters. The originality, and creativity of The Cities are exciting to be a part of. But up north the outdoors shape the culture. Everyone is excited by camouflage and fluorescent orange, and that’s a great thing too! So even with such a diverse populace, sota clothing appeals to it all. I am excited to rep my MN Paddles wherever I go. I’ve worn it out camping on the north shore of Lake Superior, fishing for walleye on Mille Lacs, and hammocking in the peaceful pines looking out over Big Sandy Lake. The design connects me to the nature that defines what being a northerner is about. But I’m also more than comfortable wearing it out on the town. Whether I’m just sipping coffee in one of the fine coffee shops of NE Minneapolis, enjoying a show at the Excel, and even screaming my lungs out cheering on our Twins I know I’m expressing what is best about our metro life: We support and care for our own. I have the joy to say that I know the owner of sota clothing, Spencer, and his family, and I know their love for our state, and for creating designs that connect with all of us. And I am proud to support him in his endeavors to continue to give us opportunity to express our deep love for the place we call home.
*To read more from the author visit his website at www.lukestocker.wordpress.com
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Attic office - 2015
Since it’s beginning at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Spencer had regularly taken leaps into the unknown with Sota. His latest leap: taking order fulfillment into his own hands, rather than contracting it out to a fulfillment center somewhere else. After dinner one night at our parents house he asked me if I could come by a few times per week to package orders and then deliver them to the post office downtown. Without thinking about it too much, I quickly agreed. Thinking even if it doesn’t work out, I’m sure I will at least learn something worthwhile through it.
Attic inventory room - 2015
With the uneasiness in the air at the attic office space, Spencer and I decided we would give this at least the month of July. He made it clear that if I didn’t take the job seriously, he would surely hand it off to someone else, like his roommates girlfriend downstairs.
As July passed by and orders came in at a rate we were both pleasantly surprised with, Spencer started to think about other areas of the business he would need help with. Our sister, Lauren, recently moved back from Boulder, CO. Having an extensive experience in corporate retail, she had helped Spencer shortly after he started Sota with planning and analyzing sales, but in many ways it was just something she did as a favor.
Knowing Lauren wasn’t quite thriving in the job she currently held, we started scheming for how we could bring her on as well, knowing she had the kind of experience that would be invaluable to this new stage Sota was in. As September approached, Spencer was pleased with the packaging, shipping, and customer service work I had been doing. And I was enjoying it too! It was looking like this would turn into more than just a part-time job. Furthermore, we had sold enough Raglan Baseball Tee’s and MN Paddle Mesh Snapbacks that it looked like Sota could take it’s next leap: bringing on it’s first Merchandiser/Wholesale-Vendor-Inventory Manager (AKA our sister, Lauren).
Lauren taking inventory - 2015
I still remember the first morning when the three of us (actually four, our mom is regularly at Sota and ready to help wherever she’s needed) were in the office together. Lauren and I rolled onto Humboldt Street simultaneously and our mom pulled in shortly after… with muffins! Spencer was already waiting for us with a pot of coffee made, as his apartment is right underneath this attic office space. We all enjoyed our morning coffee together, verbalizing a rough game plan for what our workday was going to look like.
In so many ways it proves true, that the greater the challenge, the greater the reward. Many people are deterred away from getting involved in a start-up. Especially when the time commitment demands walking away from the day job, which provides the consistency of health benefits and a reliable salary.
Furthermore, many might suggest not adding to the challenge by going into this pursuit with family, a fair caution for sure. As I am writing about these beginnings over one year later, I can recall many instances in which we have certainly been tested. As decisions have been made it has been difficult to make the shift of approaching these situations through our job roles, rather then just three siblings bringing each of their own opinions and feelings to the matter, much like how it was at the dinner table growing up.
But, so far it’s working. And I think truthfully, we are all pleasantly surprised with what has happened and what has been built since Sota’s team of one turned to two, then three, and now four with the addition of our energetic Iowan farm gal who is an integral part of growing sota’s presence as our Event Coordinator.
It is my hope that this post gives insight into what, or rather who, is involved behind Sota Clothing: behind the instagram page, the product, and the brand. We also want to extend a sincere thank you to those who have given us their support over these past couple years. All of you have allowed sota clothing to grow and expand to what we have become, and who we are becoming.
]]>We recently made the move from NE Minneapolis to a fairly sizable office park in Golden Valley, making it Sota Clothing’s third home in one year. As soon as the hustle of the State Fair had wrapped up we quickly switched our focus to searching for a new home, having had only one month left on our lease! With the continual stream of inventory growing larger, and the addition of our Superior Goods line we were growing cramped in our shared suite.
After hunting and striking out on our own, Spencer contacted a realtor, Collin, to help us find our new space. We were hoping to stick with our friends in NE, where we were spoiled with plentiful coffee shops and breweries, enjoying the unique character of the Thorp building and being in close proximity to our new friends. After learning about what was available, we realized we had to choose between the “sexy” and “functional” spaces. Taking the more mature route, Collin led us down the path toward functionality to a warehouse/office complex that used to house a homebuilding company. It was about three times the square footage we had previously, with three offices, a conference room, kitchen, and a sizable warehouse. Amongst our first look, we weren’t so enthused as it was far from offering the charm of the industrious, old brick building we grew to adore with rustic hardwood floors, Diamond’s coffee shop below us, and Tattersall Distillery on the west end of the building. But, as we learned from our mom who scours decorating magazines instead of the newspaper in the morning, you can bring charm to anything. So knowing this new place would provide the room to grow that we needed, we signed some papers.
And, nearly eight weeks and a dozen projects later, we are really liking it here. We miss our suite mate Lucy & Co. dearly, and Dan the accordion guy next door, but we know this move was a much-needed next step for us.
Take a look at the rooms we tackled first:
]]>The Fall is truly one of the best times to be in Minnesota. It's no longer unreasonably hot, not yet freezing, and, let's face it: we're foliage spoiled. Minnesota trees look so stunning throughout the fall season, turning vibrant orange, pink and red. You can catch an evening reflection of oranges and reds over a lake or you can bike through a stunning autumn-colored park. If you really want to embrace the spirit of Minnesota in the fall, here are a few suggestions for your fall bucket list.
1. Pick Your Pumpkin
Minnesota is home to some awesome seasonal experiences at Apple orchards and pumpkin patches. There's nothing more fall than getting outside, embracing the chill in the air, and walking around picking apples and pumpkin patches.
Minnesota is the birthplace of some of the best kinds of apples, like honeycrisp! Embrace this seasonal, delicious, local fruit. Pick up a peck to bake into pies or just eat slathered in peanut butter.
This year, I went to Afton Apple, where you jump on a hayride to go pick your apples and pumpkins. It was great fun but there are orchards all over the place: check out Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake, or Victoria Valley Orchard in St. Paul.
2. Visit a distillery
As the weather gets cooler and we retreat indoors, we also reach for a little something to warm us up... and there are so many awesome local distilleries in Minnesota, that that thing might as well be a beer (or a cocktail).
Most of our amazing local distilleries have bottles available in local liquor stores, but it's so much more fun to pop in and see where the alcohol is made! Many of them have tours on Saturdays or even cocktail making classes, so you have the opportunity to learn a little bit about your favorite libation.
If you're up in Duluth, let Vilkre Distillery change your mind about gin (unless you already like gin...they'll just confirm that gin rocks). They have free tours daily at 5:30. Down in the cities, check out Norseman, which has Saturday tours and occasional "cocktail laboratories," or Sociable Cider which has tours on Saturdays in exchange for a food shelf donation.
3. Go for a hike (while you still can!)
Get outside before it's too late! That sounds dramatic, but, of course, if you live in Minnesota, you know I'm serious. While there are plenty of outdoor activities available to you once the snow hits the ground, fall is arguably the best time to get outdoors in Minnesota.
Is there anything better than wandering around Minnesota's wonderful parks and trails in the fall? Go for a hike, walk, run or jog while you still want to get outside for your workout, because you've got a long winter on the treadmill ahead of you.
Find the falls at Minnehaha Regional Park, or find a park or trail in your neighborhood--it's probably not far away!
When the temperature drops and it's no longer iced coffee season, all I can think about it wrapping my hands around a nice warm mug of coffee or tea. A mug of something warm is the epitome of coziness.
Luckily, Minnesota has a ton of coffee shops, so no matter where you live, you aren't far from a cozy mug of coffee. The fall is a great season to check out one of the Twin Cities awesome local coffee shops, like Spyhouse Coffee or Quixotic Coffee. They're as photo friendly as they are delicious.
Of course, be green and bring your own mug or stay a while with one of their non-paper cups.
5. Find a Lake
Sometimes, I see "land of 10,000 lakes" as a challenge-- how many can you explore?
While we may associate our lakes with summer kayaking, swimming and boating, they're still lovely come fall. In fact, catching a sunrise or sunset over a lake is the perfect was to start or end a beautiful fall day. Just be sure to bring your camera, because water reflecting orange and pink sky makes for a wonderful shot.
What's still left on your fall in MN bucket list? Let us know in the comments and then run out and get it done while there's still time!
About the writer: Darcy Coulter is a content writer, journalist and the travel blogger behind Sparkle in her Suitcase. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably planning her next trip, or at least her next meal. She loves jalapeños, podcasts, and spending summer days on a Minnesota lake.
Photo Credit: http://www.brydengivingphoto.com/
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We are ONE day away from the Minnesota State Fair! Sota Clothing is so excited to be joining in on the Great Minnesota Get-Together this year, we thought we’d fill you in on some important information regarding Sota and details about the state fair in general. This year, Sota will be offering brand new products made exclusively for the state fair. Below we have listed some state fair info we think may be helpful to you, such as: general information, new foods at the fair this year, and where to find the Sota Caravan!
Here are the basics:
We encourage you to stop by and say hello to the Sota Crew!
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