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Hometown Tourist: High Five Threads in Traverse City

Most of us have done it. We use our hand to make a map of Michigan to show where we’re from.

One lifestyle brand in Traverse City takes pride in America’s high five in design and product line: .

What better way to support that pride for the great mitten state than devoting your designs to Michigan’s high five?

At High Five Threads they have many designs, but their flagship are the Michigan hands.

“Our main staple is the Michigan hands design which we created, that’s our trademark design. But a few of our popular ones are our brewed in Michigan design, our keep it fresh design, our minted in Michigan design,” said Byron Pettigrew, Owner.

Byron says they wanted to create a Michigan brand that supported all things Michigan from the fresh water in the great lakes to craft beer and artisan wine.

“We wanted it to be trendy cool items that people enjoyed wearing. We have a lot of little great items too, aside from the apparel we’ve got bottle openers, stickers, buttons, things like that that make great stocking stuffers, sort of little gifts for people in addition to the big items as well,” said Byron.

They wanted to create a product that locals and visitors would love to rock with pride, or remind them of a piece of home.

They print their designs in Traverse City.

“One of my favorite parts about having High Five Threads is that we can express all of our favorite things about this state, through apparel and through the little gifts items that we have and that type of things,” said Byron.

Byron even keeps kegs on tap to offer to those 21 and up to sample local craft beers so as people shop they can have a glass of mitten pride.

You’ll find cool hats with Michigan themes, stickers where you can mark your hometown or favorite place.

If you’re from Michigan or not, you’ll find something here to fondly remind you of the high five state.

“I want people to be excited to wear the items, and be proud of where they’re from, and what the apparel represents,” explained Byron.