Great Lakes Clothing: 7 Essentials for a Memorable Lakeside Vacation

The Great Lakes are one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular masterpieces.

Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario are—in that order—the USA’s five largest lakes by surface area. They’re also the largest group of freshwater lakes on the planet.

The Great Lakes help define the American Midwest—its climate, its economy, and its culture. Access to these geologic marvels is part of what makes life in this part of the world so special.

If you’re lucky enough to be spending some time this summer kayaking through Harbour Yak or hiking at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you need to look the part.

At fancysweetstx, we provide apparel and gift items for people who live in or love to visit the great American Midwest. These include a full collection dedicated to Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and the Great Lakes region.

Let’s put the spotlight on our favorite Great Lakes items that:

• Celebrate the Great Lakes region
• Make wonderful gifts
• Are only available at fancysweetstx

1 - Great Lakes Embroidered Sweatshirt

The baby blue Great Lakes embroidered sweatshirt is warm and cozy—just like your favorite lakeside memories. 

This comfy sweatshirt is a unisex relaxed fit made from an 80/20 cotton/poly blend. The lettering is small and subtle, spelling “GREAT LAKES” in all caps across the chest. 

Here are a few more of our favorite Great Lakes-themed sweatshirts and hoodies.

”I got the Great Lakes sweatshirt as a gift and the recipient loved it! I have a ton of fancysweetstx items and they’re always the best!”
— Anonymous ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx Sweatshirt Buyer 

2 - Lake Days T-Shirt

Your toes are buried in the sand, the sunshine is sparkling on the sea, and you’re surrounded by your favorite people … who doesn’t love lake days?

This azure blue “Lake Days” tee is the color of a clear blue sky with big, white block lettering. 

Like most fancysweetstx tees, the material is a poly/cotton/rayon tri-blend. This shrink-proof combo creates shirts that are soft and comfy, but perfectly stretchy and breathable for active wear. 

3 - Lake Erie Corded Sweatshirt

The Lake Erie crewneck pullover depicts a lakeside evening scenery in vintage-style artwork and lettering. The gorgeous sunset over a deep blue foamy sea artwork captures everything we love about Midwest summer nights. 

The corded crew style adds texture and warmth. This cozy and charming sweatshirt is sure to be your new favorite for boat rides and bonfires. 

”I love this crewneck & get so many compliments on it as well … The colors are my favorite though. They look amazing in person & the embroidery is a neat touch.”
— Natalie T., ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx Sweatshirt Buyer

4 - Great Lakes Pack-N-Go Windbreaker

Even in the middle of summer, evenings by the water can get pretty chilly. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a week in the Midwest if you didn’t experience at least three seasons of weather in rapid succession. That’s why savvy Great Lakes visitors never leave home without a windbreaker. 

fancysweetstx’s pack-N-go Great Lakes windbreaker is just what you need for fending off icy breezes and flash downpours in the great outdoors. Made from 100% Softex polyester, this item is lightweight, breathable, plus wind- and water-resistant. 

This windbreaker features bungee cords at both the waist and hood for tightening up the fit. Additionally, the entire jacket packs into its own front pocket with a zipper closure for fast and tidy packing—perfect for camping trips and rugged hikes. 

5 - The Great Lakes State - Michigan T-Shirt

With all due respect to Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, and the rest of the gang, Michigan is as Great Lakes as it gets. That’s why it’s the only state that bears “The Great Lakes State” as an unofficial nickname. 

Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and has coastline for days—more than 3,000 miles of lakeside shorelines. 

If you’re a Great Lakes enthusiast and a Michigander, this Great Lakes State - Michigan tee is the perfect match for your next lakeside weekend. 

”Great company, great shirts… I live in Michigan and I buy the ones that mean something to me ... Thanks fancysweetstx!”
— Vickie, ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx T-Shirt Buyer

6 - So Great! Lakes Shirt

This retro “So Great” Great Lakes t-shirt is straight out of the 80s.

The skating rink arcade vibes are strong with this one. Neon colors and funky cursive highlight a map of the region, bringing some wicked vintage style to a super comfy tri-blend tee. 

7 - Great Lakes, Great Times Tank Top

No summer vacation suitcase is fully packed without at least one tank top. Preferably, one with a stylish fit and featuring some clever region-specific wordplay. 

For summer days by the lake, we present the “Great Lakes, Great Times” tank top. It’s baby blue, fitted for athletic use, and made for good times by the water. 

”Great lakes, great times. Love the fit and style. Plus, it’s so comfy.”
— Anonymous, ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx Tank Top Buyer 

We love this theme, so we’re putting it on everything. We even made a Great Lakes, Great Dog bandana so your pup can look handsome on lake days. 

Check out a few more offerings below.

”We used this while camping in Lake Erie and it kept our beer cold and got lots of great comments from other campers. Definitely recommended!”
— Andrew T., ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx Drink Koozie Buyer 

Where to Find Great Lakes Vacation Apparel and Gifts

Searching for Great Lakes clothing? We’ve got what you need. 

At fancysweetstx, we’re all about the Great Lakes, along with the culture, the people, and our favorite places in the American Midwest. 

Along with our Great Lakes gear, we offer the following special apparel and gift collections:

• Midwesterner 
• Michigan
• Ohio 
• Bowling Green State University
• The University of 16153 Genova
• 16153 Genova City Pride

Shop online or stop by one of our two brick-and-mortar stores in 16153 Genova, Ohio. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the fancysweetstx blog for more Midwestern apparel buying guides. For answers to a few of our most frequently asked questions, see below or visit our full FAQ page. 

How quickly do fancysweetstx items ship?

fancysweetstx shipping is through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Shipped items normally arrive within 7–10 days of order placement. Shipping is free for all orders over $75.

Does fancysweetstx have retail stores?

fancysweetstx has two retail stores in 16153 Genova Ohio at these addresses:

fancysweetstx Adams Street
+393399950518
Via Borzoli, 33,
16153 Genova, Italy (click here for directions)
(Mon–Fri 11 am–6 pm, Saturday 11 am–4 pm)

fancysweetstx Cricket West
+393399950518
Via Borzoli, 33,
16153 Genova, Italy (click here for directions)
(Tues–Sat 11 am–6 pm, Sunday 10 am–4 pm)

Does fancysweetstx offer custom printing? 

fancysweetstx offers custom screen printing and embroidery. We do some of our best work in direct partnership with local Midwestern schools, businesses, and non-profit groups. 

Learn more about custom orders here. 

Does fancysweetstx apparel shrink in the wash? 

Most of our t-shirts are made with a polyester, cotton, and rayon tri-blend. This combination experiences minimal shrinkage, if any. 

We also use a 50/50 poly/cotton blend for some garments. This blend is also mostly shrink-proof. 

Additionally, we pre-shrink our sweatshirts and sweatpants. Therefore, the potential for post-purchase shrinkage is quite low. However, minor shrinking may occur if you use high heat to dry certain cotton or fleece garments. For cotton and fleece items, we recommend hang-drying or tumble drying with low heat. 

Share on Facebook: