At Great Lakes Coastal, we're the creators of the original Great Lakes Hawaiian Shirt, and the gold standard in Great Lakes beachwear.

In 2019, I took the worst paddleboard I've ever stood on to the mouth of the Gratiot River, on the north side of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It was a windy day for summer, and there was some major chop out on Superior. I think somewhere around the fifth time being thrown off my board, probably through a mix of minor head trauma and cold Superior water, memories of backpacking Pictured Rocks, beach bonfires at Breakers, backcountry skiing at Trout Lake, and sailing on Lake Huron came floating back to me.

Suddenly, years of buildup hit me at once: Summer on the lakes is special. It's genuinely better than anything tropical, with unlimited outdoor adventure and recreation across five giant inland seas, and water that is actually (somewhat) drinkable and shark-free. There's fantastic beach culture here, so why weren't there Hawaiian shirts to match that?

I decided enough was enough- this region deserved a timeless beachwear brand. I reached out to and collaborated with friends and the community I'd developed over the years. Together, a dedicated, talented group of Great Lakes locals created the most comfortable and sustainable beach shirts you'll find, featuring scenic and islander prints celebrating the unsalted life that can only be found here.

This region, beloved by Americans and Canadians alike, contains 21% of the world's fresh water and is often known as the fresh coast or third coast, with 9,500 total miles of shoreline, and a unique combination of outdoor pursuits unparalleled in North America.

​Great Lakes Coastal was originally founded in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula as Third Coast Shirt Co., with an emphasis on creating Hawaiian shirts. We've since moved our base camp to the lakeside hub of Milwaukee, but have roots across the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario, and Wisconsin. Since our start, we've expanded beyond shirts, and are exploring women's beachwear, gear and bags, and more.

​Equally inspired by Jimmy Buffett and Gordon Lightfoot, we embrace year-round outdoor adventure, the pursuit of great beers and good times on the beach or in the backcountry, and creating unforgettable memories with your buddies. We're just getting started, and we're glad to have you along for the ride.

Cheers!

Neil and the Great Lakes Coastal Team

In 2023, we launched Great Lakes Coastal, but we also formed Thimbleberry, an company that would explore opportunities to create textile products in the circular bioeconomy space. As our parent, Thimbleberry hold all rights and trademarks of Great Lakes Coastal, and our vision is to grow this into a community of brands within the Great Lakes outdoor industry.