Best Kids Clothing Stores In Minnesota
Some of the most creative retailers are busy moms who felt a need for personalized shopping experiences and individualized children's merchandise. Listed below are five of Minnesota's best stores where moms can confidently outfit their kids with high quality clothing that not every other kid on the playground is wearing. Chic shoppers would also be drawn to the list of upscale Minnesota children's stores found in the previously published article, Best Kids Clothing Stores In The Twin Cities.
Sassy Knitwear
4802 Chicago Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(651) 329-6271
www.sassyknitwear.com
Unlike any other store in Minnesota, every article of attire is handmade at Sassy Knitwear. "Everything is made to order. Everything is one-of-a-kind. It won't look exactly like the picture on our website," says co-owner Sarah Grudem. It all started a decade ago when Molly O'Brien Black's college project led her to realize how much material is wasted in the making of clothing. She recruited Sarah to join her in designing, cutting and sewing each attractive and unique garment from very small batches of material to sell at Mill City Farmers Market. A few years ago, Sarah and Molly opened a storefront and, along with a tight-knit group of committed employees, expanded their offerings with special purchases of organic cotton, washed, dried and tailored by skilled Sassy Knitwear artisans.
Related: Best Maternity Wear Clothing Shops in the Twin Cities
Teeny Bee Boutique
1560 Selby Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(612) 644-2540
www.teenybeeboutique.com
If you are looking for a fun place to bring your tots size newborn to 4T while shopping, there is no better place than Teeny Bee. This cheerfully boisterous baby-proofed shop is filled with the kind of things that work for real babies and real families. For instance, owner Kristie Case will introduce you to Sock Ons, little socks that really stay on your baby's teeny feet, or Toofeze, the teething ring you don't have to put in the freezer. Kristie designed this place for mothers and babies to hang out around play tables, to meet each other at a weekly scheduled play date and to learn and share ideas through two free weekly music classes.
Sproutlings
911 W Central Entrance
Duluth, Minnesota
(218) 491-7800
www.facebook.com/SproutlingsInc
Sproutlings may be the best children's boutique in the entire Arrowhead region since owner Melissa Natale opened its doors in Duluth in June of 2010. Melissa founded this remarkable shop after experiencing difficulty in locating distinctive, high-quality clothing for her daughters. Now you can find high quality merchandise that is attractive and sometimes funky in a cheery environment. Melissa also takes care to focus on eco-friendly items such as low impact fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton, but also products that are BPA & lead free.
Kid's Rack
508 Jefferson Highway N.
Champlin, MN 55316
(763) 323-3518
www.kidsrack.com
Sometimes the best value in high quality clothing is with items that have been previously owned. Stephanie Gehlhar carefully sorts and selects the best apparel for her customers. She gets good clothes by paying cash on the spot. Stephanie has owned and managed the Kid's Rack since 2005. It has grown to five employees in a spacious store in a mall on Hwy 169 & Dean Avenue.
CC & Mays
17420 Minnetonka Blvd.
Minnetonka, MN 55345
(952) 303-3475
www.ccandmays.com
Go online for hip and trendy fashions not being worn by every other kid in the neighborhood. You will find nearly 30 brands of cool clothes for babies and kids size newborn to 14 years. CC & Mays also has pop-up events with recent appearances at Arbor Lakes and Minnetonka. Look for the next event posted on its blog or the Facebook page linked above. Shayla Farmer, a Minnetonka mother of three, started CC & Mays in 2013, naming the business after her three children, Caden, Cambrie, and Maylie. Farmer contributes three percent of her proceeds to Children's Cup, benefiting children in Africa's southern region through education and fulfillment of basic needs.
Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
