MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — After the Minneapolis Miracle in 2018, Jayme Buck and Callie Inman went shopping in search of Vikings sports gear but they were disappointed with the options.
"We always joke that everything that's on the market for women in the sports apparel world is made by men for women," Buck said.
Buck and Inman had talked for years about starting a business together. They have been close their entire lives, from growing up in the same neighborhood to Buck being Inman's maid of honor in her wedding. The pair then added business partners to the list.
Fan Girl MN started as an Etsy shop, with Buck and Inman making each shirt by hand. Their goal was to provide more trendy, game day apparel options for women.
"Just wanted something that is casual and cute enough to wear to a game but is also something you'll wear to the grocery store or brunch with friends," Buck said.
But Fan Girl quickly grew and by 2019 they were working with local screenprinters.
Fan Girl's collections include options for football, baseball and hockey. They also have licensing for Row the Boat. The ultimate goal is to attain licensing for all the sports they cover. They're currently working on a basketball collection that will launch in the end of February, or beginning of March.
"We have had crazy growth this past year. It's been like nothing we ever were really expecting," Inman said. "It seems very simple but I think that's the point is that people haven't been able to find understated, simple, trendy game day apparel and we finally have something."
According to Inman, their football collection has seen 300% growth year-over-year.
Buck and Inman left their jobs in November 2022 in order to put all their energy into Fan Girl.
Kennedy Goschen bought her first sweatshirt from the company in 2019 and has been a fan ever since. The University of Minnesota student is now working at Fan Girl as an intern.
"I love how it's women-owned... I'm a sport management major so I'm obviously a woman in sport and I appreciate what they're doing," Goschen said.
While Fan Girl focuses on Minnesota sports, they could see the brand expanding to other states.
"Sometimes we get guys joking around, 'Are you going to make anything for us?' And we say, 'You already have enough options. That is the point of Fan Girl,'" Inman said.
You can find Fan Girl online and at Scheels. They also have a Facebook group called Fan Girl MN Community Group.
Know a local business we should feature for our Behind the Business segment? Email Heidi Wigdahl at hwigdahl@kare11.com.
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