Jim Cartwright, resort sales manager, Lakeshirts.

Wholesale supplier of custom-designed apparel Lakeshirts is on the move, making acquisitions and taking customers back with a nostalgic nod to styles from decades ago.

At Surf Expo, the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota-based company was highlighting shirts with puffy lettering that Jim Cartwright, resort sales manager, said were “transporting” people to the ’60s and ’70s and have been a hit with its customers.

Lakeshirts’ puffy lettering.

Cartwright also pointed to a new acquisition the company made recently of the Colorado-based Aksels brand, focusing on the hats and socks from the clothing company.

“Real niche, cool-looking stuff that we have brought to the resort world,” he said.

Aside from Aksels, Lakeshirts has also recently partnered with Altered Latitudes, a Charleston, South Carolina-based apparel and lifestyle brand.

Cartwright said they’re big on products that offer sun protection.

“It’s a great product,” he added. “The sales team is very excited to be working with them because it’s another venue to reach out to our customers.”

Upping Production

At Surf Expo, Lakeshirts had a robust line of products with a lot of interest from buyers. Cartwright said he doesn’t have time to write a lot of orders at the show but makes plans to write orders when he gets back to the office.

He said he enjoys the seasonality of Surf Expo, and seeing customers from the South and Caribbean.

The Lakeshirts booth at Surf Expo.

Business is going well enough that the company just opened a new production plant in Little Falls, Minnesota. Nearly all of Lakeshirts’ shirt decoration is done domestically.

According to Cartwright, the company has a large sales force that calls on retailers all over the country, and only does a small amount of direct-to-consumer business with its Lakegirl brand. The rest is wholesale.

“We’ve had a great year delivering product for our customers,” Cartwright said.