Behind the Maize, Blue & Green: How Our Collegiate Collection Came to Life

When you see a cute Michigan sweater or a tiny Michigan State outfit hanging in our store, it might look like it simply arrived in a box one day.

I can promise you, it didn't.

Creating an officially licensed collegiate collection exclusively for My Urban Toddler has been one of the most exciting projects we've taken on, but also one of the most challenging. There has been a lot happening behind the scenes to get these pieces from an idea in my head to something your little fans can actually wear.

And I'm incredibly proud of what we've created.

It Started With an Idea

Living and owning a children's store in Ann Arbor for 20 years, I've seen just how much college traditions become family traditions.

Michigan fans aren't just Michigan fans. They're families of Michigan fans. Grandparents buy for grandchildren. Alumni come back to Ann Arbor with their kids. Parents want their children dressed in maize and blue on game day. And, of course, there are plenty of households where Michigan and Michigan State fans live under the same roof.

But I kept noticing something missing.

There wasn't enough collegiate apparel for kids that felt like something we would choose for My Urban Toddler.

I wanted pieces that were special. Beautiful knits. Thoughtful details. Great fabrics. Clothing that felt like children's clothing first and collegiate merchandise second.

So, we decided to try to create it ourselves.

Getting Licensed Is Not Easy

One of the biggest misconceptions about collegiate merchandise is that a retailer can simply put a university logo on a product and sell it.

Definitely not.

Universities carefully protect their names, logos, colors and trademarks. Becoming an officially licensed retailer and developing licensed products requires applications, research, documentation and approvals.

And patience. Lots of patience.

We had to learn an entirely new side of the retail business. There were guidelines to understand, licensing requirements to meet and products and artwork that needed approval before anything could move forward.

There were plenty of moments when I wondered if this idea was ever actually going to make it onto our sales floor.

But I believed there was a place for a children's collegiate collection that felt different from what was already available, so we kept going.

It Took a Team

One thing I've learned after 20 years in retail is that great products rarely happen because of one person.

Our collegiate collection required incredible partnerships with vendors, designers and manufacturers who were willing to listen to our ideas and help us figure out how to make them happen.

We talked about yarns, colors, stitching, sizing, graphics and tiny design details that most people will probably never realize were discussed.

Then, of course, the designs had to meet the standards of the universities and receive the appropriate approvals.

There is something pretty amazing about finally opening a box and holding a finished piece that started months earlier as a conversation or sketch.

And Suddenly, We Have a Collection

What began as one idea has already grown into a collection of nine products, with more possibilities ahead.

We now carry officially licensed children's products representing both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, including pieces developed specifically for My Urban Toddler.

Seeing them together feels like a pretty big milestone for our little store in Ann Arbor.

But the biggest surprise has been seeing where they're going.

From Ann Arbor to Fans Across the Country

We knew our local customers would be excited about the collection. What we didn't fully anticipate was how many Michigan and Michigan State families we would reach outside of Michigan.

We've been shipping collegiate pieces to fans all over the country.

And I love thinking about that.

Maybe it's a Michigan alum living in California who wants her daughter in maize and blue. Maybe it's grandparents sending something to a little Wolverine several states away. Maybe it's a Michigan State family who wants their newest Spartan properly dressed from the beginning.

That's the part that makes all of the applications, emails, revisions, approvals and waiting worth it.

We're not just selling college apparel.

We're helping families pass along something they love.

Made for the Littlest Fans

At My Urban Toddler, we've always believed that children's clothing should feel special while still letting kids be kids.

That's exactly what I wanted this collection to be.

Officially licensed. Thoughtfully designed. Made especially for children.

There was much more happening behind the scenes than I ever imagined when we started this process, but I think that makes seeing these pieces on your children even more meaningful.

From our little store in Ann Arbor to little Wolverines and Spartans across the country, thank you for making this collection part of your family's traditions.

And we're just getting started.

Go Blue! Go Green! And most importantly, here's to raising the next generation of fans.

Rosa
My Urban Toddler