Northern Grade to Launch a Women’s Market

Northern Grade, the popular multi-city menswear pop-up market that debuted in Minneapolis in 2010, is trying out women’s wear. Northern Grade Her will run December 6-7 at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood and like the men’s version, it will focus on American-made goods.

“The women’s version idea popped up really just from demand,” said Northern Grade co-founder Katherine McMillan. “So many women come to the markets around the country and so many would mention how much trouble they were having finding women’s wear and home goods made here in the States. I was so happy to do this and it was really fun for me to find brands to get involved. There is a lot more being made in the USA these days and its exciting to be a part of it.”

The market, sponsored by women’s fashion news site Fashionista, will feature about 22 brands, including Frank Clegg, Tradlands, Fischer Clothing and Ohio Knitting Mills.
There will also be a panel discussion on Saturday at 7pm titled, “American Design and Manufacturing: A Renaissance?” featuring Lucky fashion writer Jayna Maleri, Of a Kind co-founder Erica Cerulo, That Kind of Woman founder Katherine Keegan, jeweler Page Sargisson and Knickerbocker Mfg. Co.’s Andrew Livingston. Tickets for the discussion are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, but the main event is free.

Northern Grade was founded in 2010 by Pierrepont Hicks’s Katherine McMillan and J.W. Hulme’s Jennifer Guarino and Larry Felitto in Minneapolis with brands like Red Wing Shoes, Taylor Stitch, Ball & Buck, Tellason Denim and Duluth Pack. By last year, McMillan was producing Northern Grade events in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Francisco and other cities.