Aug. 11, 2025
Ferris State, Stormy Kromer team up for an iconic hat design that captures Bulldog spirit, supports student scholarships
Two Michigan icons – Ferris State University and Stormy Kromer – are teaming up for a bold new collaboration that celebrates resilience, tradition, and the unmatched pride of the Great Lakes State while supporting students through scholarships.
A portion of the sales for the Ferris State Stormy Kromer hat will go toward scholarships.
The legendary Upper Peninsula brand, known for its handcrafted caps and century-old legacy, has partnered with Ferris State to release an iconic cap that captures the tough, tenacious Bulldog spirit, while giving back to Ferris State students with every purchase.
This special-edition Stormy Kromer launches on Tuesday Aug. 12 and features a vibrant Ferris State design, embroidered with the proud Bulldog logo — a wearable symbol of grit, warmth, and Michigan roots.
The caps are available starting Aug. 12 at ferris.edu/stormykromer for $55, with $20 of each sale through Sept. 20 – Ferris State’s Homecoming – supporting the Ferris State Alumni Association’s Legacy Scholarship. Look for additional surprises by the Stormy Kromer team at Homecoming.
“We are super excited and proud to have this Pure Michigan partnership with Stormy Kromer,” said Brandi Behrenwald, executive director of the Ferris State Alumni Association. “It’s a natural fit! Just like Ferris State, Stormy Kromer has a rugged and proud tradition dating back more than 100 years.”
The Legacy Scholarship honors students who carry on the Bulldog tradition within their families, recognizing academic excellence and leadership in students whose parent, sibling, grandparent, son, or daughter is a Ferris State graduate.
CEO Gina Jacquart Thorson fits Brutus for his Stormy Kromer cap.
Handcrafted in Ironwood, Michigan, near the Wisconsin border, each cap is cut and sewn by a team of about 70 skilled craftspeople at Jacquart Fabric Products — the family-owned home of Stormy Kromer. Known around the globe for its signature wool design and iconic front-tied ear flaps, the Stormy Kromer cap has long been a badge of honor among outdoorsmen, tradespeople, and proud Michiganders.
The new Ferris State edition is part of Stormy Kromer’s recently launched Collegiate Collection, combining school spirit with timeless Michigan craftsmanship.
“I remember hearing stories about the company starting in my great-grandfather’s grocery store building. My dad has told me stories of my great-grandfather giving out food for free during tough times to feed people,” said Gina Jacquart Thorson, CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products.
“Giving back is one of the reasons why I joined my family’s business. We do a lot of that locally, but we’re always looking for other partnerships that have a charitable component. Looking for ways for us to be partners to make it a win-win. Hats go out the door, and money goes somewhere it is meaningful. In this instance, with Ferris State wanting to partner so closely in so many ways, giving back made sense.”
Born in 1903 out of necessity and love — when railroad engineer and semi-pro baseball player George “Stormy” Kromer asked his wife, Ida, to modify his cap so it wouldn’t blow off in the wind — the Kromer cap has become a treasured part of Michigan tradition. From hunting camps to city streets, it's a symbol of the state’s resourcefulness, resilience, and deep connection to the outdoors.
“It’s more than just a hat you wear,” Thorson said. “It’s something that becomes part of people’s lives and has meaning for them.”
That meaning weaves into every stitch, from the thick wool material to the cozy, pull-down, flaps that thrive even in Michigan’s harshest winter winds.
“Many people have fond memories of their grandfather wearing the hat, or other members of their family,” she said. “It has become a tradition in many families. Like, the first year you go to hunting camp, you get your first Kromer. We hear all these stories about traditions and nostalgia. It has a bit of an old-fashioned look. It’s not super-modern. I think for a lot of people it brings back good memories and a connection to the outdoors.”
The collegiate line bridges that love for Michigan’s beautiful outdoors with the fierce pride alumni and students hold for their universities and sports teams.
“I was so happy that Ferris State was one of the schools I was personally connected with and was able to have conversations about what a program could look like,” Thorson said. “We were brainstorming about not just producing a cap for sale, but about how else we could partner with the university.”
Together, Stormy Kromer and Ferris State are weaving legacy into every hat — the legacy of family, education, craftsmanship, and the Michigan way of life.