Meet the Shirts Designed by Local Legends
- SUM SHIRTS
- Oct 12
- 2 min read
What’s a Local Legend, Anyway?
At SUM SHIRTS, our best ideas don’t come from a design department — they come from you. From barstool conversations, sideline jokes, and “you know what would make a great shirt?” moments all across our fan base
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Our Local Legend Contest celebrates the clever locals whose funny, nostalgic, or hometown-proud ideas become real SUM SHIRTS designs. We bring their concepts to life, print them on something ridiculously soft, and hand over a free tee (because legends don’t pay retail).
Here are a few of our recent Local Legends who turned Michigan pride into wearable wit.
🍦 Mike — “Ice Cream Mile,” Plymouth, MI
If you’ve strolled through downtown Plymouth on a summer night, you know it’s basically an
obstacle course of ice cream shops. Dairy King, Scoops, Kilwins… one block, three cones, zero regrets.
Mike’s phrase “Ice Cream Mile” nailed it perfectly — a sweet stretch of small-town tradition that deserved its own tee. Now locals can wear their sugar rush with pride.
Legend Level: Brain freeze visionary.
Reward: One free tee and unlimited cone cred.
🦁 Susan — “There’s No Place Like Detroit”
Susan originally pitched “Lions, Tigers & Wings, Oh My!” — a clever nod to Detroit’s sports trifecta. We loved it instantly. But as we played with the design, inspiration struck: what if we mashed it with The Wizard of Oz — that timeless Midwest classic — and gave it a Motor City twist?
The result: “There’s No Place Like Detroit.” A nostalgic, hometown homage blending Detroit’s sports mascots with pure Michigan pride. The ruby slippers might be steel-toed now, but the heart’s still in the D.
Legend Level: Wizard of Motown.
Reward: A free tee, a ton of compliments, and an official spot in SUM SHIRTS lore.
🍻 Brett — “Wagon Wheel,” Northville, MI
Brett’s idea paid tribute to a true Northville institution. “Wagon Wheel” isn’t just a bar — it’s a rite of passage. The live bands, the
sticky floors, the “I’ll just have one” nights that turn into stories retold for years.
We turned it into a retro-style tee that looks like it’s been around since the jukebox took quarters. Local pride, a little grit, and just enough nostalgia to make every Northvillian nod in approval.
Legend Level: Local tavern historian.
Reward: Free tee, first name basis with the bartender.
✏️ How to Become a Local Legend
Got an idea that’s funny, nostalgic, or just so Michigan it hurts? Submit it at sumshirts.com/contact — if we make it, you’ll score the first one free and join the ranks of Mike, Susan, and Brett as a certified SUM SHIRTS Local Legend.
Because around here, clever ideas don’t just get likes — they get printed.
Where Community and Creativity Collide
Our Local Legends remind us why we started SUM SHIRTS in the first place — to turn local pride, inside jokes, and everyday brilliance into something you can wear. From Plymouth’s sweetest mile to Detroit’s comeback spirit to Northville’s favorite dive, our customer's creativity is alive and well… and it’s ridiculously soft.
Keep the ideas coming. We’ll keep making them legendary.
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