In a world where individuality comes at a premium, Lamb Chops, a Twin Cities-based clothing brand, stands out with its unique messaging. The brainchild of owner and creator Jordan Dye, the Lamb Chops logo has swiftly become a familiar sight on chains, shirts, shorts and hats across the greater metro area, thanks to its distinct appeal.
From his early days, it was clear that Jordan Dye’s path was intertwined with basketball. His love for the sport led him to collect and wear Jordan sneakers in his youth, and he even worked at several sneaker boutiques. At one of these boutiques, with a print shop in the back, Dye’s journey as a clothing designer began to take shape.
“I started messing around with making shirts and selling them. Eventually, I fell in love with it after going through the process,” Dye said.
While attending Bethel University and studying entrepreneurship, Dye would launch his original company named “Shepherd Goods.” In a position where he could now pair his newly founded brand with courses on business planning and strategy, Dye found a balance in building a solid structural core to his clothing line. Dye would also get creative in brand placement by handing out merchandise at concerts and shows to prominent music acts who would tour through the Twin Cities.
“I started going to shows and gave out clothes to people like Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller, Chief Keef and Lil Durk. That was right as I was getting going, so I saw something there,” Dye said.
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After seeing nationally respected artists proudly wearing Shepherd Goods apparel, Dye confidently journeyed into more innovative “cut and sew” work. This process involves designing and creating garments from scratch, using raw fabric and materials. By visiting Joann Fabrics and experimenting with different textures and color patterns, Dye was able to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that set Lamb Chops apart from other brands. During this process, Lamb Chops would be spawned as a sister company to Shepherd Goods, embodying the dreams and aspirations of a community eager to express its unique identity through fashion.
“I would find the craziest fabrics and bring the seamstress shorts, joggers and button-ups. That felt like a crazier vibe than Shepherd Goods, so that’s where Lamb Chops essentially branched from as a sister brand,” Dye said.
The Lamb Chops logo, a cleaver, has more than one meaning. The first is a play on Dye’s transition into the cut, or in this case, chop and sew, sector of work. However, the larger and overarching theme of the cleaver is rooted in the belief in presenting your best self.
“The cleaver symbolizes cutting the bad and keeping the good. It’s like how a butcher cuts the bad parts off the meat to keep the best cut of meat- it’s cutting the bad parts out of your life to make the best version of you,” Dye said.
Dye’s authenticity shines through his attention to detail and overall quality of work. His morals prove important regarding Lamb Chops as a business and fashion symbol. When a creator puts honesty into their work to elevate the positives in life, it becomes contagious to support that product.
“In this day and age where there’s so much negativity, being there for each other and striving to be the best you can be is important. Honesty and integrity- to me, the biggest thing is how you treat people and not treat anyone differently no matter what,” Dye said.
Jordan experienced steady growth within the Twin Cities fashion market. What Dye described as a “smooth transition” can be credited to Lamb Chops being one of the earlier independent homegrown clothing brands Minnesota has seen. This success is largely due to the support and patronage of the local community, who have embraced Lamb Chops as a symbol of their unique identity and style.
The community support for Lamb Chops is a testament to its popularity and local impact. The odds of spotting someone with a cleaver chain, hat, or hoodie around the North Loop are high. Residents of Minneapolis have embraced Lamb Chops as their own, a mark of their love for independent fashion. Dye uses this warm reception as a driving force for his brand.
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Local businesses in the Minneapolis area began selling Lamb Chops clothing. Most notably, WaterWave, located in the Como neighborhood, shared positive experiences with Dye. Artist and co-owner of WaterWave Kelvin Kuria (Kelvino) spoke on the trailblazer Jordan Dye has become.
“We really appreciate Jordan a lot, honestly. He was one of the first people to give us a chance. You know that he’s really putting his time and effort into his drops. The fact that he’s allowed us to give people his brand and bring us business is a blessing,” Kuria said.
Dye’s impact on the clothing scene all returns to the community interface.
“That’s what keeps me going. Interacting with the community face to face goes a long way,” Dye said.
The conversation began moving toward the Minnesota Timberwolves, and when it did, Jordan Dye’s face lit up with pure glee. Dye collaborated directly with the Timberwolves on a collaboration with Lamb Chops. Within minutes, the team store outside Target Center’s ticket gates sold out of the Timberwolves x Lamb Chops collection. The rush showed overwhelming support from fans for a local brand that actively celebrates the howling Wolves.
Being a Wolves fan his whole life, Dye spoke about what this collaboration meant to him.
“I grew up going to Wolves games with my dad since 1993. Those were always my favorite memories growing up. Seeing it sell out like that, I had no idea what to expect. I was just excited to have the collaboration. My favorite thing in the world is the Timberwolves, so partnering with them was very cool,” Dye said.
As the Lamb Chops x Timberwolves gear sold out in record time, representatives of the Timberwolves team store mentioned how remarkable it was. Lisa Haliburton, a Fanatics employee, commented on the excited customers.
“It was incredible to see how enthused the fans were for these specific articles of clothing,” Haliburton said.
The Lamb Chops gear has also reached the backs of Timberwolves players, with Jordan McLaughlin and Josh Minot wearing Lamb Chops clothing pre-game.
Sitting courtside at Timberwolves home games, Dye’s energy cannot be missed wherever you are seated in Target Center. Dye’s passion and eccentricity for the team serve as a direct representation of what fans of the Timberwolves are experiencing with this current ultra-special roster.
Dye was 13 years old when he was in the building with his father to see Kevin Garnett close out Game 7 against the Sacramento Kings to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Fast forward 20 years, and he is now witnessing a new era of Wolves ready for the same quest in a season where he collaborated with the team artistically. Moments like these, to supporters like Dye, are what make teams like the Timberwolves so special.
