Up Hear Gear proves being ‘North Dakota proud’ is a fashion statement

MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) – Some are born with an entrepreneurial spirit; others marry into it. Mark Zinke and Marv Pedersen prove that a business born by accident can not only flourish but also inspire others.

He’s not a Gutenberg, but ink runs through Mark Zinke’s blood.

“I do all the graphic designing, the printing myself,” said Up Here Gear owner Mark Zinke.

What they print on has come a long way from parchment, and so has Zinke’s business.

“When I started, I had like three designs on three t-shirts. I thought I was just going to have them in the shop in Mandan and maybe do one or two vendor shows. But now obviously I’m here in the mall now and online store,” said Zinke.

For Zinke, Mandan’s The Locker Room’s backroom shop is where the magic happens. It’s where he chooses the mesh screens that will create the design of his next hit. With a little ink and some help from a high-tech printing press, Zinke’s newest shirt is ready to leave Mandan to hit the sales floor at the sister store in Kirkwood Mall.

Zinke gets some help hanging his merch from his father-in-law, Marv Pedersen, who owns the store.

“I’ve been in business for 15 years. It started as a retirement gig for me out of a little, tiny trophy shop. And then, it turned into a silk screening shop,” said The Locker Room owner Marv Pedersen.

“That’s how it started. I mean, just being in the screen printing game and helping him out, that’s where I got my passion for it,” said Zinke.

Thus, Up Here Gear was born. And between the racks of locally produced sports apparel, it’s hard to miss Zinke’s shirts. They all revolve around a similar theme.

“I think it’s cool to be from North Dakota and to be proud of being from North Dakota, and there’s not a lot of things like this where you can represent your state like that,” said Zinke.

Each design proves three things to be true: Pedersen knows sports, Zinke loves the Peace Garden state, and ink runs through both their veins.

Zinke said Up Here Gear apparel was just accepted for wholesale with a large U.S. company, and he plans to scale into more stores. He said he’s also working on lifestyle-focused designs.

You can find Up Here Gear at The Locker Room in Kirkwood Mall or online here. Or, you can stop by one of the shows Zinke will attend in the near future. They include: Art in the Park in Mandan on July 3 and 4, the Fargo Street Fair on July 18 through 20, Capital A’ Fair in Bismarck on August 3 and 4, the Bismarck Street Fair on September 13 and 14, Minot Pride of Dakota on October 25 and 26, Fargo Pride of Dakota on November 1 and 2, Grand Forks Pride of Dakota on November 22 and 23, and Bismarck Pride of Dakota on December 6 and 7.

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