When Anthony Glassman—founder of outdoor brand Prairie Sailor—designs clothing, he’s often thinking about how the pieces can be layered. Based in Mission, Kansas, the company specializes in attire for nature-loving Midwesterners, so preparing for the region’s notoriously unpredictable and fluctuating weather is a must.
“In the morning it could be 30 degrees, and in the afternoon it could be 85,” Glassman says.
Originally from Hays, Kansas, Glassman started his career as an engineer, working for his father. But he knew that wasn’t his passion.
“Clothing always spoke to me—even as a kid looking through sports books or watching movies, I would notice the clothing more than anything,” he says.
While living in Hays, Glassman began selling his own T-shirt designs. Eventually, he decided he wanted to learn design “the right way.” After going back to school and moving to Kansas City, he opened Prairie Sailor’s storefront in the summer of 2021.
Now, Prairie Sailor is gearing up to drop its summer collection, focused on lightweight, fast-drying and comfortable fabrics. Canvas shorts, lightweight polos and activewear button-down shirts will soon hit the racks.
“We’re concentrating a lot on a kind of tennis, country-club vibe, except in the outdoor space,” Glassman says.
Although the brand specializes in men’s clothing, Prairie Sailor also offers a limited selection for women. Beyond breezy shorts and sturdy jackets, the Mission storefront doubles as a bike shop—a passion project of sorts for Glassman, an avid mountain biker who noticed the neighborhood was in need of a repair shop.
As with much of the brand’s attire, color plays a central role. While you won’t find any neon hues on the racks, Prairie Sailor gravitates toward environmentally inspired tones like mustard yellow, forest green and sky blue.
“Anytime I went biking or hiking, I noticed everyone was in grey or black,” Glassman says. “I wanted to include some creative colors—nothing overdone, but something cool so you look a little different out there.”
Shop Prairie Sailor’s collection in person (5811 Johnson Dr., Mission) or online at prairiesailor.com.
