Colorful, Functional, Joyful

Spring shopping at Wild Lettie

By Rachel Pasche | April 11, 2026

If you’ve ever been strolling through Suttons Bay or Fishtown and noticed a shop window bursting with colorful patterns or an outdoorsy item that grabbed your attention, chances are you walked by Wild Lettie.

The store originally opened in Fishtown as Compass Paper Co. in July of 2020 and has since morphed into the Wild Lettie stores today. Northern Express sat down with founder and owner Annie Lang to learn more about her background, how Wild Lettie originated, and some of the fun products to keep an eye out for as summer approaches.

Leelanau to Utah and Back

Annie Lang grew up in Leelanau County, graduating from Glen Lake Schools before going on to receive a studio art design degree from Michigan State University. She’s always known the cubicle life wasn’t for her, and after college, the pursuit of her interests and passions led her out west, where she took a chance on an in-town staff position at the whitewater base for
the National Outdoor Leadership School in Vernal, Utah.

“That job was so instrumental in my growth in my 20s. It was a very independent work environment and a lot of hard work. I was constantly having to teach myself new things to get tasks done alone and on the road, and trying to figure out how to set boundaries and advocate for myself. I still come back to those moments a lot over a decade later,” Lang says.

Her first foray into monetizing her creative side was in 2012, when she sold watercolor paintings on Etsy. Lang was living in a small cabin in Utah with no water or heat, sharing the space with her dog and then-boyfriend, now-husband, painting at a small plywood desk in her free time.

As she continued working on various creative pursuits, she repeatedly returned to the outdoors as a theme that wove into all of her work. When Lang started crafting her own cards, she did so with the goal of branching away from the classic feminine and minimalist stationery she often found in stores, and painting and lettering cards she would want to use.

When she moved back to northern Michigan in 2013, most of her free time was dedicated to building her first business, Compass Paper Co.

“The more I followed my own voice and really dug into my niche, the more it grew. By 2018, my cards were in retailers all over the country, and I was also stocked in all REI stores. I ran it all by myself out of my house—with free labor from my parents and husband, Matt,” Lang recalls.

Ready to Bloom

By early 2020, Lang was shipping enough product to need more help, and she hired her first employee, only to let her go a week later when the COVID shutdown occurred.

But that spring, Fishtown invited her to apply for a storefront, and after rounds of interviews and pitching, she opened in 2020, rehiring that same employee.

“Talk about a major risk!” Lang says. “And one that paid off big time. As a product-based business, I always loved holding in my hands the products I had conceptualized, designed, and then put into production. Being able to have a space where we can interact with our customers and products together was always an idea I had floating around, and it was so lovely to put it into action.”

As time went by, Lang wanted a space that was more year-round than Fishtown, and when the lease for the retail spot in Suttons Bay opened, she jumped on the opportunity.

“At this point, we had been steadily growing every single year, far beyond just our signature outdoorsy stationery line. The name Compass Paper Co. didn’t fit the business anymore, and we changed our name to Wild Lettie. Lettie, as a female name, means joy, and I think that is so fitting for what this brand is: colorful, functional, joyful. It’s been a name we have been able to grow with since 2022.”

The brand has grown to focus on products designed to be used outdoors, with bright, eye-catching patterns and colors.

From the Inside Out

Wild Lettie’s commitment to the outdoors doesn’t stop at products designed to be used outside: they incorporate a lot of recycled material in their products and packaging, too.

“If you are a person who loves the outdoors and public lands, the idea of sustainability is always on your mind,” Lang says. “Wild Lettie works with other small businesses to manufacture our products.”

Lang explains that when she starts thinking about a new product line, “the first thing I do is spend countless hours researching where and how to get things made. Our baseline starting point is always recycled materials. From our paper products to our line of ripstop items, they are all made from recycled post-consumer content. We even have a few businesses we work with that are carbon neutral.” Plus, Wild Lettie doesn’t use any plastic for packaging on their products.

New This Spring

This year, Wild Lettie is really leaning hard into birding and national parks.

“I am so excited to launch our first collection of the year in mid-April, which will kick off a very large National Park line I will be working on and adding to for the next 18 months,” Lang tells us. “There are also a lot of fun bird illustrations I am finalizing for products as well that will launch in May. And in our Suttons Bay store, we have plenty of products from other brands that go along with those themes, from books and puzzles to gear to enjoy our public lands and get our customers outside.”

One of the products Lang is most thrilled about includes a “Birds of the Midwest” deck, perfect for any novice or budding birdwatcher. The deck includes accurate illustrations by Lang, field notes, and wisdom and tips for slowing down and enjoying the outdoors.

Another fun option is a “Planting for Birds” gardening guide to attract more birds to your backyard. Birding magnets, illustrated books, and puzzles are also at the top of her list.

Lovers of our national parks (and sustainability!) will love the “Big Fan of Public Lands” recycled zip bag, ideal for travel, crafting supplies, toiletries, stationery, and more (also available as a puffer blanket with an awesome pattern).

Smaller items Lang marks as notable are a “Enjoy Our National Parks” keychain, an Isle Royale mini puzzle, and an “Explore National Parks” iron-on patch.

And of course, anyone getting ready for summer can find one-of-a-kind camp towels, cross-body bags, or ripstop totes, all boasting bold, colorful patterns that elicit a sense of bright summer days spent exploring.

Stop into Wild Lettie (316B N St Joseph St. in Suttons Bay or Fishtown on W River St. in Leland), or shop their online store at wildlettie.com