Ho-ho-hometeam gifts: Your guide to KC’s best sports-inspired gifts (and how to get ’em before the holidays)
December 14, 2024 | Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
As a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan, Donnell Jamison stood by the team during the grim years when the playoffs were just a prayer and Chiefs shirts weren’t necessarily a hot holiday item, he shared.
Donnell Jamison, Deep Rooted; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
“I’m a die-hard Chiefs fan,” continued Jamison, owner of Deep Rooted, a KC streetwear brand with a brick and mortar in the shopping center at Troost Avenue and Emanuel Cleaver Boulevard. “I’ve been a Chiefs fan since the worst days like the Elvis Grbac and the Tyler Thigpen days.”
But times have changed. The Chiefs have an MVP-winning quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, just doinked their way to a ninth straight AFC West title, and are in the hunt for their third straight Super Bowl victory.
Now, locally-made Kansas City shirts fly off the shelves, especially during the holidays.
“We are winners now,” Jamison said. “Everybody keeps saying the refs are cheating for us, but I just think the football gods are most definitely shining upon us.”
“What better way to pay homage to the Chiefs than to do some Chiefs shirts?” he added.
Chiefs-inspired Big Head shirts from Deep Rooted at Deep Rooted’s store, 1112 E. 47th Terrace, KCMO; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Chiefs-inspired Big Head shirts from Deep Rooted at Deep Rooted’s store, 1112 E. 47th Terrace, KCMO; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
So in the holiday and playoff spirit, Deep Rooted recently released vintage style, acid washed, long sleeve t-shirts with the familiar (giant) faces of some of the Chiefs stars, including Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, Xavier Worthy, Chris Jones, and Rashee Rice. The shirts also feature the players nicknames, Kansas City on the sleeves, and the back of their heads on the back of the shirt. The shirts are $40 and can be found in the Deep Rooted store.
“They love them,” he noted of the reception of the shirts so far.
Jamison said he will likely add Isiah Pacheco, DeAndre Hopkins, and Steve Spagnuolo next.
“I love my town; I love my city; I love my team,” he explained. “That’s really the inspiration.”
Keep reading for more can’t miss gift options featuring Kansas City sports favorites and more — all of which can still be found on store shelves across the metro, even after online shopping delivery deadlines have passed.
Plus click here to check out some of the Chiefs-inspired makers and products that made the cut for Made in KC’s first-ever Made in KC Awards.
Chiefs-inspired Big Head shirts from Deep Rooted at Deep Rooted’s store, 1112 E. 47th Terrace, KCMO; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Deep Rooted Chiefs Fathead-inspired long sleeve shirts – $40
If these shirts don’t scream I’m a die-hard Chiefs fan, I don’t know what does.
Find at: Deep Rooted, 1112 E. 47th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri
EB & Company earrings and headbands – $22/$28
Game Day or Red Friday at the office never looked so cute and classy than with these accessories.
Find at: EB & Company; Shop Local KC; and Made In KC, multiple locations
Headbands from EB & Co.; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
KC Football sweatshirt from Associated Humanity at Made in KC’s Country Club Plaza location; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Associated Humanity Chiefs sweatshirt – $65
This sweatshirt is perfect for the fan who studies the Xs and Os and knows that it doesn’t matter if the play is called Corn Dog or Tom and Jerry that it’s still going to result in a Chiefs touchdown.
Find at: Made In KC, Country Club Plaza, 306 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Missouri
Floral Babe.Co Chiefs-inspired earrings — $18
Light-weight, acrylic earrings from founder Mitzy Romero’s KC Collection add everyday flair to the forever fan.
Find at: FUERZA Retail Space at Chicano Center for the Arts, 2203 Lexington Ave. Kansas City, Missouri
Ampersand Design Studio key chain and Chiiiefs melamine platter – $18/$39
These are perfect for the fan who wants their house (and keys) to scream home of the Chiiiiefs. (Design comes on a variety of gift and apparel products.)
Find at: Ampersand, 211 E. Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri; Made In KC; and Shop Local KC, multiple locations
Chiefs-inspired wooden ornaments from SewKC at the brand’s East Crossroads showroom; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
SewKC colorblock sweatshirt and Christmas ornaments – $75/$10
This sweatshirt – available in Chiefs and Current colors – is perfect for the fashionable fan with a vintage vibe. And Magnomes, Kelfe, Coach Candy Wreath, and Holi-Tay belong on any Chiefs fan’s Christmas tree.
Find at: SewKC/Hi Tides Coffee, 519 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri
Colorblock sweatshirts from SewKC at the brand’s East Crossroads showroom; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Festive Absorb-lumen towels at Shop Local KC; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Absorb-lumen Work Harder and Bartender towels — $17-$20
Made from recycled plastic and sustainable materials, these towels soak up just about any mess — and they come with a mission-driven focus to make the world better. (Learn how here.)
Find at: Shop Local KC; and Made In KC, multiple locations
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Malisa Monyakula wants to welcome you home for the holidays; she already has an igloo waiting
Adding pop-up holiday experiences at her popular Kansas City businesses is a way for Malisa Monyakula to bring back nostalgic memories of her childhood in Thailand, the restaurateur behind Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop said. “Christmas is everywhere in Thailand,” she said, noting the classic American holiday celebrations are vibrant despite the country’s predominantly Buddhist population.…
‘The people demand mustard’: This stained glass artist dipped into corn dogs (and hungry shoppers ate it up)
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. LAWRENCE — Selling holiday shoppers on stained glass corn dogs was unexpectedly easy, said Darleen Schillaci; adding mustard and keeping up with buyers’ appetite, however, proved the meatiest challenge. The…
Skip shopping and shipping: Your guide to last-minute, KC-made gifts you can still get in stores
Forget naughty and nice: one Kansas City-pieced business has a puzzling present for each person on Santa’s “weird and mellow” list. Locals can still find them on KC-area store shelves — while they last. Birdie — a sister company to Stefanie and Tim Ekeren’s popular Kansas City Puzzle Company — packs each eye-catching box with…
One issue cuts across all political lines: How it could be the antidote to a divided America
Entrepreneurship is a way to unify the United States at a time with great political division, said Victor Hwang. “It’s an issue that cuts across party lines,” explained the founder and CEO of Right to Start. “And it’s something Americans really care about.” Hwang, previously an executive at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, recently published…