Tillamook, the farmer-owned Oregon dairy cooperative, is partnering with designer Rachel Antonoff to launch Grilled Cheese Skirts, a four-piece capsule collection inspired by the “cheese skirt” – the culinary term for the crispy, lace-like ring of melted, browned cheese that extends beyond the edges of a grilled cheese sandwich.
Antonoff, known for giving everyday wardrobe staples playful designs, created four skirts that turn grilled cheese sandwiches made with Tillamook Cheese Slices & Shreds into fun wearables.
“Grilled cheese is a classic for a reason, so we wanted to have fun imagining what it would look like if we took it completely out of the kitchen and put it on the runway,” Antonoff said. “I love turning familiar, everyday things into something unexpected, so the cheese skirt felt like the most natural place to take the idea, and honestly, once we started, it was hard to stop.”
Meet the skirts
The skirts, as described by the collaborators:
- Pepper Jack Mini Skirt: Inspired by the cheese’s signature pepper flecks and kick of heat; short, spicy and unapologetically bold.
- Sharp Cheddar Midi Skirt: “Not too much, not too little,” the wardrobe version of getting the ratio exactly right.
- Four Cheese Maxi Skirt: “What happens when we let the melt run wild. Full skirt, full drama,” for anyone who’s ever fought over the crispy part.
- Swiss Pencil Skirt: Sleek and structured, with playful organza cutouts for a distinctively Swiss twist.
“Grilled cheese is one of those universally loved foods that brings people comfort, with 61 percent of Americans naming it as their favorite sandwich, and we wanted to celebrate it in a way that felt unexpected and unmistakably Tillamook,” said Jinny Lam, VP of marketing at Tillamook, citing a Talker Research survey of 5,000 Americans commissioned by the brand. “Tillamook Cheese Slices & Shreds don’t do subtle, they bring bold flavor and an unmistakable melt. Turns out Rachel doesn’t do subtle either.”
Good look, great cause
Bidding on each skirt opened Oct. 21 through Rally Up, with proceeds benefiting Feeding America. Tillamook will match the total donations for the four skirts combined, up to $10,000.
Tillamook Cheese Slices, available in Farmstyle Thick Cut and Thin Cut, and Shreds are sold nationally at Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, Publix, Ahold Delhaize banners and other grocery stores.
Founded in 1909, Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned cooperative whose products reach more than one in four U.S. households, with manufacturing facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon, and Decatur, Illinois, and more than 1,100 team members. New York-based Antonoff’s eponymous label has collaborated with partners including Bass, Keds and Pepperidge Farm.
Related: Kraft Natural Cheese Teases New Flavors With Clip-On ‘Pocket Parm’