Some brands try their hand at streetwear culture. And then there's Carhartt WIP — a brand that never had to seek out the streets, because the streets came to it. Founded in Michigan in 1889, Carhartt is one of America's oldest workwear brands. Its fascinating history — from railroads to graffiti, via Detroit's underground clubs — is a perfect tale of how authenticity always finds its audience. At Ultimate StreetStore in Digne-les-Bains, we are proud to represent Carhartt Work In Progress in our selection.
1889: Hamilton Carhartt and the vision of workwear
The story begins in Detroit, Michigan, in 1889. Hamilton Carhartt founded his company with a conviction fueled by a visit to New York's sewing workshops: if you want to make clothes for workers, you have to make them with them, not for them. Hamilton Carhartt personally met with workers, observed their working conditions, identified problems with their clothing — seams that came apart, fabric that frayed, poorly positioned pockets — and designed his garments in direct response to these needs.
His motto? "Honest value for an honest dollar." This philosophy of integrity and uncompromising quality would define Carhartt for the next 135 years.
The railroad logo: a story in a symbol
Carhartt's first logo is fascinating: it depicts a railroad car topped with a red heart. This logo tells everything about the brand's history. The railroad car represents Carhartt's initial customer — the railroad workers and employees of railway companies traversing the American continent under construction. The heart signifies Hamilton Carhartt's personal commitment to these workers.
This logo remained virtually unchanged for almost a century, demonstrating remarkable consistency of vision. Between 1940 and 1970, it incorporated the mention "Union Made," reinforcing the brand's commitment to workers' rights at a time when the American labor movement was at its peak.
The transition to streetwear: an organic adoption
It was in the 1980s and 1990s that something extraordinary happened: without any marketing strategy from Carhartt, the Work Detroit jacket and watch beanie began appearing in contexts radically different from their original use.
In Detroit, techno music enthusiasts and underground club-goers wore the Carhartt jacket for its warmth and robustness during long nights in warehouses. In New York, graffiti artists — who spent hours in the cold of railway yards tagging wagons — particularly appreciated the deep pockets and resistance of Carhartt pieces. An ironic historical connection: clothes designed for railway workers ended up being worn by those who decorated their wagons.
In Germany and the United Kingdom, DJs and artists from the rave scene even traveled to the United States to buy Carhartt pieces they couldn't find in Europe. This organic demand triggered the creation of Carhartt Work In Progress.
1994: The birth of Carhartt WIP
Faced with this growing European demand for Carhartt pieces with cuts adapted to European body shapes and tastes, Edwin Faeh created Carhartt Work In Progress in 1994 in Hamburg. The principle was simple: reinterpret the Carhartt heritage — its fabrics, its technical construction, its visual codes — into pieces adapted for contemporary urban use.
Carhartt WIP is neither a counterfeit nor a mere derivative line. It is an authentic interpreter of a heritage, with the agreement and cooperation of Carhartt America. The materials are the same — duck canvas, twill, heavy cotton — but the cuts are more precise, the details more urban, the colorways more varied.
The Carhartt WIP collection today
Today, Carhartt WIP is one of the most respected streetwear brands worldwide. Its collection covers a wide spectrum:
- Jackets and coats: the Watch jacket, the Detroit, the Active — classics that transcend seasons without ever going out of style.
- Sweats and hoodies: heavy cotton pieces that age well and get better with time.
- T-shirts: quality basics with graphics that speak to the brand's history and values.
- Pants: from technical cargo to straight jeans, cuts that combine functionality and style.
- Accessories: beanies, caps, bags — the natural complement to Carhartt outfits.
How to wear Carhartt WIP?
Carhartt WIP's strength lies in its versatility. Outfits that work:
- The workwear-chic look: Carhartt Watch jacket over a basic sweatshirt, straight jeans, and ankle boots. Sober, effective, distinctive.
- Pure streetwear: Carhartt hoodie, baggy cargo pants, chunky sneakers. A look based on the quality of the pieces rather than ostentation.
- Winter layering: Carhartt t-shirt under a Carhartt hoodie under a Carhartt jacket — the total look that embraces its coherence.
Find Carhartt WIP at Ultimate StreetStore
Our store in Digne-les-Bains offers a serious selection of Carhartt WIP pieces, renewed each season to incorporate the best new models while maintaining the essential classics. Come to the store to feel the materials and try on the cuts, or order on ultimate-streetstore.fr with fast delivery.
Carhartt WIP is the story of industrious America meeting European urban culture. It's a brand with meaning, roots, and an integrity that can be felt in every piece. A brand we are proud to wear.