CARHARTT: HOW WORKWEAR TOOK OVER STREET FASHION
CARHARTT: HOW WORKWEAR TOOK OVER STREET FASHION
Carhartt is an American clothing brand founded in 1889 in Detroit, Michigan by Hamilton Carhartt. Originally, Carhartt produced durable workwear for railroad workers — this functionality, durability, and high quality became an inseparable part of the brand. All clothing was designed to withstand the toughest working conditions.
Carhartt WIP – The Streetwear Direction
In the 1990s, Carhartt began to notice that its workwear was becoming increasingly popular among underground subcultures in Europe — hip-hop, skaters, BMX riders, and techno communities. In response to this growing interest, a separate line was launched in Europe in 1989 — Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress). This was a collaboration with German Edwin Faeh, who obtained a license to manufacture and distribute Carhartt products for the European market.
Carhartt WIP not only adapted the original models for urban and youth audiences (making silhouettes more modern, colors brighter, and details more “streetwear” style), but also created a line that became a distinct fashion culture movement, successfully blending the aesthetics of workwear with modern urban style.
The Duck Symbol
One of the recognizable visual elements in the world of Carhartt WIP is the duck. It’s not the official Carhartt logo, but symbolically it’s closely associated with the brand. The duck appeared as a creative Carhartt WIP detail and a reference to their use of “duck canvas” — a very strong cotton fabric used in the original Carhartt products. The name “duck” doesn’t come from the bird, but from the Dutch word “doek,” meaning canvas. However, in WIP’s creative world, it became a playful symbolic element connecting the duck fabric to the image of an actual duck.
If you also want to be part of this urban culture, we invite you to check out our Carhartt WIP collection. Visit our physical store or online shop and explore the world of Carhartt WIP up close.
Reliable quality, style, and culture – all in one.
By: Vanesa
