History

Carhartt Workwear

1855
Hamilton Carhartt is born in Macedon Locks, New York.

1889
With only four sewing machines and five employees, Hamilton Carhartt begins to manufacture overalls in duck and denim, under trade union conditions.

1910
The Carhartt Company expands to include two cotton mills in Georgia and South Carolina as well as factories in Detroit, Dallas and San Francisco.

1911
The Carhartt Automobile Corporation produces around 300 “Pleasure Cars” a year under the motto “The last word in motor construction”.

1914
During WWI, Carhartt produces workman uniforms for the military. With a reported total of 17 factories, the Carhartt clothing company reaches the height of its economic success in the first two decades of the 20th century.

1923
The iconic Carhartt CO1 Chore Coat is advertised for the first time and becomes a key part of the Carhartt collection.

1932
Carhartt opens a new factory in Irvine, Kentucky and launch the “Back to the Land” campaign to offer workers better conditions away from the slums, sweat shops and the general distress of large industrial towns, now filled with thousands of unemployed due to the Great Depression.

1937
Hamilton Carhartt dies in a car crash in Grosse Pointe, Michigan at age 82, leaving the company to his sons Hamilton Jr, and Wylie.

1941
As the USA enters WWII, the entire US economy experiences a boost as factories back the war effort. Soldiers both home and abroad need sturdy, durable apparel.

1966
The spring collection includes a line of classic sports apparel, casual jackets, jeans and shirts, all made of canvas, with product names such as “Huggers pants” and “Surfers”.

1989
Carhartt celebrates its centennial anniversary.

Carhartt Work in Progress

1989
Under the title "All American Concept", Edwin Faeh starts to introduce distinctly American products to the European market.

1992
The ultimate rise of Carhartt's street credibility and street fame is brought about by a group of trendsetters whose names will be forever connected with the early days of hip hop.

1994
Work in Progress (WIP) is established by Edwin Faeh to become the exclusive distributor of Carhartt in Europe.

1995
"La Haine" (The Hatred) by Mathieu Kassovitz becomes one of the first movies to feature the Carhartt brand due to it's rising popularity in underground street culture.

1996
WIP acquires the license to manufacture Carhartt products outside of the USA, subsequently making the 1997 collection the first European "original".

1997
The first store exclusively featuring Carhartt WIP products in Europe opens in Neal Street, London.

1997
Foundation of the Carhartt WIP Skate and BMX Teams.

1999
Evan Hecox kicks off a series of illustrated ad campaigns. His designs of almost ingenious simplicity set the standard for future Carhartt WIP Campaigns.

2000
Carhartt WIP presents the first collection for women.

2000
Combination Records is established by Edwin Faeh, Oliver Drewes, and Philipp Maiburg for Carhartt WIP as an open platform for new electronic music.

2003
The first of nineteen issues of Rugged Magazine is published. Celebrating "the collections of curiosities of all people with a mission... or whatever else we come across".

2007
"Dirt Ollies: A Skateboard Trip to Mongolia" by Alexander Basile, Pontus Alv and Bertrand Trichet is released. Published by Bildschöne Bücher & Carhartt WIP.

2010
Collaborations include: A.P.C., Adam Kimmel, Burton, Master-mind, Fragment Design, Sophnet, Uniform Experiment, Vans, Vestax, AIAIAI, 5Boro, London Undercover and many more.

2010
The Carhartt WIP Heritage line is introduced, comprising of products inspired by the legacy of the Carhartt brand.

2011
Carhartt WIP introduces the "brown duck" embroidery as a nod to its long-standing tradition.

2011
Carhartt WIP opens a store in New York City, thus coming full circle with its American origins.

2014
Carhartt WIP celebrates its 25th anniversary.

2016
The book “The Carhartt WIP Archives” is released. The first extensive look into the Carhartt WIP universe.

2018
The Carhartt WIP evolution continues.