There’s hardly a brand in Europe that has played a bigger role in establishing streetwear in our urban spaces than Carhartt WIP. However, it was a long journey for this quintessentially American workwear label—whose rich history is matched, if not surpassed, only byLevi’sand Dickies—from American workwear to a European streetwear icon.
The Birth of a Legend
Carhartt was founded in 1889 in Detroit, Michigan, by Hamilton Carhartt, who made a name for himself by creating professional overalls for American railroad workers out of denim and canvas. Over time, these materials would become the company’s unmistakable hallmarks.
The company, which began with 4 sewing machines and 5 employees, has grown into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of workwear and streetwear. With what is known as “Master Cloth,” the renowned workwear specialists created an extremely robust and durable 100% cotton canvas fabric as early as the beginning of the 20th century, which they named “Duck.” To this day, this Duck canvas has remained a distinctive hallmark of every Carhartt WIP collection.
Carhartt WIP Comes to Europe
In Europe , Work in Progress (WIP) Textilhandels GmbH, based in Switzerland, took over distribution of the American collections in 1994. The enthusiasm of the youth underground for authentic U.S. products, such as the Carhartt WIP Watch Beanie, ultimately led to the design of the brand’s first in-house collections specifically for the European market in 1997. Drawing heavily on the American workwear tradition, WIP recognized the needs of the urban lifestyle community. As a result, the brand quickly established a firm foothold in Europe’s skateboarding, hip-hop, and graffiti scenes.
Switzerland’s Coolest Boss
Over the past 26 years, Carhartt WIP has not laid off a single employee. This is primarily due to the extremely loyal and fair boss, Edwin Fäh. In an interview with the Swiss tabloid “Blick,” Fäh was asked whether a healthy lifestyle was more important to him than business success. And that’s exactly how it is! Fäh exemplifies the kind of values most workers would love to see in their boss. He prioritizes his employees’ well-being over his company’s profits. In 26 years at Carhartt WIP, Edwin Fäh has never laid off anyone—hats off to him!
The New Carhartt WIP Collections
Thanks to the support of select international and national skate teams and their blend of classic basics and ever-evolving styles, Carhartt WIP unerringly and effortlessly captures the spirit of the times. As a result, they have inexorably evolved into one of the leading brands in the European streetwear scene, and with regularly released new collections, they ensure that this will undoubtedly remain the case for a very long time to come!
The first product line, developed exclusively for Europe, was launched in 1997. It reimagined the original Carhartt workwear cuts—adapted to the demands of an active lifestyle in an urban environment and true to Carhartt WIP’s core values: outstanding designcombined with exceptional quality, durability, and comfort.
Streetwear is Carhartt WIP
In the late 1980s, clockers and graffiti artists brought Carhartt WIP clothing to the streets. Why was that? The explanation is quite simple: anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors needs warm clothing with plenty of storage space for all kinds of gear. A well-lined jacket with spacious pockets, like the Carhartt WIP Siberian Parka, was therefore the best choice.
As a result, authentic Carhartt WIP workwear quickly became the top choice among graffiti artists, motorcycle club members, and people in the urban sports scene. Hailed as a new trend-setting brand, it didn’t take long for Carhartt WIP workwear to find its way into the closets of rap stars and hip-hop artists.
Over the years, the new Carhartt WIP look has thus become an integral part of urban subcultures.
Carhartt WIP and Skateboarding
The Carhartt WIP (Work in Progress) brand was founded in 1994. Carhartt Work in Progress is known not only as a reliable supplier but also for its dedicated support of artists, musicians, and riders. Ever since its inception, Carhartt WIP has been involved in the European skateboarding and BMX scenes. Carhartt WIP’s genuine commitment earns respect even from those who are skeptical of brand hype—and rightly so! For many years, Carhartt WIP has supported local scenes and helped maintain and develop skateparks.
The Carhartt WIP skate team features some of Europe’s best-known names— Vansand Elementteam riders Phil Zwijsen and Joe Gavin; Isle Skateboards’ Sylvain Tognelli; Antiz Skateboardsteam riders Julian Furones and Hugo Liard; and nearly half of the Polar Skate Co.team, including Pontus Alv, Jerome Campbell, Michal Juras, Aaron Herrington, and David Stenström—as well as Danish team rider and European Skater of the Year Hjalte Halberg—all contribute to Carhartt WIP’s legacy.
ÖCTAGON by Carhartt WIP
ÖCTAGONis an independent video supported by Carhartt WIP. The tricks for this consistently dark Carhartt video are performed by, among others, Bram De Cleen, Joseph Biais, Valentin Bauer, and Edouard Depaz. This project presents a visual universe in black and white. Öctagon captivates with a graphic landscape infused with technological and futuristic references and explores themes such as new technologies, human subjugation, freedom, and rebellion. A video that impresses with its incomparable atmosphere.
Carhartt WIP – The Must-Haves!
In the Titus online shop, we offer a wide variety of Carhartt WIP products. From clothing to accessories like backpacks, you’ll find plenty here. Among the most popular Carhartt WIP products is the Carhartt WIP Acrylic Watch Hat, a.k.a. the Carhartt WIP Watch Beanie. This beanie is by far the most iconic Carhartt WIP beanie of all time. Originally designed as warm headwear for the working class, this beanie quickly became an all-time classic in suburban culture thanks to rap groups like Naughty by Nature.
Another masterpiece from the Carhartt WIP lineup is the Carhartt WIP Anchorage Parka. The minimalist look of this Carhartt WIP parka gained a particularly strong following in the hip-hop scene. The style of this parka was especially popular among MCs from Brooklyn. Whether it’s Nas, Action Bronson, ASAP Rocky, or Mobb Deep—every one of them has worn the Carhartt WIP Anchorage Parka at some point!
Questions about Carhartt WIP products?
If you have any further questionsabout Carhartt WIP products—such as choosing the right size, fit, or cut—simply contact our customer service team via chat, phone, or email.
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