Before we get to the reasons why (worn-out) Carhartt Pants are so sought after, let's take a trip back in time to Michigan in the 19th century:
from here with robust workwear in the typical beige and brown - at first primarily for railroad workers, but construction workers and farmers have also sworn by the traditional brand for decades now.
In the 90s, it was American
East Coast rappers who took Carhartt from the hardware store to the streets. The explanation for Carhartt's unexpected new buyer base back then is simple: the pants and jackets were comparatively cheap to get. Thanks to its ties to the working class, the brand stood for
"rough, rugged and raw" like no other. And: The winters in New York City and Co. are damn cold - which you can survive better in robust Carhartt pants than in windy jeans.
Prince Paul (left) and Shyheim (right) wearing Carhartt in the 90s
Bigger is better
Carhartt benefited from another trend in the 90s rather by chance: back then, skaters and hip hoppers started wearing their clothes bigger and bigger for the first time - among other things, because bigger clothes offer more room to move for tricks (and more storage space). And where could you find size XXXXL even back then, before there were streetwear labels to match? Yep, in the hardware store at Carhartt, where plus sizes were available quite regularly, not paying attention to the skinny trend of the fashion industry.
Carhartt becomes Carhartt WIP (and yet not)
Since the late 90s, Carhartt's history has been split in two: The workwear line still functions as "Carhartt" in the USA and the DIY stores of this world. But if you go to a Carhartt store in the metropolises of this world, you shop at "Carhartt WIP" (Carhartt Work in Progress). The latter is a licensee of Carhartt and produces modern reinterpretations with the logo of the brand, which focus more on style than on fitness for work. In short: Carhartt WIP has the more current cuts. More robust, often of higher quality and more durable are the pieces from the "real" Carhartt.
The big "C": Things go in circles
But back to the present, where Kanye West, among others, celebrates the Double Knee Pants - gladly even in a worn-out state, and even better with splashes of color on the fabric. But how does a Kanye, who just a few years ago wore sinfully expensive leather jogging pants, come up with this style?
Kanye West: Once Luxury, today Workwear
Probably because fashion has always lived on opposites: After high fashion comes workwear. After bling bling come holes and stains. And after "everyone with a full bank account wears the same expensive jeans that no one will care about next season" comes... what? Individuality and longevity. Of course, this is where Carhartt comes into play again: Double Knee Pants are manufactured to such a high standard precisely so that they last as long as possible - away from trends and even if you work in them, skate or simply like to have something from your clothes for a long time.
The fact that you can often see that the pants have been toiled in makes them even better for us: the more worn-out, the more character each pair of pants has - because every hole and every splash of color is unique. Basically the literal icing on the cake ;) And psst: In an already-worn state, the pants are also instantly comfortable to wear!
You can find our limited selection of Carhartt Work Pants from Friday, March 18th, at 6 PM
here in the current drop! If you want to receive early access to our Vintage Work Pants Drop, sign up to our
Double Double Family Program
here. It's free of course!
