Stylish streetwear from Carhartt WIP
Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) was founded in 1994 by Edwin Faeh and has since developed its own collections based on the original Carhartt workwear. The brand combines authentic adaptations of the rugged American originals while engaging with the subcultures that have made them their own. In doing so, Carhartt WIP has in turn placed itself in a new context while advancing its own classics. Since the late 1980s, countercultures around the world have appropriated the raw essence of Carhartt workwear originals. Meanwhile, with the help of a growing network and strong foundation, Carhartt WIP opened its first store in London in 1997 and increasingly engaged with cultures outside its own industry. This led to the creation of its own skate team and music division, while the brand also supported various artists and released several publications. Since 2010, Carhartt WIP has also collaborated with various like-minded brands, such as Converse, Nike and Vetements.
The history of Carhartt WIP
About 100 years after Carhartt began making dungarees in the U.S., Carhartt WIP transformed these classic products to serve the European market. To this day, Carhartt WIP customizes the iconic Carhartt clothing for those looking for classy design and style that stays true to the brand's roots. Back in 1989, Edwin Faeh introduced American products like Carhartt to the European market under the name "All American Concept". As rappers, graffiti artists and hooligans wore the brand for its rugged features and utilitarian aesthetics, Carhartt was increasingly embraced by young people as well. In 1994, Carhartt Work in Progress was founded, making it the sole distributor for Carhartt in Europe. When Carhartt was featured in Mathieu Kassovitz's film "La Haine" in 1995, the brand became increasingly popular in the underground music scene and other cultural scenes throughout Europe. In 1996, Work in Progress was licensed to produce Carhartt products outside the U.S. and released its first collection the following year. In 1997, the first Carhartt WIP retail store also opened in London and the first skate and BMX teams were formed. The brand's first women's collection appeared in 2000 and Rugged Magazine was published in its first edition in 2003. In 2010, Carhartt WIP started working on special projects with other like-minded brands, collaborating with Nike, Converse or Vans, among others. In 2011, Carhartt WIP opened its first store in New York, bringing the brand full circle to its American roots. In 2013, the brand collaborated with Antiz Skateboards and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014. In 2016, the book "The Carhartt WIP Archives" was published, offering an in-depth look into the world of Carhartt WIP. In 2017, the brand became a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and has since committed to sourcing more sustainable cotton year after year. In 2019, it opened its second retail store in the U.S., located in Los Angeles. The brand also introduced organic cotton in its collections. Also in 2020, Carhartt WIP expanded its product range and continued to collaborate with Converse and GORE-TEX INFINIUM.
