Carhartt WIP

Carhartt WIP exists because someone at Carhartt noticed that European skaters and hip-hop producers were buying American workwear and wearing it differently than construction workers. The brand split itself in 2, the original line still sells duck canvas jackets to people who actually build things. WIP makes slimmer versions for people who want the same look without the sawdust. Split is interesting because most brands either go after the fashion crowd or the utility crowd, but Carhartt decided to do both simultaneously under slightly different logos. The Detroit jacket from WIP has the same shape as the original but the fabric is lighter and the fit tapers more. It makes you think about what authenticity actually means in clothing. When I wear mine I am aware that the brand's credibility comes from a context I have never worked in. The jacket itself is well made and warm and the brown canvas ages in a way that looks better after a year than it did new. Stitching is the same quality across both lines. Neither side of this brand feels like it's pretending to be something it isn't, even though the customers could not be more different from each other.