Carhartt is much more than a maker of workwear. We're a family. Founded by Hamilton Carhartt in 1889-proudly owned and operated by the same bloodline ever since. We honor the shared values of hard work: dependability, honesty, and trust.

Under the motto “Honest value for an honest dollar,” the Carhartt bib overall was created and rapidly evolved into the standard for quality workwear.

Detroit, Michigan, United StatesCarhartt / Place founded

Carhartt was founded by Hamilton Carhartt in 1889 in Detroit, Michigan, to make work clothing for manual laborers. The company started with two sewing machines and five workers.

“Carhartt holds its value in the resale market because of its quality, durability and functionality,” says Steve Dool, Depop's director of brand and marketing. “Buyers know that they can always resell a Carhartt piece if they ever get tired of it.”

Carhartt apparel is purposely designed with a classic, sophisticated look while performing much better than clothing that's not made to be rugged. Whether an extra layer is needed or it's not quite cold enough for a jacket, branded Carhartt hoodies are a comfy and convenient way to bundle up.

The hip-hop connection has been traced back to 1990, when Tommy Boy Records bought 800 Carhartt jackets, added its logo and gave them to acts including House of Pain who went on to wear them in their video for 'Jump Around'. By 1992, the brand's new status was on the radar of the mainstream media.

Carhartt makes work clothes for hard-working people and the $1.7-billion company is managing to navigate the post-pandemic economy and its ups and downs pretty well, much like most Americans who remain on the job despite a soggy economy.

“Car Plus Heart” logo, circa 1900. As you can see, the logo itself didn't actually contain the name of the company. It used images of a train car and a heart to create a symbolic representation of our brand name: car + heart = Carhartt.

Carhartt apparel is purposely designed with a classic, sophisticated look while performing much better than clothing that's not made to be rugged. Whether an extra layer is needed or it's not quite cold enough for a jacket, branded Carhartt hoodies are a comfy and convenient way to bundle up.

The “Car in Heart” wasn't just a brand mark – it was a symbol for how we conducted our business as well. It was a philosophy centered around giving. Hamilton Carhartt was a pioneer for workers' rights, which was reflected in how he treated both his employees and consumers.

But if amorphous qualities like authenticity and nostalgia are all very well, there's a more practical factor that makes Carhartt appeal now: it's hard-wearing, and lasts a long time. That speaks ever louder to guys with sustainability and consumption in mind.