The Carhartt Detroit work jacket is an unlikely darling in the vintage clothing world. It’s been in production in various forms seen around auto shops, construction sites, and hardcore shows for 70 years. But thrifters and vintage resellers dream about stumbling across one of these now-coveted, well-loved garments on a Goodwill rack. The more fading and distressing they show, the better. Entire subreddits sweat over identifying and dating jackets originally designed specifically for wear during hard labor. Matthew McConaughey even wore one in Interstellar.
The first of these jackets debuted all the way back in 1954, and some version has remained in the lineup nearly continuously ever since. However, it has evolved along the way as the classic shape morphed to better fit modern tastes. Now, Carhartt has re-engineered and reissued the classically styled Detroit—with its shorter length and slimmer fit—as part of its current lineup.
The Re-Engineered version offers the same durability and shape as the vintage models with some added benefits. It’s more environmentally friendly, the break-in period is shorter, and you don’t need to spend months searching thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace to find one. Here’s how the company brought back a classic look with modern materials.
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Digging back into the Carhartt archive
Carhartt began in Detroit way back in 1889. Originally the Hamilton Carhartt & Company, it produced work overalls for steel workers, railroad workers, and anyone who needed tough garments for hard labor. Looking at the company’s clothing lines through the generations, you can watch them evolve without ever losing their identity, which helps explain the garments’ old-school vibe. That’s not a mistake, especially in recent years.
“Carhartt has worked diligently over the last 10 years to build a comprehensive in-house apparel archive,” Vice President Global Product Design, Research…
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