Carhartt
Encyclopedia
Carhartt, Inc., is a U.S.-based clothing
company founded in 1889. It is still a family-owned company, owned by the descendants of company founder Hamilton Carhartt, with its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan
.
s, coat
s, overalls, coveralls, vest
s, shirt
s, jeans
and dungarees.
Carhartt was originally founded to make work clothing for railroad workers. Their initial growth throughout the 1890s was focused on railroad workers' need for durable and long lasting work overalls. Over time, Carhartt clothing items evolved trademark features intended to further extend durability, including the use of heavy duty threads, reinforcing rivets at vital stress points, and a variety of durable, high technology materials resistant to flames, abrasion and water. Today Carhartt is commonly found on construction
sites, farms and ranches, among other job sites.
In 2007, the company launched a Carhartt for Women line of women's workwear for the Fall season.
In the United States, Carhartt sponsors blue-collar organizations and events such as 4-H
, the National FFA Organization
, rodeos and the #17 NASCAR
race car driven by Matt Kenseth
.
During the 9/11 World Trade Center rescue operations, the Carhartt company donated thousands of bib overalls to the rescue crew to be used on scene.
from other apparel manufacturers and pressure to drive down prices, many of Carhartt's non-core apparel items have been increasingly outsourced abroad. Some countries where outsourcing is and has been done are: Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, China, and the Philippines.
In 1997, Carhartt built their first facility in Penjamo, Guanajauto, Mexico
, and in December 2001 they opened a second plant about 30 miles away in the city of Irapuato, Guanajuato. In 2003, they purchased two additional facilities from the Labor Board of the state of Durango in an auction (these facilities had been owned by CHIC by HIS and had been abandoned). Carhartt now operates a total of 4 facilities in two Mexican states. Two sewing plants (with a cutting facility in Penjamo) are located in the central part of Mexico and a sewing/cutting facility along with a laundry/finishing/distribution center in Durango, Durango. They operate these plants with over 2,000 Mexican employees.
Carhartt's Mexican plants are "unionized" in the sense that they have a union registered on paper with the Mexican labor authorities but they run their operations like they were non-unionized plants. Carhartt continues to own and operate unionized cutting
, sewing
and distribution center
s in the United States and Mexico
, and offers a "Union-Made in USA" line of workwear through its retailers, but items like T-shirts, knit caps (and even some lower priced items such as chore coats) have been increasingly seen with labels from a foreign country, though most feature American-made fabrics and components. Carhartt has stated that its international suppliers must have Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production
certification. All the Mexico plants were required to meet Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) certification.
, Middle East
, and Africa
) was formed in 2006 in order to provide workwear to the European market.
(L'Équipeur in Québec).
or Volcom
. In Japan
, it is a familiar streetbrand that often collaborates with other streetwear brands. An example would be the line of A Bathing Ape
X Carhartt camouflage hoodies and jackets.
Carhartt Streetwear, which is produced under license of Work in Progress, supports affinity groups such as artists, musicians and skateboarders.
Manufacture of Carhartt Streetwear products is generally outsourced to Asian countries. Before 2000, most products were manufactured in the US by unionized labor.MArtos
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
company founded in 1889. It is still a family-owned company, owned by the descendants of company founder Hamilton Carhartt, with its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
.
Carhartt in the United States
In the United States, Carhartt is known for its work clothes, such as jacketJacket
A jacket is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear...
s, coat
Coat (clothing)
A coat is a long garment worn by both men and women, for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front, closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, a belt, or a combination of some of these...
s, overalls, coveralls, vest
Vest
A vest is a garment covering the upper body. The term has different meanings around the world:Waistcoat :. This is called a waistcoat in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, or a vest in the US and Canada. It is often worn as part of formal attire, or as the third piece of a lounge...
s, shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
s, jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
and dungarees.
Carhartt was originally founded to make work clothing for railroad workers. Their initial growth throughout the 1890s was focused on railroad workers' need for durable and long lasting work overalls. Over time, Carhartt clothing items evolved trademark features intended to further extend durability, including the use of heavy duty threads, reinforcing rivets at vital stress points, and a variety of durable, high technology materials resistant to flames, abrasion and water. Today Carhartt is commonly found on construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
sites, farms and ranches, among other job sites.
In 2007, the company launched a Carhartt for Women line of women's workwear for the Fall season.
In the United States, Carhartt sponsors blue-collar organizations and events such as 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
, the National FFA Organization
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
, rodeos and the #17 NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
race car driven by Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
.
During the 9/11 World Trade Center rescue operations, the Carhartt company donated thousands of bib overalls to the rescue crew to be used on scene.
Carhartt abroad
Due to competitionCompetition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
from other apparel manufacturers and pressure to drive down prices, many of Carhartt's non-core apparel items have been increasingly outsourced abroad. Some countries where outsourcing is and has been done are: Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, China, and the Philippines.
In 1997, Carhartt built their first facility in Penjamo, Guanajauto, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and in December 2001 they opened a second plant about 30 miles away in the city of Irapuato, Guanajuato. In 2003, they purchased two additional facilities from the Labor Board of the state of Durango in an auction (these facilities had been owned by CHIC by HIS and had been abandoned). Carhartt now operates a total of 4 facilities in two Mexican states. Two sewing plants (with a cutting facility in Penjamo) are located in the central part of Mexico and a sewing/cutting facility along with a laundry/finishing/distribution center in Durango, Durango. They operate these plants with over 2,000 Mexican employees.
Carhartt's Mexican plants are "unionized" in the sense that they have a union registered on paper with the Mexican labor authorities but they run their operations like they were non-unionized plants. Carhartt continues to own and operate unionized cutting
Cutting
Cutting is the separation of a physical object, or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. An implement commonly used for cutting is the knife or in medical cases the scalpel...
, sewing
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
and distribution center
Distribution center
A distribution center for a set of products is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers. A distribution center is a principal part, the order...
s in the United States and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and offers a "Union-Made in USA" line of workwear through its retailers, but items like T-shirts, knit caps (and even some lower priced items such as chore coats) have been increasingly seen with labels from a foreign country, though most feature American-made fabrics and components. Carhartt has stated that its international suppliers must have Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production
Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production
Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production, WRAP, is a not-for-profit 501 organization founded by companies in the global fashion and apparel industry to monitor and certify apparel manufacturing facilities' compliance with specified standards on the following topics:Compliance with Laws and Workplace...
certification. All the Mexico plants were required to meet Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) certification.
Carhartt workwear
Carhartt EMEA (EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
) was formed in 2006 in order to provide workwear to the European market.
Carhartt in Canada
In Canada, the main retailer of Carhartt is Mark's Work WearhouseMark's Work Wearhouse
Mark's Work Wearhouse, sometimes branded as Mark's, is a Canadian clothing retailer. First opened in Calgary, Alberta in 1977 by Mark Blumes, a former retail executive with the Hudson's Bay Company, it has been owned since 2001 by Canadian Tire...
(L'Équipeur in Québec).
Carhartt Streetwear
Carhartt Streetwear is marketed as a more fashionable brand comparable to StussyStussy
Stussy, or Stüssy , is a clothing brand and private company started in the early 1980s by Shawn Stussy. The company is one of many that benefited from the surfwear trend originating in Orange County, California, United States but has largely been adopted by the streetwear and hip-hop...
or Volcom
Volcom
Volcom, Inc. is a designer, marketer and distributor of young men's and young women's clothing, footwear, accessories and related products sold under the Volcom brand name. Volcom is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, United States...
. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, it is a familiar streetbrand that often collaborates with other streetwear brands. An example would be the line of A Bathing Ape
A Bathing Ape
A Bathing Ape is a Japanese clothing company founded by Nigo in 1993. The company specializes in men's, women's and kids' lifestyle and street wear, running 19 stores in Japan, including Bape Stores, Bape Pirate Stores, Bape Kids Stores, Bapexclusive Aoyama, and Bapexclusive Kyoto...
X Carhartt camouflage hoodies and jackets.
Carhartt Streetwear, which is produced under license of Work in Progress, supports affinity groups such as artists, musicians and skateboarders.
Manufacture of Carhartt Streetwear products is generally outsourced to Asian countries. Before 2000, most products were manufactured in the US by unionized labor.MArtos