A Critique of Carhartt Clothing

Carhartt Clothing first started making work clothes in 1898. Their customer base included rail workers, miners, timber men and other industrial laborers.

Today, the company continues to sell work wear, but they’ve also expanded into street wear This is the Carhartt Street Wear line. For a practical review of their Street Wear read on.

The Pricing Structure

Though the basic clothing intended for labor and work prices is actually incredibly affordable (usually around $30 for a pair of work jeans), the company’s street wear offerings are significantly more expensive. A pair of jeans will usually retail for about $70 while the popular Carhartt jacket sells for close to $100.

It’s the same brand quality, but consumers are being asked to pay more for designer touches and a style that cowtails to current trends.

Clothing Comfort and Wearability

Carhartt’s work wear line is made to be rugged, meaning it’s often stiff and a little uncomfortable. However, the street wear line is almost the opposite. Though still durable and hard-wearing, the street wear is soft, comfy and ready to wear. One downside is the clothes are sized very big, so you may want to buy a size down.

Brand Quality

Carhartt makes quality clothing that’s made to last and withstand hard, daily use. Their street wear may not be as durable as their work wear, but it’s definitely far more rugged and hard-wearing than many other urban brands on the market today. Overall, great quality.

For example, the Carhartt Street Wear line is extremely popular with urban sport fans, like skateboarders, who appreciate a pair of jeans that can take dozens of falls without ripping or tearing.

Is it Fashionable?

In the early to mid-nineties, urban youths started wearing their work clothes as a fashion statement and in support of the company’s principles to make clothes on American soil with unionized American workers. Eventually, the trend spread - giving birth to the Carhartt Street Wear line, which is still fashionable today.

The clothes are youthful, yet offer clean lines and definite simplicity. Don’t expect anything too flashy or over the top. The appeal of these clothes is that it’s a working man’s brand. Overall, the clothes are still fashionable, and select pieces would fit right in with many modern wardrobes.

The Final Word

Other than being too expensive and not quite as durable as their work clothes, Carhartt clothing for street wear has hit the mark. They still hold up over time, and they’re fashionable - as long as you’re willing to pay the higher price.