Carhartt Work in Progress (WIP) is a division of the American brand Carhartt, which was founded in 1889 and is known for heavy-duty working clothes such as jackets, coats, overalls, coveralls, vests, shirts, jeans, dungarees, fire-resistant clothing, and hunting apparel. Carhartt WIP was founded in Europe in 1989 by Swiss couple Edwin and Salomée Faeh, who started by selling Carhartts authentic workwear. In 1994, they were granted a license to create their own lines of clothing under the name Carhartt Work in Progress (WIP) . Carhartt WIP is the streetwear version of the Carhartt brand, often marketed as comparable to Stüssy or Supreme. The WIP founders strategy was to immerse themselves in sub-cultures that interested them and pursue marketing activities that existed in them, including graffiti, fanzines, skateboarding, hip hop, and a BMX cycle team.
Carhartt WIP often collaborates with other streetwear brands, such as A Bathing Ape, A.P.C., Comme des Garçons, Vetements, Junya Watanabe, Pontus Alvs Polar Skate Co, and Gosha Rubchinskiy and Tolya Titaevs skate brand PACCBET. Carhartt WIP has a number of stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, and also in the U.S. (New York City and Los Angeles) . In 2021, Carhartt WIP opened its latest Paris store located in St-Germain-Des-Prés and collaborated with artist Lucas Price on a series of oil paintings for its Fall campaign, Berlin skate imprint Civilist, and L’Art de l’Automobile.
Carhartt WIP products are manufactured and sold globally, and the brand has built a strong, organic relationship with unknown, inspiring, provocative, and upcoming figures in music and sport, becoming an iconic and well-respected brand in underground scenes, from hip-hop to skate, from graffiti to cycling, as well as working with labels such as A.P.C., Neighborhood, Patta, Vans, Junya Watanabe, and many more. Carhartt WIP adapts iconic Carhartt gear for those seeking refined design and style that remains true to the origins of the brand. The brands products are functional and durable, and they include graphic tees, patterned Chuck Taylors, and "C" logo ice cube trays.
