Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) apparel

Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) is the lifestyle-oriented division of the classic American workwear brand Carhartt. While the parent brand was founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1889 by Hamilton Carhartt to produce heavy-duty work clothes, the WIP label emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s through a licensing agreement with Swiss entrepreneur Edwin Faeh. This partnership allowed Faeh to adapt the rugged American aesthetics for the European market, bridging the gap between utilitarian workwear and contemporary streetwear.

Today, Carhartt WIP is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and operates as the fashion-forward counterpart to the original brand's industrial roots. Manufacturing for the WIP line takes place in various countries across Europe, Asia, and North Africa to support its global retail presence. The brand remains under the ultimate ownership of the Carhartt family through Hamilton Carhartt & Co., maintaining a legacy of family ownership that spans over a century while its WIP division continues to lead in the global streetwear scene.