Born in 1889, Hamilton Carhartt & Company was born! Starting out solely producing workman’s overalls with two sewing machines and a half-horsepower electric motor in a small Detroit loft space!

Fast forward to 1996 and the company had grown exponentially, now a fully established fashion brand under the presidential lead of Hamilton’s great grandson, Mark Valade. Carhartt now had established operations throughout Europe and had its own global eCommerce business. Manufacturing items for womenswear, menswear and the extremely successful and well-known flame-resistant garments across its dozens of Carhartt owned retail stores.

In 2013, Linda Hubbard assumed the role of president, becoming the first non-family member to hold that position. Mark still to this day serves as chairman and chief executive officer.

With entrepreneurial vision and determination, Hamilton and the next three generations of the Carhartt family established a brand that has stood the test of time.

Carhartt now has global operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. The company employs more than 2,200 American workers, 900 of whom are UFCW union members. Carhartt’s “Made in the USA” line is inspired by American workers and features some of the company’s most iconic garments. These products are made in four facilities located in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Over the past 15 years, Carhartt has produced more than 80 million garments and accessories in the U.S. The company also sources heavily from U.S. suppliers such as Mt. Vernon Mills in Georgia (fabric) and YKK Snap USA in Kentucky (snaps and buttons), among others.

Carhartt also owns and operates manufacturing and finishing facilities in Mexico, and its European headquarters is located in Amsterdam. In all, Carhartt employs more than 5,000 hardworking associates worldwide.

Thinking of how far the Carhartt brand has come since its birth is a surreal thought! The now fashion forward brand is a wardrobe staple that is loved by thousands all over the world!

Carhartt. Outworking them all since 1889

Carhartt WIP Shorts