Background
Denim dates back to the 17th century France, where it was a twill cloth made from silk and wool, called 'serge de Nimes.' Later in 1860, Levi Strauss & Co began incorporating serge de Nimes to their product line after customers requested for a softer fabric compared to the stiff, canvas like fabric they were producing their garments from previously. Denim was a staple in the late 1800's and early 1900's for farm and industrial workers, a prime garment for heavy work.
In 1889, Hamilton Carhartt began his company with two sewing machines in a small loft in Detroit. Conversations with railroad workers and heavy failure led him to design pieces that truly fit their needs. "Honest value for an honest dollar," was the saying used when referring to the Carhartt bib overalls, which quickly became the standard for high quality workwear. Carhartt produced uniforms for soldiers, Marines in the pacific and workwear for women in the homefront factories. Another iconic piece dating back to the 1917 is the Carhartt Chore Coat (pictured below) which is still largely worn to this day. In the coming years, the business would be passed down upon the death of Hamilton, expanded manufacturing and production facilities thus increasing revenue and helping the brand grow. In the 1980's and 1990's, consumers outside blue-collar trades became familair with the brand. As the brand expanded to places such as Europe and Asia, Carhartt created 'Carhartt Work In Progress' in 1989 to, "target consumers .. who value refined details and design that remains true to Carhartt's brand DNA." ( https://www.carhartt.com/carhartt-history )
Starting off with a pair double knee cargo utility jeans that was given to me by a friend, in hopes I could wear them. After having them sit in my closet and not able to be worn, I was prompted with the Re-envisioned project and found the perfect use for them. Since the importance on longevity of the garment I wanted to try to save the details as much as possible. The craftsmanship of the pieces is a reason why Carhartt is so widely favored over a large range of people.
The idea of re-working Carhartt pieces is nothing new and has been done many times before. Typically seen in the form of patchworked jackets, hats or fanny packs, I wanted to try to create something with a unique silhouette and that may have not been seen before. I think that the commonly seen reworked piece hold true to the brands ideology and remain in the category or work wear, hence why I was inspired to create something more tailored for women.
Part of my mission for this garment was to try to preserve as much of the craftsmanship as possible, such as the thick seams, double knee, pockets.