Carhartt Men’s Work Short

The year 1889 was a time of steel, smoke, and locomotives.

Starting with only 2 sewing machines and 5 employees, Hamilton Carhartt established Hamilton Carhartt & Company. At first, he failed. But after asking railroad workers what exactly they needed, he succeeded. Under the motto “Honest value for an honest dollar,” the Carhartt union-made bib overall was created, and with it an ideal garment for workers.

By 1910 Carhartt had grown to include mills in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as sewing facilities in Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, San Francisco, Walkerville, Toronto, Vancouver, and Liverpool. A Paris facility and a New York office and warehouse followed later.

From the early 1900s, Hamilton Carhartt developed an interest in cars. He began constructing his own line of automobiles in 1911 under the company name Carhartt Automobile Corporation. After two years, the company failed but ever resilient, Hamilton continued to grow his clothing line.

The company offered the government the use of seven Carhartt facilities to create uniforms for the U.S. military in World War I (and later denim for the U.S. Navy and workwear for women entering the workforce during World War II).

The legendary Carhartt Chore Coat was introduced in 1923. It remains largely unchanged to this day.