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Carhartt Updates Its Iconic Workwear Classic with Modern Materials

The new Denim Detroit Jacket modernizes the timeless original while preserving the details that made it a generational favorite.

Close-up of a blue denim jacket with a partially unzipped brass zipper and a brown corduroy collar.Carhartt
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By Hayley Helms

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Workwear stans recognize Carhartt’s Detroit Jacket as one of the defining and most iconic silhouettes from a brand built on durability and affordability. 

While most iterations come dressed in the label’s signature duck canvas, select vintage versions swapped the rugged fabric for one of fashion’s most enduring materials: denim.

Now, the Detroit Jacket returns in a denim rework, balancing classic workwear appeal with contemporary materials that deliver added comfort and flexibility.

Man wearing a blue denim jacket with a brown collar and matching blue denim jeans.
The revised Denim Detroit Jacket effortlessly bridges the gap between archival style and modern materials.
Carhartt

Modern day classic

The recently released Denim Detroit Jacket builds upon Carhartt’s century-long pursuit of providing tough gear for tough jobs while adding in mobility and comfort-focused features that help the jacket thrive in everyday wear.

Blue denim jacket with brown corduroy collar, zippered chest pocket, and Carhartt logo patch.
Secure exterior pockets, the corduroy collar and triple-stitched seams all pay homage to the original design.
Carhartt

In place of the heavier-duty 12-ounce, 100-percent cotton duck canvas that Carhartt typically applies to its popular workwear, this new take uses a stretchy blend of 12.5-ounce, 70 percent cotton, 29 percent polyester and 1 percent elastane denim.

The 2026 Denim Detroit Jacket also ditches the original version’s lining, which makes this a four-season option rather than a warmer winter pick.

Close-up of blue denim jacket with visible stitching and metal button detail.
The adjustable waist and cuffs offer customization on the go.
Carhartt

These swaps admittedly makes the jacket less heavy-duty than its predecessors, but they simultaneously make it more comfortable.

Carhartt also switched the fit, opting for a relaxed profile over the more traditional boxy look of the Detroit Jacket.

Close-up of a person wearing a tan Carhartt shirt tucked into blue jeans with a brown belt, holding open a blue denim jacket showing its light blue interior pocket.
The unlined denim jacket unlocks year-long wear and layering opportunities that its heavier-duty predecessor lacked.
Carhartt
Man wearing blue denim jacket with brown collar, blue jeans, tan shirt, and brown leather boots.
The Carhartt Canadian tuxedo is more comfortable and attainable than ever thanks to the Detroit Jacket’s denim update.
Carhartt

While the Detroit Jacket’s material swap is its most notable change, steadfast details help ground the rework in its own heritage.

Triple-stitched seams, the corduroy collar, adjustable cuffs and waist and easy-access pockets remain the same.

Denim jacket with brown corduroy collar and visible Carhartt label reading "Relaxed Fit" and "Rugged Flex.
Carhartt added in its Rugged Flex technology, which stretches and flexes with you as you move.
Carhartt

By pairing the Denim Detroit Jacket’s workwear-rooted details with a modern fabrication, Carhartt has successfully reworked one of its most enduring styles without sacrificing the timeless DNA that has made it a favorite across generations.

Availability and pricing

The Denim Detroit Jacket is available now on Carhartt’s website, retailing for $120.

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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