Carhartt’s New Spinoff Brand Resurrects Rare Archival Workwear from the Past

Founded by Hamilton Carhartt’s great-great granddaughter, Wylie Welling aims to be a treasure trove of truly timeless workwear.

Close-up of several earth-toned jackets hanging on white hangers.Wylie Welling

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When Hamilton Carhartt started selling overalls to railroad workers, the Model T, radio and Turing machine were still decades away.

Now we have driverless cars, on-demand streaming and large language models powered by artificial intelligence.

But Americans’ appreciation for good, old-fashioned workwear hasn’t gone anywhere.

Two models wearing tan Carhartt jackets and brown boots, one seated on a stool and the other standing with white pants against a dark backdrop.
Wylie Welling is a new Carhartt offshoot that sells vintage pieces, some exceptionally rare.
Wylie Welling

No longer worn exclusively by tradesmen, Carhartt wares outfit “rappers, club kids, preppie hangers-on and the otherwise chronically cool,” as The New York Times put it more than three decades ago.

The assessment still rings true today.

That longevity is the driving force behind Wylie Welling, a new offshoot led by Gretchen Valade, the great-great granddaughter of Hamilton Carhartt, who shared the launch on social media.

Made to last

Launching April 7, with a retail space in Detroit to follow, Wylie Welling focuses on two types of garments:

The first includes vintage garments dating back to the 1970s, which undergo one-off restoration by teams in Los Angeles and Detroit.

Person with tattoos on head and arms holding a beige jacket in a clothing store.
Teams in Los Angeles and Detroit source and upcycle vintage pieces dating back decades.
Wylie Welling
Close-up of a hand sewing a gray fabric patch over a hole with white thread.
In some cases, restoration leads to truly one-off pieces.
Wylie Welling

Older, rarer pieces are also part of the inaugural collection, however, less than ten of these garments will kick off the brand’s first capsule.

“Rather than replicate or reproduce, Wylie Welling reimagines, celebrating each piece’s unique existing history while giving them a new life.”

Prices hover between $95 and $900, while some of the one-off finds, such as a Denim Lined Chore Coat from the 1970s, climb upward of $3,495 due to their uniqueness.

Man wearing a faded blue denim jacket with snap buttons and large front pockets against a dark background.
Some of the rarer pieces will sell for thousands of dollars.
Wylie Welling

Keep it in the family

Named after Hamilton Carhartt’s son, Wylie Welling ties into Carhartt’s efforts around sustainability, highlighting the role circularity can play to reduce consumer waste in the age of fast fashion.

Stack of folded tan and brown Carhartt work pants on a blue chair with metal legs.
“With Wylie Welling’s commitment to reducing waste and extending the life of well-made products, the brand restores and sometimes reinterprets original vintage Carhartt garments, known for their durability, craftsmanship, and functionality,” it says.
Wylie Welling

“Every garment is a testament to the hands that made it and the people who make it their own,” the brand states on the website.

“Rather than replicate or reproduce, Wylie Welling reimagines, celebrating each piece’s unique existing history while giving them a new life.”

Limited availability

Wylie Welling’s first drop is now live, with pieces expected to sell quickly due to their limited nature.

A retail space is planned to open in Detroit’s Little Village district later this year.

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