The Carhartt Detroit work jacket is an unlikely darling in the vintage clothing world. It’s been in production in various forms seen around auto shops, construction sites, and hardcore shows for 70 years. But thrifters and vintage resellers dream about stumbling across one of these now-coveted, well-loved garments on a Goodwill rack. The more fading and distressing they show, the better. Entire subreddits sweat over identifying and dating jackets originally designed specifically for wear during hard labor.
The first of these jackets debuted all the way back in 1954, and some version has remained in the lineup nearly continuously ever since. However, it has evolved along the way as the classic shape morphed to better fit modern tastes. Now, Carhartt has re-engineered and reissued the classically styled Detroit—with its shorter length and slimmer fit—as part of its current lineup.
