9 WORKWEAR BRANDS
FOR STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
From old-timers like Carhartt and Levi’s to new age gems like TMS.SITE, these brands define workwear in the modern day.
When it comes to cost per wear, workwear emerges as the best way to build a wardrobe. The genre's heavy-duty materials and craftsmanship mean the garments are purpose-built to be tested. What’s more, in the modern day, the spread of brands offering workwear caters to all styles, from classic to high-tech.
Considered to have originated in the late 1800s with American railroad workers, workwear has been through many evolutions. But while the reflective, padded, and ergonomically engineered pieces of new age labels like TMS.SITE impress with their technicality, brands like Carhartt WIP and Levi’s still hold serious weight with time-tested garments.
What was once designed with the sole purpose of protecting the wearer against heavy machinery, the elements, oil, and the like has—through the years—become a pivotal part of modern style. This is partly down to the hip-hop scene in the ’90s and ’00s, where workwear like denim chore jackets and Timberland boots became a defining aspect of the culture. Artists like Nas and, more recently, Lil Yachty have proven that the best workwear brands slot effortlessly into clean, contemporary style.
While the most popular workwear brands often dominate the conversation, there’s a wealth of lesser-known labels worth some wardrobe space out there. This list covers the full spectrum: from big to small, from workwear jackets to workwear boots.
Featured In This Image: Baffin boots
Founded: 1979
City: Stoney Creek, Canada
Instagram: @baffinworldwide
SSENSE says: One of the keys to Baffin’s success is the fact that it still tests all of its products in real-life scenarios. Only once a pair of Baffin boots has proven itself on work sites and in extreme environments can it hit the production line. That’s why waterproof uppers, heavy-duty sole units, and insulated linings are just regular features of the brand.
Featured In This Image: Carhartt Work In Progress overalls
Founded: 1994
City: Detroit, US
Instagram: @carharttwip
SSENSE says: Founded in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, Carhartt WIP became the exclusive distributor of Carhartt clothing to Europe. Since then, the sublabel has taken on a life of its own. Still underpinned by the workwear values that made Carhartt so iconic, Carhartt WIP adds a streetwear-informed twist to the equation, effectively reframing the Carhartt archive for a more style-conscious wearer. From well-loved outerwear like the Michigan Chore Coat to buzzy hits like the Double-Knee Pants, the WIP offering is understandably one of the most popular in modern workwear.
Featured In This Image: CARSON WACH jeans
Founded: 2017
City: Los Angeles, US
Instagram: @carsonwach
SSENSE says: Although CARSON WACH has only existed since 2017, the inspiration behind its designs can be traced back to the early days of workwear. Taking notes from the garments worn by nineteenth-century miners, cowboys, and construction workers, the collections feature traditional designs like reinforced, wide-leg denim pants and roomy wool jackets, all executed with an eye for style. Subtle subversions of typical workwear silhouettes imbue CARSON WACH clothing with fresh personality.
Featured In This Image: KLEMAN derbys
Founded: 1988
City: La Romagne, France
Instagram: @kleman_france
SSENSE says: KLEMAN’s story begins at the end of World War II, when the veteran grandfather of KLEMAN founders Alex and Mathieu Cléon began making shoes. Inspired, Alex and Mathieu founded the brand in 1988 to continue where their grandfather left off, supplying handmade shoes to the French workforce and beyond. Timeless leather derby shoes and boots are the name of the game for this label which has, in recent years, seen a rise in popularity within style circles thanks to the increased desire for classic, utilitarian leather work shoes.
Featured In This Image: Levi's jumpsuit
Founded: 1853
City: San Francisco, US
Instagram: @levis
SSENSE says: When Levi Strauss founded his eponymous label in 1853 and went on to produce the first pair of riveted denim overalls, he could not have known that he was beginning a journey that would alter the way that the world dresses. Credited with the popularization of jeans, Levi’s is arguably one of the most famous and prolific brands of all time. Levi’s jeans have dressed some of the world’s biggest icons, from James Dean to Steve Jobs, but every pair can trace its roots back to humble beginnings in the mines of the California Gold Rush.
Featured In This Image: Nigel Cabourn hat
Founded: 2000
City: Newcastle, England
Instagram: @nigel_cabourn
SSENSE says: Informed by authentic vintage styles, Nigel Cabourn collections are a collage of real-life references, sourced from vintage shops all over the world (but mainly Japan). From reproductions of the first Everest parkas to nineteenth-century railroad hats, Nigel Cabourn offers an expansive and historically accurate collection of workwear demarcated by premium materials and eye-catching cuts.
Featured In This Image: Reese Cooper shirt
Founded: 2016
City: Los Angeles, US
Instagram: @reesecooper
SSENSE says: Early support from Virgil Abloh put Reese Cooper on a promising trajectory when it was founded in 2016. In the years since, the young designer has impressed with a singular blend of streetwear, luxury, and authentic workwear to gain a place in fashion’s big leagues. Using experimental detailing, proportions, and fabrics, Reese Cooper reformulates established designs like chore coats or denim jackets, all the while maintaining the hard-wearing nature of the root garment.
Featured In This Image: Sky High Farm Workwear jacket
Founded: 2011
City: Ancramdale, US
Instagram: @skyhighfarmhudsonvalley
SSENSE says: Sky High Farm Workwear is a refreshingly inventive case study of what a clothing brand can be in the modern day. The brand is a fundraising arm of a nonprofit regenerative farm. In the words of Lexie Smith, Sky High’s communications and program manager, “At the end of the day, we’re a farm that grows food, but there’s a sort of creativity and poeticism built into it because it came from the imagination of an artist.” Beyond the purpose-built workwear jackets and pants that it produces, Sky High Farm donates 100% of its produce to those in need.
Featured In This Image: TMS.SITE pants
Founded: 2021
City: Hong Kong, China
Instagram: @tms.site
SSENSE says: TMS.SITE founder Mei Sze Tsang’s parents both worked in factories, with her father going on to work with construction teams. This fueled Tsang’s fascination with the uniforms worn by the workers that we see every day in major cities. Speaking to SSENSE, Tsang explained that after studying coal miners, “I was so ashamed as a designer. I had lots of skills, but I had never used them to help the people that I really care about, especially the heavy-duty workers that I grew up around.” Now, TMS.SITE produces highly researched workwear intended for on-site usage and even offers global workers a 30% discount.
- Date: November 20, 2023
