21 Brands Like Carhartt That Blend Streetwear and Workwear
The Carhartt Detroit jacket has become the unofficial uniform for everyone from Greenpoint baristas to A-list stars. It’s no surprise that Carhartt has become a staple for anyone who values rugged, functional style that’s built to last. Known for its super-durable jackets, beanies, and work pants, the brand has created an iconic look that feels just as right on a job site as it does in the city.
But if you’ve already got your Carhartt essentials covered and are looking to expand your wardrobe with a similar vibe, you’re in luck. Here are 20 other streetwear and workwear brands that nail that same rugged, high-quality feel.
1. Dickies
Founded in 1922, its icon is the 874 work pant, whose stiff poly-cotton twill and sharp, permanent crease became the uniform for skate, punk, and West Coast counter-culture. Its icons are the 874 Work Pant, usually around $50-$60, and the classic Eisenhower Jacket, around $80-$90.
Shop now at dickies.com
3. Stan Ray
For the man who obsesses over archival military style. This family-owned Texan company (est. 1972) built its name on military-spec sateen and twill. While Carhartt owns the barn coat, Stan Ray owns the fatigue pant. The aesthetic is less "construction site" and more "Vietnam-era surplus." Its key pieces are the OG Fatigue Pant (around $80-$95) and the 80s Painter Pant (around $75).
Shop now at stanray.com
4. Patagonia Workwear
This is Carhartt for the person who puts their values first. Patagonia engineered its own Iron Forge Hemp canvas, which is 25% more abrasion-resistant than traditional cotton duck canvas and more sustainable. It’s a better-performing, eco-conscious version of the classic Iron Forge Hemp Barn Coat (around $199) and Double Knee Pants (around $89).
Shop now at patagonia.com
5. Carhartt WIP
This is the most important distinction to make. "WIP" (Work In Progress) is Carhartt's European, fashion-forward line. It takes the original DNA—the duck canvas, the logos, the core silhouettes—and recuts them for a modern, slimmer, and style-conscious audience. If you love the OG's look but find the fit too massive, this is your first stop. Its key items, like the re-cut Detroit Jacket and OG Chore Coat, come at a higher price point than the mainline.
Shop now at carhartt-wip.com
8. Filson
If Carhartt is the trusty daily driver, Filson is the heritage Land Cruiser you'll pass down to your children. Founded in 1897 for Klondike Gold Rush prospectors, their motto is "Might as well have the best." Their heavy, waxed "Tin Cloth" is legendary armor against the elements. A Tin Cloth Work Jacket will cost over $350, and the Mackinaw Cruiser is nearly $500, but they are built to last a lifetime.
Shop now at filson.com
9. Woolrich
As the "Original Outdoor Clothing Company" (est. 1830), Woolrich is one of America's oldest. They literally supplied blankets to Civil War soldiers. Their icon is the red-and-black buffalo check, and their modern "Black Label" line offers technical, fashion-forward takes on their archival parkas, which can range from accessible flannels to investment-level parkas.
Shop now at woolrich.com
10. Ariat
Ariat (est. 1993) did for equestrian and ranch life what Nike did for running. It brought athletic-shoe technology into rugged work boots. Their "Rebar" and "Groundbreaker" lines are the real, modern uniform for ranchers and construction workers, offering high-tech comfort and durability at a mid-range price.
Shop now at ariat.com
11. Duluth Trading Co.
This brand (est. 1989) is famous for its witty, problem-solving approach to workwear. They are the ones who invented the "Longtail T-Shirt" to solve "plumber's crack." Their "Fire Hose" fabric is a two-fisted, ridiculously tough canvas, and their "Ballroom" jeans are built with extra room for, well, you know.
Shop now at duluthtrading.com
12. Margaret Howell
The queen of understated, British, androgynous style. Howell doesn't just make clothes; she makes archetypes. She'll take a simple work shirt or mackintosh coat and perfect its "just-right"-ness through subtle changes in cut and supremely high-quality fabrics, especially in her MHL. workwear-inspired line, all at a luxury price point.
Shop now at margarethowell.co.uk
13. Helly Hansen
Founded in Norway in 1877 by a sea captain, Helly Hansen invented waterproof fabrics. "HH" is the undisputed king of gear for the harshest conditions on earth (think crab fishermen and mountain rescue teams). Their workwear line is functional, technical, and has a no-nonsense Nordic edge, with pieces like the Gale Rain Jacket and ICU BRZ Construction Pant.
Shop now at hellyhansen.com
14. Ben Davis
This is the "if you know, you know" West Coast original. Founded in 1935 and repped by West Coast hip-hop and Japanese tastemakers, Ben Davis is unapologetically tough. The brand’s signature twill is famously, almost comically, stiff when new, requiring a rite-of-passage break-in period. Its signature pieces are the Original Ben's Pants and the Half-Zip Shirt, both typically in the $50-$60 range.
Shop now at bendavis.com
15. Levi's
The brand that invented the blue jean in 1873. While known for the 501, its "Levi's Vintage Clothing" (LVC) and "Made & Crafted" lines are where you'll find the best heritage workwear, including faithful reproductions of their original denim "Type I" and "Type II" trucker jackets. Prices vary dramatically from accessible mainline jeans to premium LVC reproductions.
Shop now at levi.com
16. Wrangler
Designed by "Rodeo Ben," their jeans were built for life in the saddle, with flat rivets that wouldn't scratch leather. The aesthetic is pure, rugged Americana, and their 13MWZ (13th prototype, Men's, Zipper) jean is an un-ironic classic at an affordable price point, often around $50.
Shop now at wrangler.com
18. Barbour
This is Filson's British cousin. Barbour (est. 1894) is the uniform of the English countryside, from farmers to royalty. Its signature is waxed cotton, but it's a lighter, more pliable "Sylkoil" wax, perfect for damp, drizzly weather. The look is less "gold rush" and more "pastoral," with iconic jackets like the Bedale and Beaufort costing around $400-$500.
Shop now at barbour.com
19. Red Wing
While primarily a boot company (est. 1905), Red Wing defines the workwear aesthetic from the ground up. You can't wear a chore coat without the right footwear. Their "Heritage" line features the 875 Moc Toe and Iron Ranger boots, which are the global standard for rugged, "buy it for life" footwear, typically costing between $300 and $350.
Shop now at redwingshoes.com
20. A.P.C.
The Parisian answer to workwear. Founded in 1987 by Jean Touitou, A.P.C. (Atelier de Production et de Création) is obsessed with reduction. It strips utility-wear down to its barest essentials, creating minimalist chore coats and, most famously, rigid Japanese selvedge denim like the New Standard jean, which are a significant step up in price.
Shop now at apc-us.com
21. Berne
If you find Carhartt too fashionable and too expensive, Berne (est. 1915) is your answer. This is the un-glamorous, heavy-duty, affordable brand you'll find at tractor supply stores. It’s what people who actually work outside wear, with zero irony, from their Original Washed Duck Coat to their Heritage Insulated Bib Overalls.
Shop now at berne.com
22. Caterpillar
Yes, the bulldozer company. CAT workwear is the real deal, licensed and built for the most demanding job sites. It is pure, unadulterated function. Their iconic "Colorado" boot defined a 90s grunge look, and their apparel, like their holster-pocket work trousers, is just as tough and accessibly priced.
Shop now at catworkwear.com
The Carhartt Code: Why It Conquered Culture
Carhartt’s magic lies in its accidental journey from the factory to the front row. Founded in 1889 to clothe railroad workers in bombproof outerwear, its crossover was never planned. It was adopted, not marketed, first by 90s hip-hop artists who saw the boxy, durable gear as an emblem of urban armor, and later by skate culture, which prized the canvas for its ability to withstand pavement. We're not just looking for a "C" logo; we're looking for brands that share this DNA: a history of utility, a commitment to materials, and an authentic cultural footprint.
How to Style and Shop for Rugged Workwear
Now that you've got the lay of the land, here is the actionable advice you're not getting elsewhere.
When it comes to styling, the key to avoiding the "construction site" costume is all about the high/low mix. The power of a rugged piece is how it contrasts with other items. Wear your Ben Davis pants with loafers and a simple, high-quality tee. Pair a Stan Ray fatigue pant with a cashmere knit or a crisp button-down. The goal is to let the workwear item be the rugged anchor, not the entire outfit.
As for buying advice, sizing is everything. Remember that mainline Carhartt (and Berne, and Filson) is cut for work, meaning it's huge and roomy. Carhartt WIP, conversely, is cut slim. Dickies 874s are notorious: they sit high on the natural waist and have no stretch, so buy your true waist measurement. Ben Davis pants are so stiff, they will feel "wrong" when you first try them on. This is normal; trust the break-in process.
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