What brands are totally workwear?

When we talk about brands that are “totally workwear,” we mean companies whose core identity, history, and primary product lines are dedicated to creating functional, durable, and safety-oriented clothing for trade professions, industrial jobs, and manual labor.

These brands are distinguished from fashion brands that merely have a “workwear aesthetic.”

Here is a breakdown of brands that are fundamentally workwear, categorized by their focus.

1. Heritage & Work-Focused (The Classics)

These brands built their reputation over decades by outfitting blue-collar workers. They are synonymous with durable, no-fonsense work clothing.

• Carhartt: The undisputed king of American workwear. Known for its rugged duck canvas jackets, bib overalls, and pants. Their flagship products like the Sandstone Active Jacket and B01 Double-Front Dungaree are industry standards. (Note: Carhartt WIP is their separate fashion-focused line).

• Dickies: A global giant known for affordability and durability. Their 874 work pants are one of the best-selling garments in the world. They offer a huge range from shirts and pants to coveralls and jeans for various trades.

• Red Wing Shoes: While famous for their heritage-style boots, their Work line is entirely focused on safety and performance, with American-made boots featuring proprietary compounds like SofTred for comfort and durability.

• Ben Davis: A legendary brand, particularly in the West Coast construction and skilled trades. Famous for their heavyweight triple-stitched shirts and pants, built with a focus on extreme durability.

• Key Apparel: A major supplier known for providing a wide array of basic workwear like t-shirts, hoodies, and pants, often sold in bulk and used as company uniforms.

  

2. Technical & PPE-Focused (Safety First)

These brands specialize in clothing that is certified Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Their entire raison d’être is protecting workers from specific, serious hazards.

• Bulwark: A leading name in Flame-Resistant (FR) clothing. They make everything from FR shirts and pants to coveralls and outerwear, primarily for the oil & gas, electrical, and utility industries.

• Ariat: Originally equestrian, Ariat’s Work division is a major player in technical work boots. They are renowned for combining advanced comfort technology (like their ATS stability platform) with safety features like composite toes and electrical hazard protection.

• Wolverine: A classic American brand with a deep-rooted Work boot line. Their boots, like the Wolverine Overpass, are built with durability, safety features (like met guards), and comfort technologies for construction and manufacturing.

• RefrigiWear: They do one thing and they do it exceptionally well: extreme cold weather insulation. Their iconic Iron-Tuff suits and freezer wear are the go-to for meatpacking, warehouse freezer, and outdoor winter work.

• Anseli: A premier brand for cut-resistant and general safety work gloves. They are a staple in manufacturing, glass handling, and metalworking.

3. Modern & Trade-Specific (New Classics)

These brands are newer but have gained a dedicated following by focusing on superior fit, modern materials, and addressing the specific needs of modern tradespeople.

• Dovetail Workwear: Founded by women for women. They are 100% dedicated to creating functional, durable, and well-fitting workwear (especially pants and shirts) designed for the female form, a market long ignored by traditional workwear brands.

• 1620 Workwear: A premium brand that uses high-tech performance fabrics (like those used in outdoor gear) to create ultra-durable, functional, and comfortable workwear. They are known for their innovative designs and direct-to-consumer model.

• Truewerk: Focuses on a “clothing system” (T1-T4) for different climates, using technical, breathable, and durable fabrics. Their gear is designed for skilled trades who need performance similar to outdoor athletics but for the jobsite.

• Patagonia Provisions: While Patagonia is an outdoor company, their Workwear line is a serious entry into the market. It uses organic and recycled materials but is built to the same rugged, functional standards as their outdoor gear, with a strong emphasis on durability and repair.

Brands That Blur the Line (Workwear-Inspired Fashion)

It’s important to distinguish the brands above from those that are inspired by workwear but are fundamentally fashion brands. These include:

• Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress): The fashion-oriented offshoot of Carhartt.

• Filson: Originally a luggage and workwear company for prospectors, it’s now primarily a high-end heritage lifestyle brand.

• Duluth Trading Company: They market themselves as workwear and have many functional innovations (like their “fire hose” canvas), but they also sell a huge amount of casual clothing and have a strong consumer retail focus.

• CAT (Caterpillar): Primarily licenses its name to a boot and apparel maker. The products are work-appropriate but the brand itself is not a dedicated clothing manufacturer.

In summary: If you’re looking for brands that are “totally workwear,” your best bets are the core lines of Carhartt, Dickies, Bulwark, Haiyuan, Ariat Work, and Wolverine Work, as their primary mission is to cloth and protect people who work with their hands.