All the blogs and fashion magazines tell you that you need the right accessories. On Crafted in Carhartt, we’ll tell you the same thing—but for much different reasons. Forget color blocking or following passing trends, these accessories are made to match your job. Amy Nicole Swift, The Building Hugger shows us how. 
Let’s talk gloves.
Keep those hands safe and cover them in quality. That way you can be that much better at your job. These Driving Gloves are constructed of leather and cotton with a reinforced thumb and palm. Take a look at all the women’s gloves. Which ones match your daily routine?
Let’s talk boots.
And no, we’re not talking about knee highs or heels. We’re talking serious shoes for bad ass women who do dangerous, dirty jobs. These killer boots are oil, chemical, abrasion, heat and slip resistant. Their cement construction with Carhartt rubber Rugged Flex provide an insane amount of safety. The rubber heel bumper gives you added protection. With the ASTM 2413-EH rating, The Rugged Flex Work Boot is approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials. 
Let’s talk shorts.
These Crawford Canvas Work Short are constructed from 9-ounce, 97% cotton and 3% spandex canvas with Rugged Flex Technology that allows you to move with ease. They are outfitted with a utility loop, tons of pockets, and sit just below the waist. The 11 inch inseam gives you just the right amount of coverage when you’re on the job.
Let’s talk tops.
Everyone loves a great Tee, and The Carhartt Force Performance T-Shirt is just that. How many shirts are sweat wicking, stain repellent, and odor fighting? (This style is available next spring, but check out the current styles here.) This is the kind of shirt you can wear every day and not get sick of it. It works just as hard as you do.
Let’s talk bags.
Carhartt tool bags are the best. This particular open tote will be available next spring. Take a look at what else Carhartt has to offer. They are all sturdy, covered in pockets, and ideal for the work site. Men and women alike will be jealous. 
Let’s talk glasses.
These Billings Safety Glasses offer great coverage and protection with anti-fog lenses. They meet ANSI Z87.1 high impact requirements and are CAN/CSA Z94.3.07 rated. The lightweight design makes them comfortable to wear. Plus they are available at a great price! 
Tag: America
Your Rain Jacket Dream Come True
On my trip to Montana, it rained quite a bit. I practically lived in the new Carhartt Women’s Cascade Jacket. It’s much easier to enjoy the sweeping views and wide open skies when you know your rainwear will keep you dry. This Storm Defender® waterproof breathable jacket comes with articulated elbows so you can easily move around, a left-chest map pocket that’s certain to keep its contents drip-free, interior cuffs with thumbholes for those extra inches of protection, and an adjustable hem with drawcord and barrel lock adjusters. It’s basically your rain jacket dream come true.
Carhartt Woodsman
Exciting news on the Carhartt front: New Holland Brewing in Michigan created a beer just for us! It’s crafted from locally grown Cascade hops and barrel aged into an American pale ale, with a hint of malty sweetness and toasted oak. The Carhartt team took a road trip all the way from Dearborn, MI to the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado. The photos above are from their pit stop at Subterranean in Chicago for a night of live music, good beer, and beer art. Let’s all raise a frothy glass to the 125 years that Carhartt has gratefully served the hard working men and women across the US; forged by sweat, grit, and sturdy gear.
what I wore: Carhartt Women’s Belton Shirt & Carhartt Women’s Series 1889 Sim-Fit Double Front Denim Dungaree (tune in for tomorrow’s post to see this outfit in action)
Bukola, MFA Applied Craft + Design Student
Walking into Bukola’s studio space at the MFA Applied Craft + Design Program in Portland is like crossing the doormat into a treasured family room. Memories and swatches of inspiration dangle from the walls. Every bit of art is handcrafted with care and intent. You get the feeling that a story is begging to be unraveled. Many of the photographs displayed in Bukola’s workspace are of her family. It was clear to me that she draws much of her inspiration from them. Read from Bukola’s perspective how her path led her to this point:
“I come from a close and wonderful family. I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria with my parents, Adeyinka and Kolawole Koiki, and I am the oldest of my mother’s four children. I was always the arty kid growing up, always in a corner drawing pictures or making things. My parents didn’t quite know what to make of me I think, and while it was highly unlikely the kid of middle class Nigerians would end up being an artist, I was suddenly given the opportunity to come to the USA and attend school here to pursue that path. While it must have been hard to send your teenager off across the world on her own, I think my parents must have been relieved frankly, that I would finally get an outlet for my interests. They and my siblings have been nothing but supportive and I get so much inspiration from them because they are all creative in their own right.
My mother has a tailoring business and can make sewing patterns from scratch in minutes. My father is land surveyor and I’m pretty sure I got my eye for detail from him. My immediate younger brother, Tunde has fulfilled his long held dream of becoming a sportscaster on both radio and TV and is a hilarious mimic. The brother after him, Yemi, is currently pursing writing, producing, and performing music as a rap artist. Last but not least, the baby of our family, Busola, is a lawyer whose aptitude for leadership and problem solving is inspiring and is currently pursuing work in international law. I was raised by wonderful parents who managed to provide us with an interesting upbringing and a fantastic education from the little they had. It is my goal in life to honor their sacrifices for my siblings and myself by living the best and most successful life I can.
I originally landed in Texas straight from Nigeria. That was some culture shock I tell you! I first attended community college in Houston, and then transferred to the University of North Texas in Denton to attend their challenging Communication Design Program. I graduated with a BFA in 2006, worked in advertising for a while, but like many people, got laid off with the economic downturn.
I took the opportunity to go back to Nigeria for three whole months and fell in love with the tactility of life there all over again. While the Western notion of fast fashion and disposable commodities is slowly creeping in, there are still a lot of things that people make by hand in Nigeria. While at home, I renewed my deep appreciation for Nigerian textiles such as our wax prints, hand woven strip cloth (Aso Oke) and our indigo dyed cloth (Adire). I enjoy the tactile subtleties of different types of cloth and the graphic designer in me is obsessed with the color and patterns of surface designs.
When I came back to the US, I immediately started taking classes in sewing and bookbinding. In between freelance gigs I also worked at a paper goods store where I learned a lot about handmade paper from around the world. Thus my love for my other passion paper was born. I came to the Applied Craft+Design program because frankly I was not happy being another person pushing pixels around in an office.”
What a story indeed. Bukola and her family have made sacrifice after sacrifice so she could chase her dreams. That’s what we all want, isn’t it? We’re all driven by something: be it textiles and paper, crafting with our hands, or fueling that creative fire that burns in our minds. Muster together the courage to take the steps that get you just a bit closer to your goals. Like Bukola, maybe you can find a path to self-discovery mirrored in your roots and heritage.
Take a look at the photos above to see Bukola lead us through Momigami. This Japanese technique of kneading paper to create a pliable sheet of paper that can be used to make paper clothing, book covers, textile art and much more. Depending on the characteristics of the original paper, you can get a range of lovely end textures: everything from a soft cloth like feel to textures akin to leather.
What you need: newspapers (the more illustrations, diagrams, or patterns—the better), olive oil, a plastic sheet to protect your work area, a small brush, and PVA Glue (that’s an archival glue used in bookbinding and paper projects you can find at your local craft store)
DIY MOMIGAMI:
With your surface protected, pour some olive oil into a small bowl and scoop up enough to evenly coat your palms when you rub your hands together. Take your chosen sheet of paper and fold the four corners into the center, crumpling the dry sheet gently first into a loose ball and then slowly squeezing and wrinkly it carefully but firmly into a tighter ball.
To accelerate the distressing, you can use the slickness of the protective plastic to “knead” the paper ball against your work surface. Unfold the sheet and repeat the wrinkling, crumpling and knead processor up to three or four minutes, stopping to coat your hand in more olive oil as needed. Open the sheet up and then rub it between your palms or flatten it out onto the work surface while rubbing the sheet down by applying pressure with your hands in an outward direction from the center of the sheet.
The crumpling, rubbing and stretching may be repeated as many times as you would like until you have achieved your preferred texture. Embrace any tears in the paper as opportunities for creativity. Individual sheets can be incorporated into textile art projects by machine sewing, hand stitching or using them in decoupage.
To create a large wall hanging piece instead, using a little brush, apply a thin layer of PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue to the edge of your paper and adhere them together in a pleasing configuration. You can hang your creation from a wooden dowel rod or explore other creative hanging solutions like use vintage pant hangers.
*Please note that the kneaded paper will still be oily for a long while after, so you should hang your finished piece out and away from the wall to avoid oil stains.
Bukola’s work wear: Carhartt Women’s Huron Shirt, Calumet V-Neck T-Shirt, Slim-Fit Nyona Jean, & Acrylic Watch Hat
The Essence of America
Happy Independence Day! Let’s not forget the freedom that came to Americans this day in 1776. May there be joy and appreciation. If you like the vest posted above, take a look at how to make one for yourself here.
Leslie Vigeant of Material Rescue League
Visiting a city dump is an eye opening revelation to those who haven’t had an opportunity to see the path that waste follows once it’s left homes and businesses in the surrounding area. Endless piles of what most consider trash fill the gigantic rooms of the facility. Those heaps are destined to filtered, compacted, and shipped to the nearest landfill. The Portland dump has a different approach. They have programs that allow artists and others to sort through trash that has been safely filtered through the system so that they can recycle their finds. I saw plenty of things that could be reused and made new again as I made my way through the mountains of junk.
Just ask artist Leslie Vigeant. Her project the Material Rescue League incorporated her precious finds from the dump. Leslie collected non-recyclable items and rehabilitated them into boutique products. Take a look at the final photo posted above, with interesting colors and materials packaged and displayed with care, all in the name of art and making the world a better and cleaner place.
As the birthday of this nation rolls around, keep those in mind who go out of their way to preserve the beauty of America. Be motivated by strong women like Leslie, who aren’t daunted by piles of stinky trash. Find the beauty in everything and use a little elbow grease to help others see that beauty as well.
Take a look at Leslie’s work gear: Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt, Clarkston Cami Tank, Relaxed-Fit Canvas Kane Dungaree, & Carhartt Women’s Quick Flex Glove.
The American Dream and Making the World a Better Place
Do you guys remember Pashon from Detroit Dirt? She was recently featured in a national Ford ad campaign. Pashon reminds us that the American dream is working hard for your aspirations, and hopefully making the world a better place along the way. Take a look here:
Carhartt in Minneapolis
If you’re in Minneapolis, the odds are you know how important it is to bundle up when it’s this cold out. You’re probably also extremely aware of Mall of America. Put those two together, and you’re ready for winter! Pictured above is the MOA Carhartt store. The staff is so helpful and friendly. The next time you’re in the area, stop by and check it out. Carhartt will keep you warm in the most frigid of temperatures.
Emily from Handmade America
Alright all you ladies out there who wish you could weld, listen up! Emily has some great advice. Welding and grinding can seem really intimidating at first, but if you take it step by step, you can handle it. Try thinking of it as something you do on a day to day basis. It’s like baking cookies or putting together a bookshelf from Ikea. One step at a time and you’ll get the hang of it.
Check out these awesome benches Emily and her boyfriend, Ryan, made out of fire hose and a metal frame. You can snag one for yourself on the Handmade America website. Follow this creative duo on twitter and instagram. ( @emilybelden | @ryanlange )
See what Emily’s wearing: Force Performance Quarter Zip & Fargo Jacket
DIY: American Flag Vest
With the 4th just around the corner, it’s time to get your Betty Ross on! Carhartt Women’s Tomboy Hooded Vest is perfect for sporting your American pride. All you need is scrap fabric, paint, and thread. Stitch up a storm and you have your outfit for Independence Day. Whatever your holiday activities may be, this is a great outfit. It’s ideal for fishing, boating, bbq-ing, etc… My favorite thing about this vest is the media port to deal with those headphone wires easily.
shop this look: Tomboy Hooded Vest, Cheyenne Shirt, & El Paso Short
Crafted in Carhartt 