The Spirit of Detroit

A tiny downtown loft in Detroit was the birthplace of Carhartt. The year was 1889. With just two sewing machines, Hamilton Carhartt & Company began producing the historic work wear we all know and love today.

Detroit remains at the heart of the company.

Michigan Central Station

buildings along historic Michigan Avenue

“I believe that when a man wears an article that I manufacture, his self-respect is increased because he knows that it is made by an honest manufacturer, who is honest with his employees.” -Hamilton Carhartt

Next week, Crafted in Carhartt is featuring another Detroit-based family owned and operated business. Until then, check out some of our favorite Detroit makers and the beautiful city we call home.

Rugged Flex Boot

Get a load of these Women’s Rugged Flex Work Boots. They are oil, chemical, abrasion, heat, and slip resistant. The back of the boot is outfitted with a rubber heal bumper for protection and the outsoles are made with cement construction. This is the women’s work boot you’ve been waiting for!

 

Series 1889 Slim Double Front Dungaree

Work pants can be a tough find. Whether you’re looking for movement, coverage, or durability, these pants are for you. No matter what the job is, double front leg panels always come in handy on the job. The contoured waistband prevents gapping in the back. Not to mention–these pants have a great cut, sitting right below the waist and fitted through the hip and thigh. Take a closer look here:

ElysiaVK is photographed above, hard at work in her Detroit studio.

The Dex Glove

Artist Alison Wong makes her own canvases. That means she has to spend time in the woodshop and the painting studio. The Carhartt Women’s Dex Glove is a great accessory for hopping from task to task. Take a closer look here.

Learn more about the Butter Projects gallery where this was shot here.

Carhartt in Syracuse

Syracuse, nicknamed the Salt City, due to the salty springs found along Onondaga Lake, has been a major crossroads between canals and railroads and home to many industries; from salt to automobiles and custom machining. Winter can be harsh, but natives handle it like pros just like they’ve mastered the brunt of a hard day on the job. Sturdy, purpose-filled, warm clothes are a necessity in these parts. That’s where Carhartt comes into play. I did some major shopping at the Syracuse store while I was in town. It’s a great spot. If you’re in the area, stop in.

DIY Rain Chain

Growing up with a creative mom is a great gift. Projects and DIYs have been a big part of our relationship over the years. You can bounce ideas off of each other and get to learn more about one another: from picking out materials to communicating and problem solving. I owe so much of my artistic inclinations to my mom. As a young girl I remember watching her, wide-eyed and enthralled by her abilities. This Rain Chain DIY is a great example of a simple craft that’s fun to do in pairs.
Take a look at my mom’s work wear: Carhartt Women’s Amoret Jacket, Clarksburg Zip-Front Sweatshirt, & Carhartt Women’s Austel Hat.

Take a look at my work wear: Carhartt Women’s Amoret Vest (which is reversible), Dunlow Sweatshirt, & Acrylic Headband.

What you need: copper wire, recycled glass chunks or medium sized rocks, and wire cutters. I chose to use the glass because it allows light to pass through so beautifully, but if you have rocks or another item similar in size go ahead and get creative!

Carefully wrap each chunk of glass or rock in copper wire. It helps to hold the glass steady with one hand as your dominant hand forms the copper wire around the object. Make sure to wrap it up enough times that the glass can’t fall out.


Create a loop several layers thick at the top of the chain that can attach to a hook made of copper wire. This hook will eventually grab onto a tree limb so the rain chain can dangle in the air. Then hang the chain and watch as the rain trickles down.

Good rain gear can only help in a project like this. The Amoret Jacket and the Amoret Vest have the Rain Defender® durable water-repellent finish. See how the water beads up so easily on the garment surface? You can wash your gear 20 times and it will maintain 70% of its strength.

Jennifer Philipps of ERA Test, LLC in Montana

Wake up early. Analyze lab results. Prepare reports for clients. Go to scheduled air inspections in commercial and residential environments. Submit samples to a lab in Washington. Then back to office work and equipment maintenance. That’s the typical day in the life of an Indoor Air Quality Inspector. Meet Jennifer Philipps of ERA Test, LLC in Montana. She and her mom, Lisa, own and operate the business. They test air to detect threats like mold, asbestos, radon, and methamphetamine. Together they are able to work across the entire state. The dynamics of the mother/daughter relationship in a work environment have brought the family closer together. They are able to lean on and learn from one another. It’s much more common to come across family businesses that are passed from father to son. I must say, it was really exciting to come across a multi-generational family trade that not only involves the women, but is entirely run by them. What an awesome gift of knowledge and skill to bestow. Jennifer’s work wear: Carhartt Women’s Clarksburg Zip-Front Sweatshirt & Women’s Sibley Denim Cropped Pant  

DIY: Wood Chiseling

After watching Aimee Inouye chisel away at the gorgeous bench she was working on last week, I was inspired to give woodworking a try. The first thing I discovered is that the type of wood you use matters. Wood comes in varying hardness and grains. If you’re a beginner looking for the perfect substrate, I’d suggest basswood or butternut. You can find blocks and panels at your local craft store or even larger hardware stores. Now as they say, practice makes perfect. So grab a few scrap blocks to practice with before you attempt the project at hand.
You’ll need a pencil, wood, a chisel set, and a rubber mallet. Take a look at the steps below. I’m drawn to a more handmade aesthetic, so I made my chisel marks pronounced and jagged to give it a personal touch. If that’s not your taste, be a bit tidier with your lines.

Now that you’ve gotten the hang of the basics, you can move on to the real thing. It’s always good to have a plan, so start off with a template of how you’d like the sign to look. Use that template to create a shallowly traced guide into the wood. Once you have your pattern, make deeper cuts. You may want to go over a the letters a few times to make the incisions thicker and deeper into the surface. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s the nature of handmade arts.

My crafting outfit: Carhartt Women’s El Paso Utility Jacket, Clarkston Cami Tank, Sibley Denim Shorts, & Carhartt Legacy 14″ Tool Bag. 

Further Debunking the Myths About Where Women Belong in the Work Force

This week Crafted in Carhartt is giving a shout out to the inspiring Krista Burleson. She’s a welder and a construction worker. Talk about girl power! Krista has some words of wisdom to share with any women with aspirations similar to her own:

“All the things I’ve ever been interested in, nobody around me understood (hunting, welding, climbing, MMA), and they never have to since that is who I am. I’ve managed to accomplish all I’ve set my mind to (all of which in male dominated fields) by working harder than everyone else around me and earning the respect of everyone around me. I’ve managed to keep my femininity and morals while having respect from fellow co workers and team mates. Carhartt has always been there to help my performance excel in every aspect of my life. For that I thank you Carhartt!”

take a look at Krista’s work gear: Sandstone Sierra Jacket, Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree, & Wellington Boot

If you’re a Carhartt lover and you have a photo you’d like to share on the blog, 
email craftedincarhartt@carhartt.com and you could see your photo here. 

Artist Ximena Bedoya

Transition and change are the common theme running through artist, Ximena Bedoya’s, work. The beauty that comes to focus when one highlights that moment of transition is undeniable, especially when an item, normally thought to be constant, completely transitions into another state. Ximena will walk us through a few of the metamorphoses that drive her exploration into plastics.
The next few photos below show what happens when ferrofluid (a magnetic liquid) is added to soapy water. Watch the video closely to see what happens to the surface of the bubbles as Ximena moves a magnet over the bowl.

a gif of ferrofluid and soapy water transformed by a magnet

The next few demonstrations involve a heat gun. Ever wonder what happens to a sheet of plexiglass when you heat it up? Take a look.

a gif of a heat gun applied to plexiglass

Can you guess what the heat gun will do to a bundle of straws?

a gif of a heat gun applied to a bundle of straws

I’ve never seen work quite like it before. It feels a bit like art meets science class. Ximena’s sculptures and videos push the boundaries of permanence and force you to realize that change is the only constant.

Ximena’s workwear: Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt, Clarkston Cami Tank, Sibley Denim Cropped Pant, & Acrylic Watch Hat