At Jeanstore, we’re proud to celebrate 50 years of the iconic Carhartt WIP Active Jacket!
A garment created to endure and built with the same durability that defines the brand’s legacy. To mark this milestone, Carhartt WIP has released some special edition designs.
A symbol of memory and materiality, identity and adaptation, each new style honours the original.
Who are Carhartt WIP
Carhartt was founded with a focus on durability and utility, producing functional workwear built to withstand tough conditions.
Carhartt WIP, the brand’s European division, has continued this approach, reinterpreting classic styles for a different audience while staying true to the foundations of strength and authenticity.
A Brief History of the Active Jacket
Introduced in the US to serve a more casual consumer, the Active Jacket’s shape was based on the already popular Hooded Zip Sweatshirt, rebuilt with a tougher, reinforced exterior and insulated lining for warmth.
In 1975, the style first appeared in denim then considered an off-duty work fabric with a bold red flannel lining.
Shortly after, it was released in duck canvas, giving us the recognisable style we know today.
In 1997, Carhartt WIP introduced its own interpretation, now recognised as the OG Active Jacket, defined by its loose, oversized silhouette. It stayed true to its roots with a hooded bomber-style shape, triple stitching, and gold-tone hardware.
What Makes These Jackets Different
To celebrate 50 years, Carhartt WIP will release four limited-edition anniversary pieces: Each jacket retains the classic details of the original silhouette, but is also fully reversible and finished with a unique commemorative Square Label.
Two of the jackets are constructed in signature Dearborn Canvas – one in black with a red reverse, referencing the first ever Active Jacket, and another in Hamilton Brown, paired with a new ‘camo trebark’.
The denim version features a stone-bleached finish on one side for a worn-in appearance, with a reverse side that reimagines the bold red lining in diamond-quilted sateen, detailed with anniversary labelling, graphic patches, and embroidery.
The premium leather edition offers an elevated interpretation, while its reverse stays rooted in the familiar with Dearborn Canvas in Hamilton Brown.
Why you'll love them.
The history of the Active Jacket mirrors that of Carhartt WIP, a brand that creates products rooted in functional workwear, worn by an audience that defies categorisation.
Today, 50 years on, the Active Jacket remains omnipresent in culture, from music and skateboarding to cinema and subculture.
It has remained largely unchanged, even as new meanings and memories continue to be woven into its story. A distillation of authenticity and versatility, the Active Jacket continues to make its presence felt as the years and decades roll on.
Discover Carhartt WIP and explore the latest collection at Jeanstore here