The Carhartt Beanie Trend

In business since 1889, Carhartt built its reputation on durable coveralls and work jackets for blue collar workers, creating garments that could stand up to the rigors of manual labor. For much of its history, Carhartt’s target demographic has been the people who work in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, and similar occupations. So when did Carhartt beanies become part of the fashion scene?

From the Workplace to the Streets

The first Carhartt beanies were released in 1987 and were popular choices for workwear. Their popularity was due to how easy it was to make custom beanies. Add an embroidered logo to the beanie, and it’s transformed from plain workwear to part of a company’s brand awareness campaign. 

Affordable and comfortable, custom logo beanies came to the attention of members of the skater and hip-hop subcultures in the 1990s. Over time, Carhartt work jackets also became beanies popular with both groups. The trend developed as early as 1990 when hip-hop label Tommy Boy Records had 800 Carharrt jackets embroidered with their logo and distributed them as part of a marketing campaign. 

From the Streets to the Catwalk

Carhartt’s durable, blue-collar clothing proved a big hit with skaters and hip-hop artists, but the company didn’t design its clothing with its new fans’ lifestyles in mind. In 1994 Swiss jeans designer Edwin Feah partnered with Carhartt to make garments that fit skaters’ needs better. These designs entered the U.S. market in 2011.

As for Carhartt beanies, they remained fundamentally unchanged and continued to grow in popularity. By 2011, Rihanna was seen spotting a neon yellow Carhartt beanie, and the headwear began it’s march from the fashion world to mainstream culture. Today, custom logo beanies are a common sight in metropolitan areas. Most are from Carhartt, and all are generating brand-raising impression after impression. 

Why did Carhartt Beanies Become So Popular?

There are many theories about how a custom Carhartt beanie suddenly became a fashion must-have. Most experts point to the brand’s reputation for quality and authenticity, traits that appealed to rappers and skaters alike. The durability of Carhartt products also probably played a role — if you’re a skater, you want a jacket that can withstand the occasional wipeout. 

How to Wear a Carhartt Beanie

Like any piece of headwear, there are several ways to wear a beanie. The most popular way is to choose a beanie with ribbing that is loose enough to be comfortable and add a little height to your face. Wear the beanie slightly back off the face instead of pulling it over your ears.

Most importantly, Carhartt beanies are designed for outdoor conditions. If it’s cold, pull that beanie over your ears. You might sacrifice a little fashion, but your ears will be warm!

Custom Logo Beanies

A custom Carhartt beanie makes a statement about your brand. By embroidering your logo onto Carhartt beanies, you’re aligning your brand with over 130 years of dependability and durability. You’re also capitalizing on the Carhartt beanie’s popularity to reach a wide audience. Custom logo beanies are popular promotional gifts no matter what the brand of beanie, but Carhartt beanies lead the pack. 

The lines and style of custom Carhartt beanie work well with embroidered logos. As embroidery works best with seven colors or less, you may need to alter your logo slightly or design a simplified logo. Triple Crown Products provides you with all the custom Carhartt beanies you need while helping you create a logo that works well as an embroidered design.