Basically anyone can sew a label onto a 100% acrylic hat and call it a brand but not everyone can make a billion dollars doing it. This is the story of a Detroit brand started in 1889 that cut its teeth outfitting railroad workers with cloths before being adopted by hip-hop community and becoming a pop culture icon. The Carhartt beanie is by far the most popular product, available in a vast array of color that sell about 4 million units a year. The Carhartt Watch Cap can be found on top of skiers waiting in lift lines to roughnecks working the Canadian arctic to chic models on the runways of Paris. Carhartt is a case study in maintaining a reputation for one thing, no frills durable workwear, that lends authenticity to another, their more fashion friendly entities. If you’re looking to start a company, there’s a ton to learn from this classic American brand:
How A $16 Hat Made Carhartt $1 Billion
