You can't walk into Circle Shop without spotting a Watch Hat beanie or a pair of Carhartt WIP pants. It's the shop's number one brand, with more than 200 items. Here's the story of a brand born from workwear that became a staple of skateboarding and street culture.
Workwear born in Detroit
It all starts in 1889 in Detroit, USA, when Hamilton Carhartt opens a small factory making overalls for railroad workers. Heavy canvas, reinforced seams: Carhartt clothes are built to last, and over the 20th century they become a classic of American workwear.
Work In Progress: the European version
In the late 1980s, Edwin Faeh starts importing Carhartt into Europe. In 1994, he launches his own collections under the name Carhartt Work In Progress, WIP for short. The idea: keep the toughness of workwear, but rework the fits and details for the street.
The brand is quickly adopted by skaters, graffiti writers and the hip-hop scene, who like these solid, no-nonsense clothes. Even today, Carhartt WIP is closely tied to skateboarding, with its own skate team.
The essential pieces
The Watch Hat beanie
It's probably the brand's most recognisable piece: a cuffed rib-knit beanie with the small square Carhartt label on the front. Simple, warm and available in loads of colours, it goes through the seasons without ageing a day. Check out the black Watch Hat and all our beanies.
The pants: Newel, Landon, Brandon…
Pants are Carhartt WIP's workwear DNA: heavy denim, loose fits, several washes to choose from. The Landon goes for a wide, tapered fit with a low waist. The Newel and the Brandon complete the range, great for skating as well as every day. The whole selection is in our jeans and pants section.
The Chase line
Sweatshirts, tees, sweatpants and socks: the Chase line is all about plain basics, recognisable by their small embroidered gold "C" logo. The Chase hoodie is a shop classic.
The Kickflip backpack
Designed for skaters, the Kickflip backpack is made from water-repellent recycled polyester canvas, with straps to carry your board and around 25 litres of space.
Where to find Carhartt WIP in Avignon?
Find the whole Carhartt WIP selection online, or drop by 3 rue Folco de Baroncelli in Avignon to try the fits and find your size.