Workwear, a genre of clothing praised for its ability to withstand the intensity of blue collar professions, has recently gained attention amongst the fashion industry for its rugged yet bold look.
“I love workwear because it’s dependable and looks good. I also do a lot of hard work and I need clothing that can keep up with me,” said Kade Doran, a senior.
It’s common knowledge that the fashion scene is host to a plethora of odd trends and movements. Practically wise, most of these trends are virtually useless, with the clothes only being worn because they are visually appealing.
Because of the unique features of this clothing, such as the durable canvas and other thick materials, the price tag can be notoriously high.
To combat this, a large portion of the population who actively wears workwear turns to thrift stores in order to find such pieces for a cheaper price.
“I thrift in Goodwill’s clearance centers in order to find some of the best brands like Carhartt and Dickies, those sell the best at flea markets and other vintage markets,” said Ian Hurst, a specialty clothing reseller.
Besides it’s origins of being worn by blue collar professionals, Workwear was formally introduced to the mass public through social media like Instagram and Tiktok. These media outlets showcased how to properly style workwear, where to find it, and what pieces were the best to buy. Social media explore pages can oftentimes be found flooded with outfits primarily constructed with said workwear.
In addition to blue collar professionals, skateboarders have been found wearing workwear for years. Skateboarders take hard slams and slides daily, as it is a major part of the sport. To combat this, they have adopted the common use of workwear pieces such as carpenter pants and industrial jackets to protect their shins, knees, and other joints susceptible to injury. The thick material within workwear serves as excellent armor for the average skateboarder.
“The pants are stiff and sturdy, but they let me do what I need to do,” said Nick Congr, a skateboarder.
As time goes on and the never ending cycle of fashion trends continues, it will be entracing to see what the future holds for workwear as it becomes more apparent in student’s out