Nostalgic silhouettes return in sun-bleached tones for Carhartt WIP’s SS26 collection

If you were to trace the origins of some of the most influential fashion movements, you’d find that a fair number are born far away from the gleam of runway lights. Take workwear, for instance. Before the iconic street style had algorithmic hype cycles and dedicated resale apps, it was born in rail yards and auto shops. That legacy still clings to Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP), a separate division of Carhartt that’s spent decades translating the American labour codes of the label’s core products for a global audience. 

For Spring/Summer 2026, the brand refines its staple Dearborn Canvas and denim styles. Signature pieces like the OG Double Knee Pant and Active Jacket, along with the Detroit Jacket, are reworked in shades of brown and black, alongside greens, blues, and teal. 

A careworn, lived-in look is achieved across the range through the use of techniques like the stone canvas finish, faded treatments, and unique washes, applied to coloured denim, twill, ripstop, and cotton waffle. Bleached hickory stripes and laser-printed camo snake graphics also introduce a variety of textures throughout the line.

The new-season lineup also contains several hunting references, most clearly in the Prescott Coat, which combines a contemporary car coat shape with oversized pockets. In addition, mid-century archetypes can be seen in boxy collared shirts and cinch-back work trousers, rendered in steely tones of blue and grey. 

While Carhartt WIP and workwear in general have long crossed over to the Middle East and firmly integrated with Dubai’s mall youth culture, Saudi Arabia’s drifting scene, and Beirut’s skateboarding communities alike, you still have to keep the harsh summers in the region in mind when shopping. In that case, pieces like the Postal Jacket and Double Knee Shorts, which come in looser fits and lighter fabrics, are the most appropriate choices. 

These utilitarian garments may have started out as a practical choice for many, but they have now evolved to become a sort of global shorthand for authenticity. If that’s the kind of style-messaging you’re going for, Carhartt WIP’s Spring/Summer 2026 offering rolls up its sleeves and gets the job done. 

The collection will be available at select retailers across the region.