Saturday, October 3, 2026

Question: When Hamilton Carhartt started his Detroit workwear company in 1889, who was he making his first overalls for?

Answer: Railroad workers. Carhartt designed purpose-built overalls for them, and the people sewing those overalls were mostly women, about 80% of his early factory workforce. They even formed their own labor club and a Carhartt Ladies’ Band and Drum Corps that played at factory and charity events.