Ford and Carhartt want to promote real “Carhartt-type” work
If there is one brand that is synonymous with both white- and blue-collar workers, as well as construction sites and the world’s fashion magazines, it is none other than the American heritage brand Carhartt. Born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1889, the workwear brand has been known the world over not just for being a go-to brand for style influencers and fashionistas, but more so as a tried-and-true brand that has produced tough, long-lasting quality clothing essentials for multiple generations.
Although you may be able to find people of all stripes wearing Carhartt everywhere from a rising skyscraper, oil rigs, and mechanics’ shops, to your local third-wave coffee shop, it has been linked to another Dearborn-based company for nearly 100 years: Ford. According to Ford, Carhartt has produced clothes for Ford’s factory workers since the 1920s, with workwear programs between the two companies dating back to the 1970s.
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However, the two companies are now getting together to serve the next generation of skilled labor. In an announcement at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Carhartt CEO Linda Hubbard announced that they will be linking up on a multi-year strategic partnership designed to support what they call the “Essential Economy.” The two companies aim to “create long-term impact” by focusing on specific initiatives to support the trades, including workforce development, community building, and the development of new products.
“Hamilton Carhartt founded our company on a simple principle: listen to hardworking people and build products that help them do their jobs safely and effectively,” Hubbard said. “For 136 years, we’ve stood with the skilled trades by making durable gear they can rely on. That commitment has since grown to include support for programs that provide people with the skills and training needed for meaningful careers in the trades. We’re excited that our partnership with Ford will help us advance this important work.”
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Ford aims to equip the auto technicians of tomorrow with tools, training, and fresh, new clothes
Part of that commitment is direct support, and, according to Ford, it aims to partner with high schools and community colleges to provide fast-track training programs and ensure a strong pipeline from education to the workforce. This also includes a partnership between Ford Philanthropy and Ford dealers with the TechForce Foundation to support Ford Auto Tech Scholars, its scholarships for potential automotive technicians in the U.S…