• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

For more than 100 years, Carhartt produced apparel for Ford factory workers, dating back to the 1920s with workwear programs through the 1970s.

Now, the two brands have come together again to create the 2027 Ford Super Duty Carhartt package, available for XLT Crew Cab single rear wheel 4x4 pickups.

More than 500 skilled trades workers gathered in downtown Detroit for an event centered on supporting what organizers called the “Essential Economy,” according to WDIV. The truck is “a work-focused pickup designed for construction crews, utility workers, first responders, and other trades professionals.”

There are 3 million businesses and 95 million workers across the Essential Economy who all need a truck “that can take on the job during the week and still be ready for everything else life throws at them,” according to Ford’s From the Road blog, which also includes the link to a 90-second video promoting the truck, which is “centered in function, not decoration.”

“It blends Carhartt-inspired design, bed protection, all-terrain tires, off-road running boards, unique wheels, and a durable custom-made interior, with the Super Duty capability customers already rely on every day,” according to the blog. 

“The collaboration is obvious,” notes Motor Trend. “The biggest surprise is that a partnership project didn’t happen sooner.”

Dealers began taking orders May 8 for the package, which starts at $4,195. Deliveries will start in the fall.

“The Carhartt package was codesigned by Steve Gilmore, chief designer for Ford Vehicle Personalization, who inherited a wheat-colored Carhartt jacket from his father, a retired millwright at an Ohio aluminum plant, 15 years ago,” according to  MSN.

Carhartt gear has always been rugged, but it’s a brand that’s been somewhat co-opted by hipsters and fashionistas. 

"When Ford first told us it was launching a Carhartt package for the Super Duty, we pictured one of the company's millennial employees with a rolled-up beanie and an iced matcha,” according to Car and Driver. “Then we realized that Ford said Super Duty, and our mental image shifted. Of course, the partnership between Ford and Carhartt is much more focused on practicality and dependability than it is on the latest streetwear trends.”