Few garments can claim to define an era, let alone five decades, but the Carhartt Active Jacket is one of them. It’s launched a thousand lookbooks, graced countless 90s skate videos and practically defined the uniform of hip-hop’s golden era; thanks to its unmistakable boxy silhouette seen on everyone from Nas on the ‘Illmatic’ cover to Tupac. Decades later, the same jacket is papped on film stars and fashion insiders as an off-duty staple. For its 50th anniversary, Carhartt WIP is celebrating this legacy with a capsule that’s far more than just a simple reissue.
Instead of just re-running the classics, the ‘Work In Progress’ division is dropping four special, fully reversible editions of its beloved OG Active Jacket. This clever two-in-one approach is a perfect nod to the garment’s dual identity, bridging its rugged workwear origins with its modern streetwear adoption.
So, what’s in the drop? For the purists, there’s a classic black Dearborn Canvas version that flips to reveal a bold, diamond-quilted red lining, a direct callback to the 1975 original. Then you have the quintessential Hamilton Brown model, which reverses to a fresh camo trebark motif, hitting that perfect sweet spot between the building site and the city.
For the 90s fanatics, a stone-bleached denim jacket arrives looking like it’s been perfectly worn in for decades. Its alter ego is a statement in itself: a luxe red sateen finished with graphic patches and anniversary embroidery. Finally, the collection is rounded out by a seriously elevated black leather edition, which smartly stays grounded by flipping back to its familiar Hamilton Brown canvas roots.

It’s important to remember this cultural status was never a given. The original 1975 jacket was pure American utility, built for hard graft. It was only in 1994, when Edwin Faeh established Carhartt WIP in Europe, that the brand’s potential as a cultural force was truly unlocked. WIP embedded itself in the techno scenes of Berlin and Detroit, sponsored skate teams, and became the unofficial uniform for artists and musicians. The Active Jacket became a symbol of authenticity precisely because it wasn’t trying to be fashion, which, naturally, made it the height of style.
These 50th-anniversary pieces are a direct celebration of that journey, from a functional object to a canvas for personal identity. To mark the milestone, the launch is also accompanied by a small-format book titled ‘Sedimental Works,’ created with ILL-STUDIO, exploring the jacket’s 50-year story.
The full Anniversary Edition collection is now available at select global retailers, Carhartt WIP stores and online.
photography. courtesy of Aidan Zamiri
words. Gennaro Costanzo




















