The Carhartt WIP Active Jacket turns 50
Shannon Firby on Thu, Oct 30, 25
The Carhartt WIP Active Jacket: Anniversary Edition
Mark your calendars, the iconic Active Jacket is turning 50. And to celebrate, Carhartt WIP have created four special edition designs and we've got our hands on them.
Off-duty by design, but aesthetically switched on, Carhartt WIP's Active Jacket is a symbol of the brands history and identity, and each new style honours the original, year on year, with classic details, a Dearborn canvas construction and a true-to-its-roots silhouette.
First built by Carhartt in 1975 (the year Robert De Niro won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in The Godfather Part II. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac and Elton John got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame) the Active Jacket was introduced in the US to a more casual consumer. Considered off-duty in its denim construction, it was then released in a duck canvas, that gave us the style we all recognise today.
In '97, Carhartt WIP got their hard-grafting mitts on the style, and released their own interpretation, a looser, oversized silhouette that still remains true to its roots, but suits an audience that really defies one singular identity.
50 years on, the Active Jacket, and Carhartt WIP as a brand is a fixed feature within culture, never out of place amid music, cinema and subculture as a whole. The jacket, largely unchanged by design, is steeped in a real timeless authenticity.
So, to celebrate turning the big 5-0, Carhartt WIP are launching four limited-edition anniversary pieces; a black with red reverse, to commemorate the first ever 'Active Jacket', and the classic, familiarity of the Hamilton Brown iteration, paired up with a 'camo trebark' motif. Plus, for a different texture, a denim with a stone-bleached finish- intentionally worn in, but never lacking character. The inside… the original red lining, reimagined with diamond-quilting. And, finally, to elevate the collection, a leather edition, blurring the past and present, but never straying far from the tracks, with the Hamilton Brown Dearborn Canvas to the inside.
The 50 Year Anniversary OG Active Jacket
50 Years Anniversary OG Active Denim Jacket
50 Years Anniversary OG Active Canvas Jacket
50 Years Anniversary OG Active Canvas Jacket
What is the Carhartt WIP 50th Anniversary Active Jacket Collection?
This collection celebrates 50 years of the iconic Carhartt Active Jacket. To mark this milestone, Carhartt WIP has created four special-edition, fully reversible jackets that honor the original design while exploring new materials and details. Each piece reflects the jacket’s evolution from workwear essential to cultural icon.
What makes these jackets different from the regular Active Jacket?
Each anniversary edition maintains the classic silhouette, triple stitching, and durable construction of the original, but is:
Fully reversible, offering two unique looks.
Finished with commemorative 50th anniversary labels and embroidery.
Available in limited quantities.
How does the fit compare to the original Carhartt Active Jacket?
The 50th Anniversary styles maintain the OG Active Jacket silhouette introduced by Carhartt WIP in 1997. Expect a loose, boxy fit with room for layering, true to the jacket’s workwear heritage and streetwear evolution.
Are the jackets still made with workwear-grade durability?
Absolutely. Each jacket is built using Carhartt’s signature durable fabrics like Dearborn Canvas and premium leather. These materials are triple-stitched and reinforced for long-lasting wear, continuing the brand’s tradition of combining toughness with style.
