National outdoor apparel store Carhartt is coming to Bradley Fair

Another national retailer is coming to Bradley Fair at 21st and Rock Road with its first Kansas storefront.

Carhartt, which is known for its rugged workwear and outdoor apparel, is planning an April opening.

“We are thrilled to add Wichita’s Bradley Fair to our retail footprint to make Carhartt’s durable and versatile workwear more easily available,” said Mark Kastner, Carhartt’s director of direct-to-consumer store strategy and experience, in a news release.

“We are excited to expand our retail presence to meet an increased need for gear that supports the lifestyles of Wichita shoppers.”

The Michigan company is taking the space Jos. A. Bank vacated just north of HomeGrown.

The menswear store’s last day of business was Dec. 11.

Carhartt started in 1889 and, according to its website, “began producing overalls with two sewing machines and a half-horsepower electric motor in a small Detroit loft.”

Founder Hamilton “Ham” Carhartt talked with railroad workers to determine what they needed in clothing.

The Carhartt bib overall was born.

“In addition to bib overalls, many garments in today’s product line have historic roots,” the Carhartt website said. “The Carhartt Archive holds ads for the legendary Carhartt Chore Coat dating back to 1917. The coat remains largely unchanged to this day.”

The brand expanded to an international market through the years. In the 1980s and ’90s, it started becoming a popular line outside of blue collar jobs.

Hip hop artists helped fuel Carhartt’s popularity by wearing the brand.

Today, Carhartt apparel includes items for men, women, children and pets.

Product lines include the Force, the water-repellent Rain Defender and Rugged Flex, which allows for mobility.

The store also will have Carhartt Reworked, which it calls its recommerce platform, meaning it gives a second chance to apparel that’s imperfect or slightly worn and offers it to people who need it.

“We’re excited to add Carhartt to our collection of beloved retailers at Bradley Fair where women, men, and children can find quality trends that will last for years to come,” said Bradley Fair general manager Jessica Branning in the release.

“Carhartt is a brand with a reputable history built on workwear that lives up to a high standard of quality and has grown its reputation as a household brand for both casual trendsetters and those in the workplace.”

Look for more information closer to the time Carhartt opens.

This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 4:04 AM.