The next great workwear brand you should know about
A conversation about workwear and preserving the heritage of great American brands that have come before.
Workwear for those who Work-From-Home
Workwear brands have been trending upward for nearly a decade now… which kind of defeats the purpose, right?
Because workwear (by default) is meant to be anti-trend.
It’s clothes made for doing things, not scrolling through things.
Double-kneed pants. A chore coat with that signature corduroy collar. Stone-washed denim. Pair of chinos cut from heavy AF canvas twill.
These are the hallmarks of authentic workwear labels, and, lately, also of capital-F Fashion designers, swaggering down the runway, which is nothing short of proper stolen valor.
And the Sacai x Carhartt WIP collaboration is a textbook example of this.
But older American workwear brands are a thing of the past. Many of them no longer exist, and the ones that are in operation almost never produce products domestically, leading the Menswearheads on an odyssey to rediscover that brand lore in the trenches of eBay.
The hits on eBay right now are all about “Made in USA” Ralph pieces, OG-107 fatigues, boxy Armani blazers, and a metric ton of heyday workwear labels like Sears, OshKosh B’gosh, Big Mac, Ben Davis, Red Kap, Penney’s, and so on.
But one label that’s been around for far longer than many of those names (and was nearly forgotten until 2019) is:
Until Joe Sharpe, Managing Director at Options Fashion Distribution and The Great Divide, and James Trivunovic, Head of Retail for both Options and TGD, resurrected it.
Dubbleware was a family-owned business founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1918 by manufacturer M. Hoffman. Over the years, the business waned, and Dubbleware officially ceased garment production in 1975.
But Sharpe and Trivunovic saw an opportunity to revive the spirit of Dubbleware and bought into the brand six years ago after noticing its cult vintage following.
Dubbleware was originally the uniform of choice for farmers and railroad workers, not just in Boston, but across New England and as far west as Chicago.
According to Sharpe, Dubbleware was also a pioneer in creative marketing early on: “Representatives would stop at farms with barns that needed painting and offer to paint them for free—as long as they could put a big Dubbleware sign on the side facing the road.”
So, Sharpe and Trivunovic, who manage the licensing for brands like U.S. Rubber Company, Frizmworks, and Pendleton, have made it their mission to preserve that same inventive, hard-wearing spirit in today’s version of the brand.
Although we’re more than 100 years removed from Dubbleware’s inception, the brand is poised for a comeback, and we honestly think it could be one of the next great American brands to take over your closet.
“We see the brand as a potential staple in anyone’s wardrobe,” Sharpe told me. “Dubbleware’s mission is to honor the brand’s roots in trade, utility, and durability while creating products that are restrained, purposeful, and highly wearable.”
We caught up with Sharpe to talk about Dubbleware’s first pieces, how the team plans to position the brand in the modern workwear market, and what standout garments you’ll want from their current autumn-winter collection.
PS - couple big shoutouts, first to friend of Sprezza Leon Cerrone who modeled for their entire FW25 collection! And to the homie Pete Macnee, founder of Adsum, who designed this entire collection!
A chat with Dubbleware’s new owner
What were Dubbleware’s earliest products, and how did those evolve?
Dubbleware’s original stronghold was New England, where they made authentic workwear for men and developed some of the earliest known workwear for women.
They were among the first companies to work with Cone Mills for fabric and specialized in dungarees.
Over time, the brand evolved into a comprehensive collection, producing a wide range of apparel from hunting jackets to double-kneed carpenter pants.
Dubbleware was also famous for its clever marketing: representatives would stop at farms with barns that needed painting and offer to paint them for free, as long as they could put a big Dubbleware sign on the side facing the road.
For a brand founded in 1918, how have you preserved the original ethos in today’s products?
We deeply respect the brand’s heritage and have worked closely with the founding family to ensure its DNA is present throughout all our products. Every trim—from buttons to branding—can be traced back to its original source.
Workwear, in all its forms, has evolved over the 117 years since the brand’s launch; however, we remain committed to upholding the ethos of fair pricing, quality craftsmanship, and durability in everything we produce.
Dubbleware was once sold alongside brands like OshKosh and Big Ben. How do you see the brand positioned in today’s workwear market?
We’re on the premium end of workwear. We don’t want to compete on price with brands like Dickies, Stan Ray, or Carhartt.
Instead, we aim to appeal to consumers who may have worn those brands in the past but are now seeking better quality and something that distinguishes them from the average person.
How would you describe Dubbleware’s mission and core DNA?
Our DNA is rooted in some of the brand’s most iconic slogans:
“Demand the Best”
“Look Better, Last Longer”
Dubbleware’s mission is to honor the brand’s roots in trade, utility, and durability while creating products that are restrained, purposeful, and highly wearable.
Each piece is designed with a modern sensibility to ensure it ages gracefully—becoming a lifelong staple long after a seasonal job fades into memory.
What are some standout pieces from the current AW25 collection?
The Dubble down jacket and vest—some of our favorite pieces, inspired by vintage outerwear from the 1960s.
Vintage denim button-down shirts—hand-milled indigo shirts available in rinse or washed options, each one feeling like an instant Dubbleware classic.
Selvedge straight-Leg Jean in stone wash and black wash—a true wardrobe staple.
The crop jacket—a fresh take on a timeless staple.
You have my attention!
The Crowell jacket just got on my radar in the past couple weeks! Will definitely be checking this out!