For those who have been on Carhartt’s website and played around, there is an interesting section called “Tough Jobs” which taps into the roots of Carhartt as a workwear company with the mind of a social media. Carhartt users from all over the world with tough jobs that actually require substantial muscular mass (and sometimes not) such as loggers, farm manager and builders have submitted their stories with Carhartt and pictures of them donning the label’s extra-strength clothes. In one of the memorable tales, Jerusun Marks from British Columbia has a great story about wearing his Carhartt work pants through various labor-intensive jobs in a year, and how he has no need for breaking out his second pair yet because his first pair has managed to survive through a saw accident and then some. The best part of this story, Marks was anticipating his legs to be gone but the the saw didn’t even cut through the pants– it escaped with three little holes on the first layer.

So, point? How did an American heritage work wear company deeply rooted with the railroad industry during its hay day come to be associated with contemporary French chic? Perhaps, as Carhartt has evolved from a blue-collar necessity into an urban staple along with changes in the social consciousness through the decades, it has new means of integrating into the society? Actually, let’s drop the perhaps, as Carhartt has been no stranger to collaborations, having worked with artists especially on it’s popular t-shirt collections. However, it is quite a first for Carhartt to team up with one of Paris’ most stylish and relevant man, Jean Touitou, and his label which redefined French chic, A.P.C..

The concept may be slightly mind-boggling, but if Jean Touitou can perfect the jacket silhouette, A.P.C. can work its magic on anything, including bridging two disparate concepts. Though, one thing A.P.C. and Carhartt do share in common is a sense of timelessness in both style and make. For this capsule collection which had debuted not too long ago as teasers, A.P.C. has reworked a series of work shirts, jeans, t-shirts, jackets and knit caps with a new Carhartt co-branded label as well. Check the “C” on the pocket logo tees– it has been replaced with the Carhartt “C”. In true Carhartt and A.P.C. spirit, designs and colors are subtle, and the signature Carhartt khaki is retained on both bottoms and tops. Canvas and denim are strengthened to Carhartt standards and hopefully, will withstand the drill of a saw. Not that we encourage one to test it out.

One fun detail to note in the collection: the leather tags on the collaborative denim has been embossed with “Jean”. We know that A.P.C. knows good style, but now they have started fun punning as well? Oh, mon dieu!