Carhartt WIP’s Sneaker Collaborations: Eminem Nike Air Jordans, New Balance and More
Carhartt was founded in Detroit by Hamilton Carhartt back in 1889. A century later, in 1989, Edwin Faeh launched a European division of Carhartt, tailored to its new audience, which became Carhartt WIP, or Work in Progress, in 1994.
In the ’90s, Carhartt became synonymous with hip-hop street style, as it and fellow workwear brand Dickies became the unofficial uniform of West Coast rappers. Carhartt transcended coastal rap rivalry and was also popular among New York rap legends including Nas. In addition to its beloved jackets and other workwear clothing, Carhartt makes work boots, shoes and sneakers.
In 2010, Carhartt WIP delved into its first capsule collections, which included iconic collaborations with Vetements, Converse, Nike, Vans, A.P.C. and more.
While not every Carhartt WIP collab includes footwear offerings, some of them have, such as the fun floral-print slip-on with Marni. Additionally, some of the collaborations have been with footwear-focused companies, like Vans, Converse, New Balance and Suicoke, bringing Carhartt’s classic colors and durable construction to the iconic brands’ shoe designs.
Read on to learn more about Carhartt’s most iconic shoe collaborations over the years, including New Balance, Nike, Eminem, Marni, Vans, Converse and Suicoke.
Carhartt WIP x New Balance
The Michigan-bred workwear company’s most recent shoe collab was with New Balance in October. It was a reimagining of New Balance’s Made in USA 990v6 sneaker in Carhartt’s signature Hamilton Brown color, with a green “N” and contrasting gray mesh underlays. The workwear-inspired walking show was called “Sculpture Center.”
In 2022, New Balance and Carhartt launched their first collaborations: two different drops/colorways of the Made in USA 990v1.
Carhartt WIP x Nike
Nike and Carhartt linked up in 2018 on four different kicks in signature Carhartt WIP materials: Air Force 1 Low, Vandal Supreme High, Air Force 1 Low Utility and Air Max 95. The colorways came in black, camo-print and brown. Beyond sturdy canvas and neutral colors synanons with Carhartt, these collaborative Nikes also featured triple-sewn seams and riveted stress points for an extra-sturdy design.
Carhartt WIP x Eminem x Nike
The Eminem x Carhartt WIP x Air Jordan IV are perhaps the rarest and most sought-after Carhartt shoes of all. They were created in 2015 to raise money for the Detroit-bred rapper’s Marshall Mathers Foundation, which supports at-risk youth primarily in his hometown. Ten pairs were auctioned on eBay, raising over $220,000 for the organization, while the only other pairs made were given to Eminem’s family and friends.
The super limited-edition Jordans boasts an all-black Carhartt twill upper and white and gray sole. The details include a Jason mask on one heel and Eminem’s backward “E” logo on the other. In 2022, rumors spread in sneakerhead land that another Carhartt x Eminem x Nike collab would drop, but so far it’s remained a rumor.
Carhartt WIP x Marni
To kick off 2023, Carhartt teamed up with Italian luxury brand Marni for a playful collab featuring two-tone pants and jackets and floral print galore, modeled by funk legend Bootsy Collins. The collab came with one shoe in two colors: a canvas floral print chunky Vans-style slip-on sneaker. The shoe featured 1.75-inch white rubber platforms with “Marni” in large font across the back in green and white or yellow and black.
Carhartt WIP x Vans
Carhartt first linked up with skate brand Vans back in 2008 with Vans Chukka and Half Cab styles. In 2011, the ongoing collab continued with the Carhart x Vans Authentic—a lace-up low-top in three limited-edition colors. That run came in black, cypress green and light tan, with Carhartt-orange bottoms.
The Michigan brand’s most recent collab with Vans was back in 2015, with nautical renditions of Vans Chukka and Classic Slip-On. Entitled the Hickory Stripe, the summer-inspired kicks were covered in skinny navy, turquoise and white stripes.
Carhartt WIP x Converse
According to the Converse website, their collab with Carhartt is an ongoing one, so they’ll continue to drop new limited-edition styles and colorways from the two iconic brands. In January 2021, they released Chuck 70 hi-tops in Hamilton Brown and camo green, both in sturdy 12-ounce canvas.
A 2020 release featured classic Chuck 70 hi-tops in two-tone brown and black, sourced from upcycled Carhartt fabric.
Carhartt WIP x Suicoke
For spring 2022, Carhartt WIP collaborated with Japanese footwear brand Suicoke on two pairs of their classic sandals. The MOTO slide featured Carhartt’s Dearborn Canvas and corduroy, inspired by their beloved Detroit Jacket. The other shape was the Teva-style DEPA. Both sandals came in Hamilton Brown and black and featured “Carhartt” emblazoned across the nylon straps.