Carhartt WIP X Motown Collection
Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Berry Gordy Jr. founding the label in Detroit, Michigan, the capsule collection sees Carhartt WIP celebrate the idiosyncrasies of a label that reshaped American culture.
In 1959, after a relative degree of success writing songs for artists, Mr. Gordy founded Motown Records – a nod to Detroit’s motor manufacturing heritage. He swiftly set about establishing global stars at a remarkable rate; Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and Marvin Gaye all passed through the hallowed doors of Motown’s humble two-story house-turned-recording studio on West Grand Boulevard.
It is not hyperbolic to say that Motown irrevocably changed the face of American
music, in such a way that its influence can still be felt today. Indeed, Motown
didn’t simply reconfigure what hits of that era sounded like, but it also played
an instrumental role in diversifying the airwaves of America’s radio stations.
This exclusive capsule collection riffs on imagery and ephemera found in Motown’s archive and back-catalogue.
A sateen bomber and rolled beanie both nod to the cover art and promotional
pictures that accompanied Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” while the Snake Pit
Shirt refers to the basement recording studio in the home that would come to
be known as “Hitsville, USA.” A series of graphic t-shirts and hoodies pay tribute
to other aspects of Motown’s history, from its multiple sub-labels, to the 1970 al-
bum “A Pocket Full of Miracles”, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
The full collection arrives online at 12AM 12/11.
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