Gretchen Valade, the great‑granddaughter of Carhartt founder Hamilton Carhartt, is launching a new brand called Wylie Welling that gives new life to decades of Carhartt workwear. The inaugural collection debuts April 7 and comprises one‑of‑a‑kind pieces made from vintage garments dating from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

Some items fall into the “Well Worn” category, which includes cleaned and repaired jackets and trousers priced between $95 and $900. Others belong to the “Archive” category, where rare finds like limited‑edition duck jackets are reimagined as artful garments with prices up to $3,500.

Valade’s vision marries her family heritage with contemporary concerns about sustainability and circular fashion. Each piece is restored or reconstructed by hand in Detroit, honouring the original materials while adding modern tailoring and detailing.

The collection is unisex, acknowledging that vintage workwear often blurs gendered boundaries. In addition to the online release, a brick‑and‑mortar Wylie Welling store will open in Detroit’s Little Village neighbourhood this summer, offering workshops on repair and mending alongside the apparel.

For those who admire Carhartt’s rugged style but seek something more unique, Wylie Welling offers a chance to own a slice of brand history. The project underscores a broader trend of upcycling and limited‑run fashion that prizes story and craft over mass production.