Workforce Selvedge: A Tribute to Classic Workwear

Before denim became a fashion staple, it was the backbone of workwear. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, workwear for miners in California or lumberjacks in Canada had to withstand punishing conditions. Indigo denim became a staple for its affordability and resistance to dirt, while rugged cotton twills dominated other sectors. The distinctive blue tone of early workwear denim wasn’t just an aesthetic choice—it was practical. Indigo dye was affordable, accessible, and resistant to dirt, making it the perfect choice for hardworking garments. 

In Canada, workwear has always been about practicality in the face of nature’s extremes. By the 1800s, industries like logging, mining, and railway construction demanded durable, affordable clothing. Heavy-duty cotton duck and twill overalls were standard, often layered with wool for warmth. As denim entered the workwear scene, its role expanded into Canadian industries, from the Yukon Gold Rush to the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The Workforce Selvedge, with its lightweight construction and textured neppy white weft, reflects this evolution. It captures the rugged spirit of early Canadian laborers while offering a refined, modern take suitable for everyday wear.

At 10.9oz, the Workforce Selvedge offers a more wearable alternative to heavier workwear fabrics, without sacrificing durability. It’s crafted with a slubby and neppy white weft yarn, which scatters irregular cotton specks across the surface. This texture is reminiscent of the imperfections found in early, unrefined workwear textiles, lending an authentic vintage character to the fabric.

The classic workwear blue tone recalls the hues of denim worn by both Canadian and American laborers, from logging camps in British Columbia to the bustling factories of Southern Ontario. The blue line selvedge ID adds a touch of nostalgia, linking the jeans to the traditional shuttle-loom techniques that once defined quality denim production.

Its lighter shade of indigo accelerates the fading process, evoking the naturally worn look of vintage workwear. For modern enthusiasts, this means you can achieve the soft, high-contrast fades associated with long hours of honest labor—without spending decades in the woods or on the rails.

Available At The Following Retailers Starting Thursday, July 10th, 2025

Ireland

All Up Clothing - Super Guy / Weird Guy / Chore Coat

Mexico

Casa Denim – Weird Guy

Netherlands

Walther Apparel Shop - True Guy

Norway

Raw Denim & Vintage - Strong Guy / Zip Jacket

Russia

Zefear Store - Weird Guy / Easy Guy

Taiwan

Blue Beach Denim – Weird Guy / True Guy

Thailand

Pronto & Co - Strong Guy / Zip Jacket

United Kingdom

Doe & Dog - True Guy / True Girl / Super Girl / Chore Coat

Jeanstore - Super Guy / Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Zip Jacket

Stuarts London - Weird Guy

USA

American Rag – Super Guy / Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / Chore Coat

Artisan De Luxe – Strong Guy / Zip Jacket

Belmont Army - Strong Guy

Blue Owl - Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy

City Workshop – Weird Guy / True Girl

Dallas Denim Repair – Strong Guy

Dant – True Guy

Journeyman Co - Weird Guy

Machus - Strong Guy

Maple Street Denim - Weird Guy / True Guy

Mildblend – Weird Guy / True Guy / True Girl / Super Girl /

Monochromatic - Weird Guy / Chore Coat

Naked & Famous Denim NYC - Super Guy / Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / Zip Jacket / Chore Coat / Super Girl / True Girl

Revolvr - Weird Guy

Slash Denim - Strong Guy / Chore Coat

The Thirty First - Weird Guy / Strong Guy / Chore Coat

Online

Shopbop - True Guy/ Chore Coat

Austria

Sunsetstar - True Guy

Canada

Altitude Sports – Weird Guy / True Girl

Danali – True Guy / True Girl / Chore Coat

David E White - Easy Guy

Dutil Toronto - Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / True Girl

Gerhard Supply – Weird Guy / Easy Guy / Chore Coat

Good Neighbour - Strong Guy

Gravity Pope – Weird Guy / Strong Guy

Grey Hearts Denim - Strong Guy / True Guy / Chore Coat

Jeans Jeans Jeans – Weird Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / True Girl / Chore Coat

Leo Boutique - Strong Guy

La Maison Simons - True Guy

Muttonhead - Super Guy / Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / Chore Coat

Over The Rainbow – True Guy

Populess - Weird Guy

Still Life - Easy Guy

Stomping Ground - True Guy

Tate + Yoko - Super Guy / Weird Guy / Easy Guy / True Guy / Strong Guy / Zip Jacket / Chore Coat / Super Girl / True Girl

Walper Mercantile - Weird Guy / True Guy

France

Flaneurs - True Guy / True Girl

Roganel - Chore Coat

Royal Cheese - Weird Guy / True Guy

The Royal Racer - Weird Guy

Germany

Alex Jeans - Weird guy

Cultizm - Weird Guy / True Guy

Thomas i Punkt – Strong Guy

India

Super Kicks - Easy Guy