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.
