If you are searching for vintage Carhartt in South Africa, whether that means a Detroit jacket, a chore coat, double-knee work pants or a piece of Carhartt WIP, Fabrikhunter is a good place to start. We hunt Carhartt as a regular part of what we do, then check, clean, size and photograph each piece before it goes on the rail or online.
This guide explains what you will find, where to shop us in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and how to buy vintage Carhartt online without guessing at the fit.
Vintage Carhartt, hunted one piece at a time
Fabrikhunter is a curated vintage and streetwear shop, not a pile of unsorted workwear. Every Carhartt piece is one of one. If it is on the hanger, it is the only one, and when it sells it leaves the rail.
On a typical hunt you will see the kinds of pieces Carhartt is known for:
- Chore coats and work jackets
- Detroit jackets
- Double-knee, carpenter and cargo pants
- Duck canvas jackets, vests and bibs
- Beanies and caps
- Selected Carhartt WIP
The mix changes week to week. Some days the rail leans toward jackets; other days it is heavy on double-knees or canvas bibs. That is the nature of one-of-one vintage: you shop what is here now.
Browse the current selection on our Carhartt collection.
Where to buy vintage Carhartt in Johannesburg
Our Johannesburg shop is at Stanley Studios, 39 Stanley Avenue, Braamfontein. There is free parking inside the Stanley precinct. If you are already in the area, you can pair a visit with the other shops around 39 Stanley and 44 Stanley.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; Saturday, 8am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 3pm
WhatsApp: +27 60 573 9060
Get directions and more detail on our locations page.
Where to buy vintage Carhartt in Cape Town
Our Cape Town shop is at 223 Bree Street, in the city centre. From Bree Street it is an easy walk if you are already shopping nearby.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; Saturday, 8am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 3pm
WhatsApp: +27 60 573 9060
Buying vintage Carhartt online
If you cannot get to either shop, the same hunt is online. Pieces on the Carhartt collection are sized and photographed, and we ship across South Africa.
When you are shopping online, use the measurements on the product page rather than the number on the label alone. Vintage Carhartt and modern fashion sizing are not the same thing, and workwear cuts vary by era and style. We explain our approach on how sizing works at Fabrikhunter.
You can also jump from Carhartt into related rails such as Dickies, Levi’s and the rest of our men’s and women’s vintage.
What to look for in a vintage Carhartt piece
Start with the garment you will actually wear. A Detroit jacket and a quilt-lined duck canvas coat do different jobs. Double-knee pants are built for work; WIP pieces often sit closer to contemporary streetwear. Check the seams, pockets and hems, and look at the photographs for fade and wear, which are part of why people hunt vintage Carhartt in the first place.
If you are unsure about fit, read the measurements, compare them with a jacket or pair of pants you already own, and message us on WhatsApp before you order. We would rather help you choose well than have a piece come back.
Vintage workwear and Carhartt WIP
Not every Carhartt piece on the rail is the same kind of garment. Much of what people mean by vintage Carhartt is older American workwear: duck canvas, quilt lining, double knees, chore coats and Detroit jackets that were built to be worn hard. Carhartt WIP is the brand’s contemporary line, and we do hunt selected WIP pieces as well. Both can be worth owning; they just sit in slightly different parts of a wardrobe.
If you know you want a work jacket or double-knees, say so when you visit or WhatsApp us. If you are after a cleaner WIP silhouette, we can point you to what is in at the time. Because the stock is one of one, we cannot promise a specific colourway will still be there tomorrow, which is why it helps to look sooner rather than later.
Making a day of it
Carhartt is one rail in a wider vintage shop. If you are planning a longer browse, our guides to vintage and thrift stores in Johannesburg and vintage and thrift stores in Cape Town map out nearby stops after you have been through our shop.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy vintage Carhartt in South Africa?
You can shop Fabrikhunter’s Carhartt collection online at fabrikhunter.com/collections/carhartt, or visit our stores at 39 Stanley in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, and 223 Bree Street, Cape Town.
Do you sell new Carhartt or vintage Carhartt?
We sell curated vintage and pre-loved Carhartt, including selected Carhartt WIP. Each piece is hunted individually and listed as one of one.
Do you have Carhartt jackets and double-knee pants?
Those are among the pieces we hunt most often, along with chore coats, duck canvas, carpenter pants and beanies. Availability depends on what we have found and what has not sold yet.
Can I visit the shops if I want to try something on?
Yes. Both shops are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday from 8am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Trying on vintage workwear is often the easiest way to understand the fit.
Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. Online Carhartt orders ship across South Africa.