What does Union Made mean on a Carhartt label?
It means the garment was sewn in a factory whose workers belonged to a US garment workers' union, and the label carries that union's mark. For Carhartt this was the norm for decades of American production, and the label is one of the most reliable signs that a piece was made in the United States before production moved abroad.
Which union logos appear on Carhartt labels?
Most commonly the United Garment Workers of America (UGWA) and later UNITE, the union formed in 1995 from a merger of garment unions. Earlier pieces may carry other marks. The specific logo narrows the date: a UNITE mark puts a piece after 1995, while a UGWA-only mark suggests earlier production.
Roughly what years does Union Made cover?
Broadly the 1970s through the late 1990s, with some overlap into the early 2000s on remaining US production. It disappears as manufacturing moved to Mexico. If a label says Union Made in USA, you are almost certainly looking at a piece that is at least a quarter of a century old.
How do I use the label with the chest patch to date a piece?
Combine the two. A square chest patch with a Union Made label points to older production, typically the 1980s and early 1990s. A rectangular patch with a UNITE Union Made label points to the mid-to-late 1990s. A rectangular patch with Made in Mexico points to the 2000s. Our dating guide walks through the patch shapes in detail.
Can a Union Made label be faked?
It can, but rarely well. On genuine labels the union logo is woven cleanly, the text is crisp and the label is stitched on all four sides with even density. Faded or cracked print on a label that was clearly printed rather than woven is a warning sign. Compare against the fabric: a Union Made label on a jacket in suspiciously new, light duck is a mismatch.
Does Union Made add value?
Yes. It guarantees US production and age, both of which carry a premium on the resale market. Among otherwise identical pieces, the Union Made example sells faster and higher. We photograph the label on every vintage piece so buyers can see it.
Every piece we sell is reworked by these standards
Everything written here comes from grading and reworking Carhartt every day. Browse what's in now, or message us and we'll send photos and measurements of anything.