Few pieces tend to work as hard as workwear pants. Originally made for workers enduring manual labor tasks like carpentry or coal mining, the workwear style has blossomed into a design classic that brands have been leaning on for decades.
Legacy brands like Stan Ray and Dickies have championed the industry since their inception, providing sturdy and dependable pants that can handle the most heavy-duty tasks. Carhartt and its streetwear-focused WIP division is arguably the biggest name amongst the rest, and has ventured into the skate scene as skaters often need reliable clothing to hold them down against the elements.
While cargo pants and more solid winter pant alternatives are perfect to tackle the cold months and outdoor activities, we believe workwear pants are the perfect alternative to jeans and chinos, and below we’ve brought you our selection of the best workwear (and workwear-inspired) pants from every walk of fashion — from the trusty icons right up to the designer iterations.
Plus, for a full workwear-inspired ‘fit, be sure to check out our favorite chore coats.
Shop the best workwear pants below.
Nili Lotan Carpenter Straight-Leg Trousers
Nili Lotan’s off-white trousers are great for every season since they’re crafted from midweight twill cotton that offers loads of breathability.
Acne Studios Canvas Dungarees
Going one step further than just being hard-wearing workwear pants, these Acne Studios’ dungarees also provide coverage for your upper half. Including tool pockets and hammer loops to store all the working equipment you could need, the dungarees come with a pigment-dyed finish.
Carhartt WIP Double Knee Pant
Put the days of having blown-out knees behind you with Carhartt WIP’s classic double-knee pants. This pair keeps all the functional details needed for workwear pants, such as a hammer loop, tool pocket, and triple stitching at vital stress points.
Entire Studios Gocar Cargo
Made with two large cargo pockets on each leg, Entire Studios’ cargo pants come with ample carrying space and a wide-leg silhouette for added comfort.
Dickies Double Knee Work Pant
Dickies is one the best brands to ever grace the workwear genre. Adding these to your collection is a no-brainer, they’re versatile enough for any outfit or errand.
Our Legacy Mount Cargo
Our Legacy’s wide-leg cargo pants come crafted from Italian canvas fabric for a more high-end take on a functional, everyday style.
HS05 Sun Dried Canvas Carpenter Pants
Shop Our Selection
Created by our in-house brand, HS05, these canvas carpenter pants have been sun-dried for a faded finish that differs with each pair. The Japanese cotton pants come in a range of colorways, including one to celebrate Neu York — our multi-media celebration of the Big Apple.
Y-3 GFX Workwear Pants
Part of Yohji Yamamoto’s continued line together with adidas, these pants are the Japanese designer’s take on workwear pants. Produced in lightweight cotton, the bottoms are outfitted with numerous pockets, including slanted side pockets, two flap pockets at the thighs, and two back pockets.
GmbH Bekir Cargo Pants
As we’ve established, workwear is worn by a far wider spectrum of people than just workers. One of the groups that has adopted workwear pants is ravers and that’s who Berlin-based label GmbH are designing much of their clothes for.
Raf Simons Workwear Straight-Leg Jeans
Black denim never gets old, and even when it does the fading adds to the overall look and workwear aesthetic.
KENZO Sailor Loose Jeans
Fashion is inundated with painter jeans or carpenter pants, but sailors are one type of worker whose hard-wearing uniform has been slightly overlooked. These sailor pants are crafted from Japanese Kaihara denim for a top-quality finish.
Snow Peak Takibi Canvas Pants
Few labels make clothing more functional than Snow Peak. These pants not only have button-down cargo pockets and sturdy construction but they have also been treated with Kanecaron, a flame-retardant acrylic.
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