We sell it, so you'd expect us to say yes. What we'll tell you is where the money goes, which pieces earn their price, and when it's not the right buy.

What you're paying for

A Carhartt WIP piece costs more than a high-street equivalent and more than mainline Carhartt. Some of that is the name. Most of it is in things you notice after a year of wear rather than on the first day.

• Fabric: Heavy cotton canvas, dense twills and thick jersey that hold their shape. A WIP sweatshirt still looks like a sweatshirt after fifty washes.
• Construction: Proper stitching, strong seams and hardware that doesn't give up. This comes straight from the workwear side.
• Design: Cuts refined season after season from the same archive. The shapes don't date because they were never trend pieces to begin with.

Where it earns its price

If you work it out per wear, the core pieces are some of the best value in menswear.

• Detroit Jacket: The one people keep for a decade. It softens and fades with wear and looks better for it.
• Single Knee and Double Knee pants: Heavy, practical and nearly impossible to wear out.
• Chase sweats and hoodies: Heavyweight fleece, cut to layer. These are what you'll reach for most.
• Beanies: The cheapest way into the brand and the piece you'll see on everyone for good reason.

Where to be more selective

Not everything in a collection is built to the same standard, and that's true of every brand. Lighter seasonal pieces, heavily printed graphic tees and one-off collaborations are more about the season than the long run. They're good clothes, just not the ones to judge the brand on. If you want longevity, start with the core.

When it's not the right buy

If you need clothing for actual site work, mainline Carhartt is built for that job and costs less. WIP is made to be worn every day, not dragged through a building site. And if you want something slim and tailored, most of the range is relaxed by design. Go in knowing that.

Our take

We stock brands we'd wear ourselves, at prices we think are fair for what you get. Carhartt WIP has been an anchor of the shop because the core pieces keep coming back season after season, and customers keep coming back for them. Buy the classics in your usual size, look after them, and they'll last.

Seeing it in person

The best way to judge quality is to handle it. Come into the shop on Yarm High Street, feel the weight of a Detroit next to anything else on the rail, and decide for yourself.