Why are street style brands taking an interest in the automotive industry? Carhartt has teamed up with Ford, while Salomon has released a pair of sneakers inspired by the Honda Civic
Within just a few days, two of the most acclaimed street style brands took part in collaborations connected to the automotive world. Carhartt, the American brand that has become an icon of workwear aesthetics, even designed the interiors of a vehicle, the 2027 Ford Super Duty pickup from Detroit, while Salomon, best known in the city for its sneakers, created a shoe together with Carpet Company directly inspired by the 1995 Honda van.
The fact that the two projects are so similar hardly seems to be a coincidence, but let’s take a closer look at why.
The Carhartt x Ford pickup
The collaboration between Carhartt and Ford celebrates both the shared history of the two brands, deeply connected to the world of American blue-collar workers, and their common roots in Detroit. The 2027 Super Duty pickup focuses primarily on functionality, the two companies emphasize, although the interiors are upholstered with materials inspired by Carhartt’s iconic Duck Canvas, the fabric that turned the brand into one of the symbols of ultra-durable workwear, while branded all-weather floor mats and numerous custom details complete the setup.
The collaboration pays tribute to the Essential Economy, namely the agricultural, technical, and emergency response sectors of the United States. The pickup comes equipped with a bedliner, all-terrain tires, and off-road side steps, while beyond the interiors Carhartt also customized several external aesthetic elements, working on the fenders, doors, and tailgate - making the vehicle a true object of desire for any American workwear enthusiast.
The Salomon x Carpet Company sneakers
The nature of Salomon’s automotive-inspired sneakers is very different from that of the Carhartt x Ford collaboration. While the latter is entirely focused on functionality, the collaboration between Salomon and Carpet Company highlights the irreverent and unconventional aesthetic of the Baltimore skate brand through a uniquely styled ’90s van.
Carpet Company x Salomon XT-Whisper Void https://t.co/XQSneYyGmK pic.twitter.com/lfEKiLZnxr
— (@uptod4te) May 13, 2026
The XT-Whisper Void - «made for female racers yet adopted by all», as the sneaker brand writes about the shoe, which has now become an urban icon - was redesigned using the look of the 1995 Honda Acty Street van, also known as the Habibi Express. Distinguished by its bright red color, a silver star on the side door, and playful horns on the roof, the van embodies all the irony that has long defined the work of Carpet Company, active for the past ten years. Produced in a limited edition, the sneakers pay tribute to the skate brand’s community, made up of professional athletes and enthusiasts who identify with its bold and unapologetic spirit.
What it means for the industry
Street style is currently going through a period of major transformation that mirrors what is happening in the luxury sector. Until just a few years ago, collaborations involving sportswear brands were often launched with luxury Maisons - just think of the time when Miu Miu practically recreated workwear jackets on the runway, or the Mary Jane shoes by Salomon and MM6 Maison Margiela — but now the two worlds seem to be drifting apart once again.
This distancing is driven by the difficulties both sectors are currently facing: luxury, after a golden era, is now reporting an decline in international sales and is therefore trying to regain exclusivity by “withdrawing” from more mainstream projects (namely collaborations with generally more accessible labels); meanwhile, sportswear brands are riding the wave of their success while searching for a stable niche to identify with.
In this context, the automotive sector appears to be fertile ground for evolving brand identity. With its own distinct community, far removed from the now ultra-luxurious tennis world or from overexposed football - Puma, for example, has invested heavily in Formula 1 over the last two years, with the Speedcat quickly becoming one of the leading sneaker trends. Salomon and Carhartt have each reinterpreted the trend in their own way: the former with a healthy dose of irony, the latter by paying tribute to America’s often-overlooked everyday heroes.
