5 French Workwear Brands That Refuse to Be Outworked

It’s nearly impossible to find a menswear brand that hasn't been impacted by workwear’s Midas rough-hewn, calloused touch. Its shadow of influence spans the entire breadth of fashion, which is why designers continue to reference and riff on workwear designs that date back over a century. The enduring appeal of workwear—besides the fact that it looks good—boils down to its inherent usefulness, which exists outside of fashion cycles and trends.While much of workwear references American heritage brands, the concept exists in every country. Just take a look at vintage French workwear and the mass appeal of the classic blue chore coat. You don't need a deep well of menswear knowledge to understand the jacket's appeal, it's been worn by the likes of Jacob Elordi, Jeremy Allen White, and Austin Butler—just to name a few—all of whom seem to be drawn to those patch pockets, sun-faded patina, and subtle distressing.France's heritage workwear labels still exist today, pumping out hard-wearing goods for the common man, whether he works in the fields or at a design firm. There are also a handful of new French labels pushing the traditional workwear aesthetic into a new era. From outerwear to shoes, bottoms, and bags, here are just a few of the French workwear brands you should know.French Workwear Hit ListThe Piece de ResistanceLe Mont St Michel French Work Chore JacketRead moreThe Do-It-All DerbysParaboot Michael Leather DerbysRead moreThe French New Wave ShirtArpenteur Square Woad ShirtRead moreThe Vintage-Inspired PulloverBrut Clothing The Fisherman ShirtRead moreThe Luxe Leather MessengerBleu de Chauffe Éclair Leather Messenger BagRead moreLe St Mont MichelThe ubiquitous French chore coat has been worn by French field workers for over a century and Le St Mont Michel has been pumping out the iconic outerwear piece since 1913. These chore coats were made of thick cotton moleskin fabric and featured a point collar, mid-length design, patch pockets at the front and often an interior pocket. The bleu de travail or “work blue” is the most iconic colorway and is commonly referred to as French blue.Le Mont St MichelFrench Work Chore JacketLe Mont St MichelFrench Work Chore JacketParabootNot exactly a workwear brand, per se, but Paraboot’s pedigree in shoemaking, combined with its multi-generational heritage, makes it an easy recommendation. Paraboot employs elite construction techniques like their signature Norwegian welt as well as Goodyear welt and Blake stitch constructions, all of which ensure that each pair of shoes is both durable and resoleable. And while lesser brands will use leathers with glossy finishes to hide the material’s flaws, Paraboot only selects top-shelf hides and leaves them unfinished to show their high quality and natural characteristics.ParabootMichael Leather DerbysArpenteurCombining industrial-strength heritage with artisanal methods and a nudge toward modernism, Arpenteur’s flavor of French workwear is a legacy brand in the making. You’ll find raschel-knit tops reminiscent of old-school Breton-stripe shirts, hardy denim work pants dyed with woad (a cousin of indigo), and a constantly growing collection of beefy shoe collabs with fellow French brand Paraboot. While many brands have outsourced a portion of their materials and manufacturing, Arpenteur is staunch about producing everything in France using French materials.ArpenteurSquare Woad ShirtArpenteurLux J Washed JacketBrut ClothingBrut started as a vintage store dedicated to militaria, workwear, and Americana, but eventually became a brand of its own. It isn’t exactly a heritage label, but its inspiration is borrowed from the greats. The Paris-based label draws on its deep archive of vintage clothing to inform its designs, which often feel like a distant relative of America’s most cherished heritage brands. Hardy denim jackets, roper boots, and beefy hand-knit sweaters make their way into the collection, as do hunting jackets and fisherman shirts. It’s French workwear with a modern edge and a hefty dose of Americana.Brut ClothingThe Fisherman ShirtBrut ClothingThe Alpine Pop-OverBleu de ChauffeAmerica has Filson, France has Bleu de Chauffe. The French label has only been around since 2009, but the methods they use are as old school as it gets. Full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, heavy-duty canvas, and brass hardware are the main ingredients, and rather than using an assembly line style of production, each bag is made in Bleu de Chauffe’s French workshop and from start to finish by a single artisan.Bleu de ChauffeÉclair Leather Messenger BagBleu de ChauffeFisherman's Musette Leather-Trimmed Suede Messenger Bag