DETROIT – home of tough automobiles, tough living, and tough music like The Stooges and MC5. Also born here was Carhartt, an enduring classic of working man’s a brand that has become one of our most popular vintage items over the years. Unsurprisingly, the most popular by far has been what they call the Detroit Jacket. Introduced in 1954, it only became known by its current moniker during the late nineties. Carhartt brass previously referred to it as “the zipper jacket” as it was one of the few models to have a zip-up front. Made for a customer as rugged as the thick duck canvas it was built from, another key part of the appeal is the way the jacket looks as it ages. The Carhartt Detroit Jacket wears its long, durable history on its sleeve – and its fabric – and this longevity is a built-in factor inherent to its enduring and current success and collectibility. The more history your jacket has got, the more desirable it can be. For a company that celebrates the opening of each new store by smashing a wall with a sledgehammer instead of having a ribbon-cutting ceremony, this works perfectly. Carhartt’s blue-collar roots and work ethic came above ground and began to be celebrated in wider circles when the jackets started being adopted by the hip-hop community, being adopted by such labels as Tommy Boy Records and worn around town by celebrities such as Kanye West, Johnny Depp, and many more.
Second in line to the Detroit Jacket in Carhartt fame are their famed hooded pieces and vests, both of which are major sellers around these parts. For a company that’s been around for 133 years, Carhartt still makes clothes that are as durable as their reputation for quality!
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About metropolisvintage
Metropolis is a shop located at 803 Broadway in Manhattan. We started selling vintage clothing in flea markets back in 1984 in SOHO - a time when downtown seemed like the center of the world, when street artists were pushing their way to the top and cutoff jeans were high fashion. We took hold of a set of keys and opened our first store on Ave B and 6th Street on Feb 1, 1990. Just like the East Village, we have changed over the last 34 years and now reside on Broadway just south of Union Square, but still have the largest and best selection in New York. We do a lot of traveling to find our large collection and I hope you enjoy the clothing we have to offer here. If you're in NYC, please stop by to hang out in the shop and become our customer and friend. Nothing makes us feel better than seeing someone wearing a item purchased from us when we bump into them in a bar or club or show.
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About The Owner
My name is Richard Colligan. While freelancing at various advertising agencies throughout the city and graduating from Pratt Institute in1982, I sold clothes at several flea markets in NYC for extra money. Realizing an interest in fashion, but tired with the elements of outdoor retailing, I took my small business indoors to Avenue B & 10th St in 1990. At the time, fashion was all about "grunge" - the 501 Levi Jeans, flannel shirts, motorcycle jackets, overalls, and army surplus were selling like wildfire and Metropolis was the leading provider.
In 1995, I moved Metropolis to its current location of 3rd Ave & 10th St, which is conveniently situated in the heart of East Village, near St. Marks and many college dorms. Everyone from new college students to seasoned stylists would soon turn to Metropolis for their vintage fashion needs.
Finally, in 2019 we switched to our largest location yet - at 803 Broadway, just a few blocks south of Union Square. As Metropolis approaches it's 34 year anniversary, I hope everyone will come and check out our store, a staple of the NYC vintage community!
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