Since Engel Original was introduced less than a year ago the revived and redesigned Danish workwear brand has gained instant success. F. Engel is well-known for its workwear and ever since Carl J. Engel brought back a pair of bull denim bib-overalls from the United States in the 20s the company has manufactured durable workwear for several generations of Danish craftsmen. Now, young urban fashion boys and girls also take pride in wearing the classic yet refitted and refinished silhuettes and styles. For this fall Engel Originals will be introducing jackets, shirts and bibs made of the authentic F.Engel denim.
Every piece of workwear was originally designed to meet a specific need and solve a practical problem. F. Engel workwear was initially produced in a dark indigo textile. But soon the blue indigo dye was changed to a colour-fast, clear blue colour, which is still in use today. Back then, triple stitches was made with chain stitching machinery imported from USA. Today, all the fits have been modified with new inside and outside finishes, and many of them are sewn the triple seams to make them even more durable.
During the 60s and 70s, workwear shirts and jackets like the ones below became fashion items and it was used to express solidarity with the working class. In the 80s, workwear disappeared almost completely from the world of fashion only to reappear in the skate and street culture in the 90s, where it was used as an anti-fashion statement. Today, workwear is making a fashion statement once again.
Even in the early days, workwear had to be comfortable for the wearer. The Worker Shirt (first shown below) was produced from the late 40s and designed for fishermen. It was available in navy blue with a red or blue drawstring closure. It was later a favourite with painters, and consequently introduced in a white version. In both its original versions, the Worker Shirt had wide sleeves to allow as much freedom of movement as possible.
On other news, Engel Original also introduces this highly functional and technical jacket, which uses the know-how from the Deerhunter brand, another sub-brand of the F. Engel group.
Chinos are now also available from Engel Original.
F. Engel is still a family-owned company, now in the hands of the fourth generation. The company employs 120 employees at the main offices in Haderslev, Denmark and a further 470 seamstresses at two factories in Lithuania.
Thomas Bojer
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