Dubbleware once advertised by painting farmers’ barns. According to Joe Sharpe, who helped revive the brand, representatives would offer to do the job for free on one condition: they could put a large Dubbleware sign on the side facing the road.
It’s a good introduction to a clothing company whose early customers included farmers and railway workers across New England. Long before its archive attracted vintage collectors, Dubbleware was making clothing for people who spent their working days wearing it hard.
Today, that background gives the brand plenty to draw on. Our Dubbleware collection at Unit 17 includes straight-leg selvedge jeans, denim outerwear, brushed cotton shirts and relaxed knitwear. There’s a clear family resemblance between the pieces, but each can find a place in an existing wardrobe.
Here’s a closer look at the brand, the details that distinguish the collection and where to start.
What is Dubbleware?
Dubbleware is a workwear brand with roots in early twentieth-century Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by manufacturer M. Hoffman, it produced clothing including denim trousers, hickory dungarees and chambray boiler suits.
Its original garments were designed around practical needs. Today’s collection retains visible connections to that history through buttons, labels and trims inspired by the brand’s 1930s designs. Even the Hoffman name survives in its branding.
Following a long period out of production, Dubbleware was revived in 2019 by Joe Sharpe and James Trivunovic. Interest among vintage collectors helped prompt its return. In an interview with Sprezza, Sharpe explained that the team worked with the founding family to preserve elements of the original clothing.
The appeal for a modern wardrobe is straightforward. Indigo denim, checked cotton and practical jackets are easy to wear together, and equally easy to combine with clothes from other brands. You can take as much of the workwear influence as you like, whether that means a full denim outfit or simply a substantial shirt worn with your usual trousers.
Dubbleware selvedge jeans: start with the cut
The Dubbleware Straight Leg Denim Selvedge Jean in Indigo is the natural starting point if denim is what brought you to the brand.
The cut is straight and semi-wide, giving it a fuller shape than a slim jean. The fabric is 100% cotton selvedge denim with a light garment wash, finished with orange stitching, vintage-style buttons and rivets, and a branded back patch.
That combination gives you plenty of workwear character without elaborate detailing. The indigo and orange contrast does much of the visual work, while the straighter leg gives the outfit a different proportion.
If you’re moving away from slim denim, pay attention to how the jeans sit over your footwear. A fuller leg works particularly well with boots or trainers with some substance to them. Try a small turn-up if you want to show more of the shoe, or leave the hem down for a longer line.
For the rest of the outfit, start with something you already wear regularly. An ecru T-shirt, a grey sweatshirt or a navy knit will let you get used to the shape without changing everything at once.
Choose these if: you want straight-leg indigo jeans with more room through the leg and traditional denim detailing.
The Zip Rider Chore Jacket: denim with a different shape
The Dubbleware Zip Rider Chore Jacket in Rinse Wash brings together substantial denim and the practical layout of a chore jacket.
Dubbleware specifies 12oz cotton denim, patch pockets, tobacco-coloured topstitching and a large O-ring zip. The zip is a distinctive detail, giving the front a different appearance from a buttoned work jacket. Hoffman branding provides a small reference to the founder.
This is the piece to consider if you tend to build outfits around your outer layer. The denim, contrasting seams and pockets give it enough interest to wear over a plain T-shirt with simple trousers.
Stone chinos or olive fatigues would be our first pairing. Both separate the jacket clearly from the bottom half of the outfit and keep the colours easy to work with. A checked shirt underneath introduces another texture when you want more going on.
It also opens up the option of double denim. Try it with a lighter pair of jeans for a clear contrast, or closer shades for a more uniform look. An ecru T-shirt between the two helps break up the indigo.
Think about layering when choosing your size. Fasten the jacket over the sort of shirt or knit you expect to wear beneath it, then check the room across your shoulders and upper arms.
Choose this if: you want a denim jacket with patch pockets, a zip front and room in your wardrobe for regular layering.
The Heritage Check Workshirt: substance and softness
The Dubbleware Heritage Check Workshirt in Green Plaid is built around its fabric: 225 GSM brushed cotton with a substantial feel and a softened surface.
GSM describes the fabric’s weight in grams per square metre. Here, it helps explain why this is a shirt to consider for cooler weather and layering. The brushing adds softness, while the fabric has enough body to make the shirt an interesting layer over a plain tee.
The green plaid is particularly useful if much of your wardrobe is navy, black, grey or denim. It introduces colour and pattern while remaining easy to combine with those shades.
Wear it open with washed black jeans for a relaxed outfit, or button it with indigo denim and boots for a stronger workwear feel. You can keep everything else plain and let the check carry the outfit.
It’s also a good option if you already have your everyday jeans and jacket sorted. Changing the shirt underneath can give those familiar pieces a noticeably different look.
Choose this if: you want a substantial cotton shirt that adds pattern and works both buttoned and as an open layer.
The Beacon Pullover: an understated way into Dubbleware
The Dubbleware Beacon Pullover Knit in Navy takes the collection in a quieter direction.
Made from 100% cotton, it combines a relaxed cut with a V-neck and a 5-gauge knit. It gives you texture in a simple shape, with fewer of the visible utility details found elsewhere in the range.
A white crew-neck T-shirt underneath is an easy place to begin. The visible neckline keeps it casual, and the navy works with indigo jeans, olive trousers or stone chinos.
An Oxford shirt changes the feel again, making the Beacon useful for days when you want something a little smarter. Keep the trousers relaxed and you still have an outfit that feels comfortable for everyday wear.
Of the pieces here, this is the one we’d point you towards if you prefer plain colours and want something you can combine with several different styles.
Choose this if: you want relaxed cotton knitwear to wear with both jeans and smarter trousers.
Getting the fit right
The shape of a garment matters as much as its fabric. With Dubbleware, start with the description of the individual piece: the jeans have a straight, semi-wide cut, while the Beacon is described as relaxed.
For jeans, consider the rise and room through the thigh alongside the waist measurement. The hem opening and length will then determine how the jeans sit over your shoes. A pair can fit at the waist and still have a shape that doesn’t suit how you want to wear it.
For shirts and jackets, decide whether you want to wear them over a T-shirt, a heavier layer or mostly on their own. Check the chest, shoulder width, sleeve length and body length against a comparable garment you like.
If you’re unsure, speak to us before ordering. Tell us which piece you’re considering, what you usually wear and whether you prefer a closer or roomier fit. If you can visit the shop, trying two sizes side by side is often the quickest way to decide.
Discover Dubbleware at Unit 17, Cardiff
Dubbleware rewards a closer look: the contrast stitching on the jeans, the ring pull on the jacket, the brushed surface of the workshirt. Those are the details we’d encourage you to look at when choosing between the pieces.
At Unit 17, Sean and Abbe bring over 15 years of menswear experience to the shop’s selection. Visit us at 12 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AF, to see the fabrics, compare fits and talk through what works with your wardrobe.
Shopping from further afield? Explore Dubbleware at Unit 17 online for the latest selection and available sizes, and get in touch if you need help choosing.
