Audio Archives marks over 15 years of Carhartt WIP Radio, celebrating independent artists and labels worldwide, while paying tribute to the cultural impact of community radio today. The project encompasses a printed publication, a capsule collection, and a global program of radio broadcasts and events.
Carhartt WIP Radio launched in 2008, as radio was slowly transitioning from traditional FM to the digital sphere. The premise of the show was simple: an artist or label playing their own music for one hour, accompanied by an interview. Its format has endured, with contributors spanning Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Audio Archives was built from the same desire to foster connections through music. For the first time, the project unites 17 independent radio stations from around the world under a single collaborative initiative, amplifying local voices on a global scale. From stations founded in 1969 to those launched post-pandemic, each is unique, yet together they represent an emerging culture that has reshaped our understanding of modern broadcasting.
In the publication, also titled Audio Archives, these stations feature across a series of interviews in which they each recount their journeys, while reflecting on the current state of independent radio. The book spans over 1,200 pages and includes a comprehensive archive of Carhartt WIP Radio features since 2008, alongside a curated selection of poster artworks. It is accompanied by a 7-inch Flexi-disk featuring a compilation of soundbites from participating radio stations, as well as Carhartt WIP Radio introductions and voiceovers.
The capsule, meanwhile, comprises two graphic print long-sleeves, a hooded sweatshirt, and a record bag. A limited-edition Teenage Engineering OB-4 Magic Radio completes the collection.
Audio Archives launches on February 26th, marked by an event at Berlin’s NBB Gallery on February 28th. Between March and April, a series of events and live broadcasts will follow worldwide, hosted by the participating stations in their respective cities.
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Contact
Federica De Carlo
fdecarlo@carhartt-wip.comAbout Carhartt Work In Progress
Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) is a clothing brand that adapts and modifies the core products of the pioneering American workwear brand Carhartt to create its own collections. Established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, the brand’s audience is as likely to associate its iconic yellow ‘C’ motif with late 90s hip hop videos or skate clips as they are with factories or manual labor. This distinction is key when defining Carhartt WIP.
Carhartt WIP engages with different cultural spheres: from Detroit and Berlin’s symbiotic techno scenes, to skateboarding and its communities that span Paris, New York, and Seoul, to the contemporary art world. The brand channels these influences, reflecting the culture that has formed around it. This can be seen and felt in its collections, imagery, and collaboration partners. Today, Carhartt WIP operates over 100 brick and mortar retail stores across Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as working with select wholesale clients.