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
Established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) develops its own collections based on original Carhartt workwear. The brand combines authentic adaptations of these robust American archetypes, while engaging with the subcultures that have embraced it. This, in turn, has seen Carhartt WIP place itself in a new context and bring forth its own classics.
Carhartt WIP opened its first store in London in 1997 and today operates over 80 brick and mortar locations worldwide. It also has its own skate team and music department, while supporting an array of artists and releasing various in-house publications. Since 2010, Carhartt WIP has worked with a number of like-minded collaborators, including A.P.C., Converse, Fragment Design, Junya Watanabe, Nike, Underground Resistance, and Motown.