Wine Testing

Beautiful example of a bleu de travail in action, these photo's of wine testing by Thomas D. Mcavoy.

Celebrating Russian Workers in Blue

French Factory Workers, early 20th Century

Barbie in Workers Blues

In the span of one year, six Chinese factories making toys for Mattel steal between $8 million and $11 million from their workers. Mattel has approximately 100 suppliers in China, and these millions may only be the tip of the iceberg, because it is only through labor abuse that factories are able to accept such low prices from Mattel to produce its toys.

Mattel knows about such legal violations, but it does not take the steps necessary to prevent wage theft and other abuse. Instead, Mattel encourages abuse through its purchasing practices and inaction when labor violations are uncovered.

La Forge

Installation on 1 May 2008 in Guise, by Elodie Cavel, producing "La Forge" - 200 bleus de travail.

Well Worn - Worn Well

On Strike

Workers Blues

The Musée du Saut du Tarn

The Musée du Saut du Tarn in St Juéry is housed in the old factory, built in 1824 and the site of the first hydro-electric station. 

The museum tells the story of the beginnings of electricity and the production of steel and tool making in the Tarn region.

Saut du Tarn

The Saut du Tarn is a waterfall in the river Tarn, located in Saint-Juéry (Tarn). The hydraulic power available there was exploited in varying ways over the centuries, resulting in heavy (steel) industry after the Industrial Revolution.

Steel workers from Saut du Tarn.

Bleu de travail, by Perry Tailor

Bleu de travail, by Perry Tailor

Jonsson Workwear

South African brand Jonsson is big on bleu de travail.

Salopettes

The salopette, overall, over all, overalls, bib-and-brace overalls, dungarees or party bibs are a type of garment which is usually used as protective clothing when working. Some people call an overall a "pair of overalls" by analogy with "pair of trousers".

Typically the salopette in France is a bleu de travail, while in the United States, the bib-overall in denim became a staple in the Mid-West and Southern states, worn by painters, farmers, factory workers, train locomotive engineers, carpenters and other tradesmen.

Since the 1960s, different colors and patterns of bib overalls have been increasingly worn by young people of both sexes, often with one of the straps worn loose or unfastened along the side and under the arm. The bib overalls fashion trend among American youth culture peaked in the latter half of the 1970s, and again for females in the late 1990s.

Marithé et François Girbaud

Marithé et François Girbaud, sometimes styled Marithé+François Girbaud, was an international clothing company based in France. It was founded in 1964 by François Girbaud and Marithé Bachellerie.

 

Theses French stylists are well-known to be inventors of the stonewash jeans, baggy jeans, etc. Workwear in bleu de travail remained a constant inspiration for the brand.

 

In June 2012 it was reported that Girbaud had filed for bankruptcy and that its websites were down and in 2013 five stores in Paris, Lyon and Belgium would be closed as part of a compulsory liquidation.

 

In 2015, they created a new brand : Mad Lane.

Francois Kollar

 Construction and Railroad Workers by Francois Kollar, 1936.

Lenin dismantled by Berlin worker in bleu de travail.

Bleu de Travail in Fashion

Although bleu de travail has been workwear for workers for many generations, couturiers and fashion houses have now discovered the appeal too, modifying and adding, raising prices by 100's of dollars. 

Workers Blues - Ladies' Wear

Worn & Patched