Woolrich’s ‘Elite Concealed Carry’ clothing line caters to fashion-savvy gun owners

July 31, 2016

By Talia Ralph

Producer Jason Atkins helps Mia Lawrence with a holster as she prepares to film a scene on the set of Girls and Guns, a web-based reality show featuring women shooting weapons. Some clothing lines have developed more subtle “Concealed Carry” clothing options for America’s growing number of gun owners.

Woolrich and other clothing companies are catering to the growing number of gun owners in America who are looking to conceal their guns in style, the New York Times reported.

Woolrich's new Elite Concealed Carry clothing line is specially tailored to accommodate weapons: their $65 chinos, for example, have a pocket for a gun behind the traditional pocket, a stretchy elastic waistband, and back pockets to keep accessories like knives or flashlights, the Times reported.

The line also features jackets and short-sleeved button downs, according to Fashionista.

“Most of the clothes I used in the past to hide my sidearm looked pretty sloppy and had my girlfriend complaining about my looks,” Kentucky-based gun owner Shawn Thompson wrote on his gun blog. “I’m not James Bond or nothing, but these look pretty nice,” he added in an interview with the Times.

To develop and design the clothing, Woolrich took recommendations from officials who work in law enforcement, executive protection, and military operations, according to their website.

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The trend is right in line with the increase in gun ownership. There were around seven million gun-carrying Americans in 2011, up from five million in 2008, according to the Times, who attribute the spike in part to changes to state laws on concealed handguns.

The 182-year-old heritage brand is not the only company tapping into the growing market of civilians who carry guns. Under Armour, the popular moisture-wicking sportswear company, is also coming out with concealed carry options, and 5.11 Tactical, one of the biggest suppliers of law enforcement clothing, is expanding their line of gun-hiding fashion.

“When someone walks down the street in a button-down and khakis, the bad guy gets a glimmer of fear, wondering: are they packing or not?” Allen Forkner, a spokesman for Woolrich, told the Times.