HARTFORD – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Hartford Denim Company (HARDENCO) will be recognized as “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer”. Hartford-based HARDENCO manufactures made-to-order denim, leather, and canvas goods for consumers across the United States and around the world. The company was founded in 2010 by three childhood friends, Luke Davis, Dave Marcoux, and Marshall Deming; all three were born and raised in West Hartford.


Five years ago, Luke, Dave, and Marshall – each in their 20’s - started HARDENCO out of the basements of their parents’ homes. They eventually moved their business to a one-room shop in Hartford, but after years of continued growth, the company was forced to expand the size of their operations several more times. Today, HARDENCO operates out of a larger workshop on Bartholomew Avenue in Hartford, which is fully stocked with all of their products and is open for visitors and customers on weekdays. All of their products are made out of domestically sourced materials, and are built using antique industrial sewing machines. A team of five highly skilled craftspeople assemble the high-quality work-denim, aprons, and bags in nearly 50 steps, and each product is adorned with a leather patch shaped like Connecticut. All of their products come with a lifetime guarantee.


The majority of HARDENCO products are distributed direct to consumer, but they do sell their denim and work wear to companies in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Japan, and Thailand. Consumers can also find their pieces on the weekends at the Brooklyn Flea in Brooklyn, New York. Timberland, the well-known outdoor apparel company, even launched a collaboration with the Hartford company in 2012.


“When I saw Luke, Dave, and Marshall in action during my recent visit to the HARDENCO shop, it became clear how these guys managed, in less than five years, to turn their interest into a real manufacturing business that fuels economic growth up and down the supply chain,” said Murphy. “They take pride in their Hartford-area roots and have made a conscious decision to reinvest in their community. Their entrepreneurial and innovative drive should inspire other Connecticut manufacturers like them, and I’ll do everything I can back in Washington to ensure they have all the support they need.”


The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state’s jobs and 87% of the state’s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.