The Old American Machines in Japan: The Myth, the Truth, and Why the Craft Lives There

Everyone says Japan bought America’s old denim looms. Mostly, that is a myth. Josh Sirlin on the Union Special machines, the Toyoda looms, and why the craft really lives in Okayama.

Culture, denim, Craft, Heritage, JapanJosh SirlinJuly 20, 2026japanese denim looms, toyoda shuttle loom, union special 43200g, cone mills white oak, selvedge denim history, okayama denim, denim mythComment

Black Bear Means Long Wear: The 1914 Factory and the Brand I Brought Back

Black Bear Brand is not a new label with an old look. It is a real Seattle company from the early 1900s, with a real factory and a real slogan, that Josh Sirlin spent a decade bringing back.

Culture, Craft, HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 18, 2026black bear brand history, black manufacturing company, george g black, seattle heritage brand, josh sirlin, made in seattleComment

The Rare Looms of Okayama: The Lost Art Behind the World's Best Denim

In a small corner of Japan, a handful of artisans keep vintage shuttle looms alive — machines the rest of the world scrapped. Inside the lost art that makes the finest denim on earth.

Craft, Denim, Fabric, Fabric Guide, Heritage, JapanJosh SirlinJuly 11, 2026okayama denim, kojima japan, vintage shuttle looms, selvedge denim, rope dyeing indigo, lost art denim, japanese denim, black bear brandComment

Japan and Fashion: How a Nation Fell for Americana — and Made It Better

Some of the most American clothing in the world is now made in Japan — and made better. The Ametora story, the mills of Okayama, and Black Bear Brand's decade-long love affair with the country that saved American style.

Culture, Craft & Materials, Craft, Denim, Japan, Japan & Culture, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 2, 2026Japan, japan american fashion, ametora, japanese denim history, okayama denim, japanese selvedge, how japan saved american style, japanese craftsmanship, black bear brand japanComment

The Embroidered Flower Shirt: From the Aloha Shirt to Made in Japan

From 1930s Hawaii to Japanese needlework, the embroidered flower shirt is summer’s most iconic piece. Ours is wild, fully embroidered, and made in Japan.

Craft, Craft & Materials, JapanJosh SirlinJune 29, 2026embroidered flower shirt, floral shirt, made in Japan shirt, aloha shirt history, summer shirt, mens embroidered shirt, Japanese embroidery, Black Bear BrandComment

the washed corduroy short: a little surf history, and why cord belongs in summer

Everyone files corduroy under fall. They have it backwards. The corduroy short has deep surf roots, and ours is washed soft and made in Japan.

Style, Craft, corduroyJosh SirlinJune 28, 2026corduroy shorts, washed corduroy shorts, corduroy short history, surf style, summer shorts, mens corduroy shorts, Black Bear Brand, mens corduroy, made in Japan corduroyComment