The Roughout Commander Jacket

Roughout Horween horsehide with the raw side out, no lining, and vintage snaps. Josh Sirlin on the commander jacket, on roughout leather, and on the friends who have put real miles on theirs.

Why Wool Owns the Fall

Wool works wet, holds a shape for decades, and gets better looking as it goes. Josh Sirlin on the fall jacket, on tweed, and on the three that get woven for us each year in Scotland.

Craft & Materials, Craft, Culture, Fabric, Fabric Guide, harris tweed, JacketsJosh SirlinSeptember 9, 2026wool jacket, fall jacket, harris tweed, tweed jacket, mens outerwear, wool crimp warmth, autumn style, black bear brandComment

The Lining Nobody Sees

Cupro is made from the fuzz left on a cotton seed. Josh Sirlin on the quietest luxury in a coat and why ours is made in Japan.

Culture, Craft, Craft & Materials, Fabric Guide, Jackets, JapanJosh SirlinSeptember 7, 2026cupro lining, what is cupro, cuprammonium, coat lining fabric, japanese fabric, luxury details, black bear brandComment

The Western Jacket, and the Chicago Tannery That Makes the Leather

Five generations of tanners on the Chicago River, and a jacket cut in Seattle. Josh Sirlin on horsehide, the rough-out finish, and a very limited run of the westerns.

Craft, Craft & Materials, Culture, Heritage, leather, made in usa, JacketsJosh SirlinSeptember 5, 2026horween leather, horsehide jacket, western leather jacket, rough out leather, made in usa leather jacket, black bear brand leatherComment

Seattle Is a Coat Town

Less rain than New York, spread over twice as many days. Josh Sirlin on what Seattle weather does to a wardrobe, and why our coats are made here.

Heritage, outdoors, Jackets, Style, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinSeptember 5, 2026seattle style, pacific northwest fashion, made in seattle, rain jacket wool coat, seattle weather clothing, black bear brandComment

My Special Run of the Leather Jackets

A one time run of the leather jackets, Josh Sirlin’s own favorites, already made and going up Friday at nine. These are preorder only, and the windows open three or four times a year.

Jackets, leather, design, made in usaJosh SirlinSeptember 3, 2026horween horsehide, leather jacket, rough out leather, horsehide jacket, made in usa, limited release, black bear brandComment

Outdoor Clothing Came Indoors

Somebody named it in 2017 and the whole world went along with it. Josh Sirlin on how outdoor clothing became city clothing, and how to do it with cloth you actually want to touch.

Culture, Craft & Materials, Jackets, Style, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinAugust 25, 2026outdoor fashion, gorpcore, outdoor style, technical clothing everyday, layering guide, corduroy, heavyweight terry, black bear brandComment

The Morning the Jacket Comes Off the Hook

There is one morning every August when the air turns. Josh Sirlin on the jean jacket coming off the hook, the white tee under it, and the tweed waiting after October.

Why Some Things Look Better Used

A sixteenth century Japanese idea about age, and why the day you buy something is not the best it will ever look. Josh Sirlin on wabi-sabi, patina, and designing for the fifth year.

Craft & Materials, Culture, Denim, Heritage, Jackets, materials, leather, Motorcycles, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinAugust 12, 2026wabi sabi, patina, sen no rikyu, japanese aesthetics, aging clothing, indigo fade, leather patina, black bear brandComment

The Horween Leather Story, and Why I Build With It

It is not a brand you slap on a product. It is a Chicago tannery quietly setting the world standard since 1905. Josh Sirlin on Horween, and the leather he builds with.

Craft, Fabric Guide, Jackets, leather, materialsJosh SirlinJuly 23, 2026horween leather, shell cordovan, chromexcel, horsehide jacket, american tannery, chicago leatherComment

The Chore Coat: The Most Useful Jacket Ever Made

Born on French farms, stolen by artists, and still the most useful jacket you can own. Josh Sirlin on the chore coat, and the Harris Tweed version he dreamed about for years.

Craft & Materials, Heritage, Jackets, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 19, 2026chore coat, chore coat history, french work jacket, wool chore coat, harris tweed jacket, black bear brand jacketsComment

The Black Bear Brand Rough-Out Chore Coat: Horween Leather, His and Hers

One legendary Horween hide — first a motorcycle seat, then a jacket seen on Yellowstone — reborn as the softest rough-out chore coat, now in his and hers. A closer look.

Culture, Heritage, Jackets, Style, Women'sJosh SirlinJuly 7, 2026black bear brand chore coat, horween leather, roughout chore coat, made in usa leather jacket, women's leather jacket, his and hers, black bear brandComment

Waxed Canvas and "Tin Cloth": The Seattle Cloth That Beats the Weather

From ships' sails to the Klondike gold fields to Seattle's logging camps, waxed cotton is the toughest weatherproof cloth ever made — and it ages like nothing else.

Fabric Guide, Heritage, Jackets, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 6, 2026waxed canvas, tin cloth, waxed cotton history, waxed canvas jacket, made in seattle, pacific northwest workwear, black bear brandComment

The Denim Jacket: A Century of the Most American Layer

From the boxy first "blouse" to the V-stitched trucker everyone pictures, the denim jacket is a century of American design. Its evolution — and what makes a great one.