Behind the Design: Leather, Wool and Denim

Behind the design of Black Bear Brand leather, wool and denim. Josh Sirlin on a horsehide tan made with Horween, a hunter green made with a Japanese mill, a coat refined from a decade old peacoat, and a jeans pocket cut for a buckle.

Culture, design, Heritage, menswearJosh SirlinNovember 3, 2026behind the design, black bear brand design, horween horsehide, custom wool color, japanese wool mill, okayama denim, fashion design process, josh sirlin designer, leather wool denim, black bear brandComment

Five Centuries of the Jacket

The word is French and more than five hundred years old, and fall is when it matters most. Josh Sirlin on the jacket, and the jackets of Black Bear Brand.

Jackets, design, CultureJosh SirlinOctober 14, 2026mens fall jackets, best fall jackets for men, leather jacket, harris tweed jacket, peacoat, jean jacket, varsity jacket, history of the jacket, black bear brand, josh sirlinComment

Denim and Long Curl Lambskin: The Coat for When Fall Turns

Indigo cloth, a wild curled collar, and two of the oldest materials in the wardrobe in one coat. Josh Sirlin on denim and sheepskin, long curl lambskin, and the botanical indigo denim winter coat.

Craft & Materials, Denim, design, Heritage, jacketsJosh SirlinSeptember 29, 2026denim and shearling, long curl lambskin, sheepskin coat, denim winter coat, fall jacket men, botanical indigo denim, northern dream jacket, lambskin jacket, black bear brandComment

Twenty Hours of Thread

Four days of chain stitching, white cowhide sleeves, melton wool, and eight months of production. Josh Sirlin on the ART Edition varsity jacket, on display in Tokyo on October 2.

Craft, Craft & Materials, Culture, design, Heritage, jackets, JapanJosh SirlinSeptember 22, 2026varsity jacket, chain stitch varsity jacket, melton wool jacket, made in japan jacket, bespoke varsity, tokyo pop up, limited edition jacket, black bear brandComment

The Peacoat, in Hunter Green

Josh Sirlin wore one vintage peacoat for more than ten years, then made the one he actually wanted. A first look at the Hunter Green, a custom color worked out with the mill, releasing September 22.

Craft & Materials, Culture, design, Fabric, Heritage, jackets, StyleJosh SirlinSeptember 10, 2026peacoat, hunter green, japanese wool, aichi ichinomiya, anchor buttons, made in japan, custom color, tokyo pop up, 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