The Flannel Shirt: From Welsh Hills to the American Woods

Welsh hillsides, American logging camps, and a Seattle music scene all wove the flannel shirt into an icon. Its history — and what separates a great flannel from a flimsy one.

fabric guide, Style & Heritage, CultureJosh SirlinJuly 6, 2026flannel shirt history, buffalo check, buffalo plaid, lumberjack shirt, flannel guide, grunge flannel, 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.

denim, Craft & Materials, fabric guide, Fabric Guide, Heritage, Jackets, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 6, 2026denim jacket history, jean jacket, trucker jacket, type i ii iii denim jacket, selvedge denim jacket, denim jacket guide, black bear brandComment

The Sweatshirt: How an Itchy Wool Jersey Became an American Icon

Born in 1926 to replace an itchy wool jersey, the sweatshirt became one of the most versatile garments ever made. Its history — and what heavyweight terry really means.

Culture, Fabric, fabric guide, Fabric Guide, Heritage, StyleJosh SirlinJuly 4, 2026history of the sweatshirt, sweatshirt origin, hoodie history, heavyweight terry, crewneck sweatshirt, made in usa sweats, black bear brandComment

Boro and Sashiko: The Japanese Art of Mending, and the Beauty of Wear

In a world built to throw clothing away, repairing it is radical. The Japanese turned that act into an art form centuries ago — boro and sashiko — and it's the deepest inspiration behind everything we build.

fabric guide, Japan, Heritage, Fabric Guide, Japan & Culture, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 4, 2026boro, sashiko, japanese mending, visible mending denim, wabi-sabi clothing, repair denim, boro denim, black bear brand japan, Japan, Heritage, Fabric GuideComment