The Northern Dream Jacket Starts With the Hide

Before the lambskin, the quilting and the snaps, there is the hide. Josh Sirlin on Horween horsehide and where the Northern Dream jacket begins.

Craft & Materials, Heritage, Fabric Guide, Jackets, made in usa, Style, leatherJosh SirlinOctober 9, 2026northern dream jacket, horween horsehide, horsehide jacket, shearling jacket, long curl lambskin, leather jacket, vegetable tanned leather, made in usa, black bear brand, josh sirlinComment

The Jacket on the Screen: Movie Stars and the Clothes That Stayed

Brando, Dean, and McQueen made a few pieces of clothing immortal. Josh Sirlin on film style and the stars who wear the Black Bear Brand Rough-RIDER commander jacket now.

Culture, jackets, leather, StyleJosh SirlinOctober 7, 2026movie star style, brando leather jacket, james dean style, steve mcqueen style, robert patrick, commander jacket, roughout leather jacket, horsehide jacket, celebrity style, black bear brandComment

Leadership Is Standing Next to the Best

Shackleton brought every man home. A chain stitch artist has given twenty five years to one craft. Josh Sirlin on leadership, craftsmanship, and the ART Edition varsity jacket.

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.

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

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

Four Sheepskins to a Jacket

A size medium takes four long curl sheepskins and one full day of one craftsman's hands. Josh Sirlin on shearling, on horsehide, and on the Northern Dream.

Craft & Materials, Culture, Fabric Guide, leather, Style & HeritageJosh SirlinAugust 26, 2026shearling jacket, curly lambskin, long curl sheepskin, horsehide jacket, horween leather, winter jacket, made in seattle, northern dream, 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.