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.

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The Whole Warm Up Suit, Made in America

Hoody, sweatpants, shorts and crew in 30oz terry, with every step done in the United States. Josh Sirlin on the American warm up suit.

Fabric Guide, made in usa, sweatsJosh SirlinOctober 13, 2026heavyweight sweatsuit, 30oz terry, made in usa sweatpants, heavyweight hoodie, sweat shorts, garment dyed sweats, warm up suit, american made clothing, black bear brand, josh sirlinComment

Black Bear Brand Jeans Begin and End in Okayama

The cloth is woven in Okayama, and the jeans are cut, sewn and finished there too. Josh Sirlin on the prefecture that makes the best denim in the world.

Denim, Japan, jeansJosh SirlinOctober 12, 2026okayama jeans, japanese selvedge denim, okayama denim, kojima jeans, selvedge jeans, rope dyed indigo, shuttle loom denim, made in japan, black bear brand, josh sirlinComment

The Northern Dream Vest Turns Inside Out

Horsehide one way, long curl lambskin the other, and a zipper that works from both sides. Josh Sirlin on the Northern Dream reversible vest.

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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

Oita, Freeway, and the Bikes BJ Makes

Every spring and fall, Josh Sirlin rides Kyushu with friends he has known for ten years, on vintage bikes from Freeway in Oita, a shop open since 1986. Hot springs, the Yamanami Highway, and horsehide.

Culture, Japan, Japan & Culture, Motorcycles, travelJosh SirlinOctober 8, 2026kyushu motorcycle trip, oita japan, freeway oita, vintage harley japan, japanese custom motorcycles, yamanami highway, beppu, leathertogs 1933, josh sirlin, 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 Clear-Headed Generation

Only 54 percent of Americans drink, a Gallup record low. Josh Sirlin on choosing sobriety, clear mornings, the details a clear head sees, and the waffle knit thermal henley.

Culture, menswear, StyleJosh SirlinOctober 5, 2026sobriety, sober curious, sober men, alcohol free lifestyle, gallup drinking poll, dry january, clarity, morning routine, thermal henley, josh sirlinComment

The Name Was Waiting: Josh Sirlin on Bringing Back Black Bear Brand

A Seattle name from the turn of the twentieth century had gone quiet. Thirteen years ago Josh Sirlin brought it back. The story, the method, and the Original LOGO T.

Culture, Heritage, StyleJosh SirlinOctober 2, 2026josh sirlin, black bear brand history, george g black, seattle brand, brand revival, black bear means long wear, american brand, black bear brand japan, original logo tComment

Black Bear Brand Opens in Tokyo: Our First Pop Up in Japan

Friday the doors open on the first Black Bear Brand pop up in Japan. Three days in Tokyo, the vintage engineer pant and coat in person for the first time, and a COMMANDER roughout jacket sold only in the room. Josh Sirlin on why it had to be Tokyo.

Culture, events, Heritage, JapanJosh SirlinOctober 1, 2026black bear brand pop up, tokyo pop up, ebisu, black bear brand japan, josh sirlin, vintage engineer pant, hunter green peacoat, commander jacket, roughout jacket, ichirotaComment

The Skills You Only Learn by Going

A cattle drive from a motorcycle seat, eight years with a Tokyo tattoo master, skydives in Panama. Josh Sirlin on men's lifestyle and the life skills you only learn by going.

Craft, menswear, Style, travelJosh SirlinSeptember 30, 2026life skills for men, mens lifestyle, adventure, cattle drive, motorcycle trip, horitoshi, harris tweed chore coat, josh sirlin, black bear brandComment

Twice a Year in Okayama

Denim is decided in the room, with the cloth in your hands. Josh Sirlin on his twice yearly denim meetings in Okayama: the rope dye house, the shuttle looms, and the sewing room.

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The Fisherman Sweater: A True Story Better Than the Legend

The clan pattern legend is not true. What really happened is better. Josh Sirlin on the Aran sweater, why wool owns the cold, and a merino fisherman sweater knit in northern Japan.

Craft, Culture, Heritage, StyleJosh SirlinSeptember 27, 2026fisherman sweater, aran sweater history, cable knit sweater, merino wool sweater, winter fashion men, winter style, knit in japan, josh sirlin, black bear brandComment

Eight Years Without a Word

Eight years under the same master, and we have never shared a language. Josh Sirlin on going back to Tokyo in October, and on what tattooing taught him about making things.

adventure, Japan, Culture, artJosh SirlinSeptember 24, 2026japanese tattoo, tebori, horitoshi, irezumi tokyo, getting tattooed in japan, josh sirlin, japanese craft, black bear brandComment

The Road Humbles You: Travel, Curiosity, and Where the Work Comes From

Being the least capable person in the room is the fastest education there is. Josh Sirlin on travel, curiosity, and getting humbled on purpose.

Culture, Heritage, Japan, Japan & Culture, travelJosh SirlinAugust 5, 2026travel and creativity, living abroad creativity, japan travel, oita motorcycle, curiosity, humility, josh sirlinComment

Chasing the Dream Is the Whole Game

The prize was never the finish. Josh Sirlin on purpose, the long chase behind Black Bear Brand, and why the pursuit is the thing that keeps you alive.

Culture, Style & Heritage, CraftJosh SirlinAugust 4, 2026chasing the dream, purpose in life, entrepreneurship, creative life, josh sirlin, black bear brand story, motivationComment

Why I Chose Gold: Six Teeth and a Hard Life

Never had a cavity. Still broke six teeth. Josh Sirlin on gold crowns, the oldest dental material there is, and choosing the right material for the job.

Culture, Craft, StyleJosh SirlinAugust 3, 2026gold teeth, gold crowns, gold dental crown longevity, dental gold history, josh sirlin, craftsmanship, material choiceComment

The Milestone: What the Tollman Family Taught Me About Luxury

A hotel group named for a flower in a man's lapel, and a friendship that started with a customer buying a jacket. Josh Sirlin on the Tollmans and real luxury.

Culture, Style, travelJosh SirlinJuly 30, 2026red carnation hotels, the milestone hotel london, tollman family, brett tollman, luxury hospitality, luxury travel, josh sirlinComment

What Fashion Design Really Is When You Do It Right

Most people think fashion design is sketching pretty clothes. It is not. It is problem solving. Josh Sirlin on how he designs every Black Bear Brand piece.

Craft, Craft & Materials, Culture, Fabric, Heritage, StyleJosh SirlinJuly 29, 2026fashion design, clothing design process, slow fashion, anti disposable, garment design, josh sirlinComment

How I Started Black Bear Brand

Black Bear Brand is not a new company. It is a resurrection. Josh Sirlin on George G. Black, a forgotten Seattle name, and a decade spent bringing it back

Craft, Culture, HeritageJosh SirlinJuly 25, 2026black bear brand history, josh sirlin, george g black, seattle heritage brand, brand revival, made in seattleComment