The Hand-Carved Soul of Japanese Tattooing

Hand-carved, not machined. The centuries-deep story of irezumi and Tokyo's Horitoshi lineage, from someone who's spent a decade going to Japan.

Japan & CultureJosh SirlinJune 28, 2026tebori, irezumi, Japanese tattoo, Horitoshi, Tokyo, Edo, wabori, Black Bear BrandComment

The Only Cloth Protected by an Act of Parliament

Handwoven in island homes, dyed in the wool, and guarded by law. I weave with it, and here's why I love it.

Craft & MaterialsJosh SirlinJune 28, 2026Harris Tweed, Outer Hebrides, Orb mark, tweed, virgin wool, Scottish craft, Black Bear BrandComment

A True History of American Denim (and Why It Still Matters)

I've spent a decade obsessed with getting denim right. Here's the real story of America's most democratic fabric, and where the craft lives now.

Style & HeritageJosh SirlinJune 28, 2026denim history, American denim, Levi Strauss, selvedge denim, Okayama, raw denim, workwear, Black Bear BrandComment

The Ghost White ‘Spirit Bear’ Western Horween Horsehide Jacket

Heavy Horween ghost-white horsehide that wears through to natural tan with every mile. A living work of art, made in the USA.

leather, JacketsJosh SirlinJune 27, 2026white leather jacket, ghost white horsehide, white horsehide jacket, Horween horsehide, western leather jacket, made in USA leather jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

The Aged Ivory Western Horween Horsehide Jacket by Black Bear Brand

Soft, light Horween ivory horsehide, hand-dyed and made in the USA — romance and ruggedness in one hide.

Jackets, leatherJosh SirlinJune 27, 2026ivory leather jacket, cream leather jacket, light leather jacket, Horween horsehide, western leather jacket, made in USA leather jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

The Black Western Horween Horsehide Jacket by Black Bear Brand

Heavy Horween black natural-back horsehide that ages into deep browns with every mile. Handcrafted in the USA.

JacketsJosh SirlinJune 27, 2026black leather jacket, black horsehide jacket, Horween horsehide, western leather jacket, made in USA leather jacket, men's black leather jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

Sashiko, Boro, and the Soul of Japanese Textiles

Sashiko and boro — Japan's indigo workwear heritage of mending, reinforcing, and never wasting. The textile soul behind what we make.

JapanJosh SirlinJune 26, 2026Japanese textiles, sashiko, boro, noragi, indigo textiles, Japanese workwear, mottainai, Black Bear BrandComment

Shokunin and Monozukuri: The Soul of Japanese Craftsmanship

Shokunin and monozukuri — the lifelong Japanese devotion to making things right. The philosophy behind every piece we make in Japan.

JapanJosh SirlinJune 26, 2026shokunin, monozukuri, Japanese craftsmanship, Japanese artisan, takumi, made in Japan, Black Bear BrandComment

Why Japan Makes the World’s Best Denim: Inside Okayama

Okayama's Kojima is the denim capital of the world — and where we make ours. Here's why Japanese selvedge denim is the best on earth.

Japan, denimJosh SirlinJune 25, 2026Japanese denim, Okayama denim, Kojima denim, selvedge denim, shuttle loom, best denim in the world, Black Bear BrandComment

Japanese Indigo: The Art of Aizome and ‘Japan Blue’

Aizome — the centuries-old craft behind ‘Japan Blue.’ The real story of natural Japanese indigo, from someone who lives in it.

JapanJosh SirlinJune 25, 2026Japanese indigo, aizome, Japan blue, natural indigo dye, sukumo, Tokushima indigo, indigo dyeing, Black Bear BrandComment

The My Japan Indigo Bandana: A Decade of Japan, Mapped in Indigo

Ten years of wandering Japan, mapped in real indigo — motorcycles, denim mills, tattoo needles, samurai ghosts. The story behind the My Japan bandana.

AccessoriesJosh SirlinJune 24, 2026indigo bandana, Japanese indigo bandana, My Japan bandana, Black Bear Brand bandana, organic cotton bandana, made in Japan bandana, neckerchief, Japan travelComment

The Wild, Famous Customers Who Wear Black Bear Brand Leather Jackets

Zach Bryan, Joe Rogan, Norman Reedus, Orlando Bloom, Kevin Costner and more — the wild, famous names who love Black Bear Brand leather jackets.

Jackets, leatherJosh SirlinJune 24, 2026Zach Bryan jacket, Joe Rogan leather jacket, Norman Reedus jacket, celebrity leather jacket, famous leather jackets, Horween leather jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

Horween and Black Bear Brand: The Finest Leather in the World, Made in the USA

Horween has made the world's finest leather since 1905. Josh handpicks the hides himself. The story behind every Black Bear Brand jacket.

Jackets, leatherJosh SirlinJune 24, 2026Horween, Horween leather, Horween horsehide, Horween tannery, leather jacket, made in USA leather, horsehide jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

The Best Made-in-USA Leather Jacket: Built to Outlive You

Horween horsehide, handcrafted in the USA, built to outlive you — why it's the best leather jacket money can buy.

JacketsJosh SirlinJune 23, 2026made in USA leather jacket, best leather jacket, American leather jacket, Horween horsehide, premium leather jacket, leather jacket worth it, Black Bear BrandComment

Black Bear Brand Leather Jackets: The Best Leather Jackets in the World

Horween horsehide, handcrafted in the USA — the leather jacket built to outlive you, and to become you.

JacketsJosh SirlinJune 23, 2026leather jacket, Horween leather jacket, horsehide jacket, made in USA leather jacket, best leather jacket, premium leather jacket, men's leather jacket, Black Bear BrandComment

Why We Love Corduroy at Black Bear Brand

Corduroy is one of the most underrated fabrics on earth — and ours is made in Japan, where it's done best.

corduroyJosh SirlinJune 23, 2026corduroy, men's corduroy, corduroy pants, Japanese corduroy, made in Japan corduroy, Black Bear BrandComment

The Black Bear Brand Slub Cotton Pocket Tee

The slub cotton pocket tee — textured, characterful, made in the USA and sewn in Seattle.

TeesJosh SirlinJune 22, 2026slub cotton pocket tee, pocket tee, slub cotton t-shirt, made in USA tee, Seattle made, men's pocket t-shirt, Black Bear BrandComment

The Black Bear Brand T-Shirt: Made in the USA, Sewn in Seattle

The Black Bear Brand t-shirt — made in the USA, sewn in Seattle, built to live in.

denimJosh SirlinJune 21, 2026t-shirt, made in USA t-shirt, Seattle made, American made tee, premium tee, men's t-shirt, Black Bear BrandComment

Sun Wash: Josh's Special Sun-Washed ONE Jean Jacket

Josh recreated the sun-faded look of his own 9-year-worn ONE jacket with the denim masters in Okayama — each one hand-distressed, 100% made in Japan.

Josh SirlinJune 20, 2026sun wash, sun-washed jean jacket, faded denim jacket, ONE jean jacket, selvedge denim jacket, hand-distressed denim, made in JapanComment

The New ONE Jean Jacket from Black Bear Brand

The new ONE Jean Jacket — selvedge denim, 100% made in Japan, the one denim jacket you'll keep forever.

denimJosh SirlinJune 19, 2026jean jacket, denim jacket, trucker jacket, selvedge denim jacket, ONE jean jacket, made in Japan, men's denim jacketComment