An Interplay Of Craftsmanship & Art….
Best thing I can do is go... experience life and live my dream.
Every experience becomes a part of me. It fuels my creativity, it's in what I design...
My influences come from real life. I'm not interested in stories for story's sake. I'm interested in life—and what wild shit is out there.
- Josh Sirlin
JOSH SIRLIN’S OWN LEATHER JACKET CREATION IS WORN BY KEVIN COSTNER IN US HIT TV SHOW
Josh Sirlin has taken the IWC JOURNAL on wild rides across the globe. On his 1948 Harley-Davidson Panhead, together we roared through Malibuand the Grand Canyon and hit the waves in Santa Cruz; we got thrillingly uncomfortable in an MD500c helicopter in Colorado and clenched our teeth during a traditional Japanese tattoo session in Tokyo. Next, Josh will be taking us to Yellowstone – not the National Park, but the hugely popular US TV series about a Montana Ranch.
Starring Kevin Costner and premiering in 2018, the show has become a must-see surprise-hit TV show – both in the United States and beyond. In November 2022, Yellowstone broke records with more than 12 million viewers tuning in to watch the premiere of season 5. In the series, Kevin Costner, who plays ranch owner John Dutton, wears one of Josh Sirlin’s designed ivory colored leather jackets.
The IWC JOURNAL spoke with the Creative Director of the Black Bear Brand about how the collab came about…. dive into the full story!
I love it. It's wild with adventure and no regrets; it's rough, and has a natural disposition. Full of wild adventures and untethered harshness.
Josh Sirlin crosses the cascade mountains on his 1948 Panhead Harley-Davidson.
My senses are on fire, I feel alive, present, and at a perfect peacefulness amongst the intense chaos.
captured by : Caleb Keller / music : The Last Knife Fighter
The Pacific Northwest... its beautiful and harsh; wild coastline, wild green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains!
I exist in a paradox where opposites collide, the excitement and wonder between known and unknown. this is where you can get lost and your imagination takes hold... this is where my creative inspiration is on fire. I have to design and create as a result or I would explode!
www.blackbearbrand.com
Built For A Life Well Lived ~ A Way Of Life
The Ultimate Chore Coat. Colliding all the things we love into the ultimate winter coat: 100% virgin wool produced special for us by Harris Tweed… Josh has been dreaming up this jacket for years and today its finally here!
Our Harris Tweed is handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.
captured by: Caleb Keller / music: The Last Knife Fighter
The West, the essence of freedom.
I love it. It is wild with adventure and no regrets; it's rough, and has a natural disposition. Wild history, freedom, adventure and untethered harshness.
Freedom... That's what it's all about
A peak at the American west from the seat of a 1948 Harley-Davidson in winter.
(Washington to the Grand Canyon)
music: The Last Knife Fighter
Kevin Costner rockin his Black Bear Brand IVORY Western Horsehide Jacket
its beautiful and harsh; wild coastline, wild green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains!
I exist in a paradox where opposites collide, the excitement and wonder between known and unknown. this is where you can get lost and your imagination takes hold... this is where my creative inspiration is on fire. I have to design and create as a result or I would explode!
Built For A Life Well Lived ~ A Way Of Life
The Ultimate Chore Coat. Colliding all the things we love into the ultimate winter coat: 100% virgin wool produced special for us by Harris Tweed… Josh has been dreaming up this jacket for years and today its finally here! Our Harris Tweed is handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.
captured by: Caleb Keller music: The Last Knife Fighter
Every experience becomes a part of me. It fuels my creativity, its in what I design...
Built For A Life Well Lived -
*** IVORY Western Horsehide jacket!
*** Rios collaboration boots.
After nearly 3 years... I'm back in Kyushu Japan to ride! Here’s a peek into… my Japan.
doing a little product testing of the Black Bear Brand IVORY Western Horsehide jacket… before it was sent to our friends on Yellowstone!
this beauty will be debuting in the coming season of Yellowstone… November 13th.
denim… denim… denim…
“BLACK AND WHITE... THE BEGINNING - WHERE CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION COME TO LIFE”
I travel to get lost, to get uncomfortable, for the experience of simple shit becoming obstacles. It’s when I find myself leaning into life, leading with a smile and rolling with it. My awareness of my surroundings becomes heightened. I notice the beauty of seemingly mundane things. I hit a place of calmness among the wild pace and chaos. I feel alive in foreign environments, and for me, all of these things peak in Japan. read more!
JAPAN: AN INTENSIFIED VERSION OF NORMAL LIFE
I walk out of customs with a huge smile like a kid on Christmas morning. In a flash it feels like I’m home... although I’m in a wildly foreign place. It’s been two years since I set foot in Japan and I’m finally back!
It’s my 9th trip to Japan. I speak almost no Japanese... I travel alone. I remember my first trip with vivid clarity. I was so naive and didn’t even think about the language barrier as I navigated this foreign place; my excitement and curiosity overpowered everything; I gave no shits in every awkward moment. I had a huge smile no matter what was happening. I said yes to everything. It changed me…. read more
Have a great day… its TIME!
Best thing I can do is go, experience life and live my dream.
June 2022 issue: Forever Young-At-Heart
Japan
It’s my 9th trip to Japan. I speak almost no Japanese... I travel alone. I remember my first trip with vivid clarity. I was so naive and didn't even think about the language barrier as I navigated this foreign place; my excitement and curiosity overpowered everything; I gave no shits in every awkward moment. I had a huge smile no matter what was happening. I said yes to everything. It changed me.
My days in Japan are an intensified version of my normal life; the whole day is a dance of work with personal passions... they're both so intertwined it’s nearly impossible to define which one I'm doing most of the time. As I run between meetings I explore an ancient shrine, then I'm arm deep in special fabrics followed by a walk through a buddhist temple while on my way to a tattoo session; finally, my day ends eating sushi with a local chef. It's intoxicating, they are all very personal and all have an essence of work too. - Josh Sirlin
photos: Junsuke Obi / stitched by: Sid Callaghan / music: The Last Knife Fighter