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Read more: One Claw Hook, Three Eras: How a WWII Rifle Sling Inspired a Century of American Leather
One Claw Hook, Three Eras: How a WWII Rifle Sling Inspired a Century of American Leather
At Billykirk, we have always drawn inspiration from vintage militaria. The craftsmanship, the honesty of function, the materials built to survive f...Read more
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Read more: One Claw Hook, Three Eras: How a WWII Rifle Sling Inspired a Century of American Leather
One Claw Hook, Three Eras: How a WWII Rifle Sling Inspired a Century of American Leather
At Billykirk, we have always drawn inspiration from vintage militaria. The craftsmanship, the honesty of function, the materials built to survive f...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: Getting Through Winter 2025
Billykirk Mixtape: Getting Through Winter 2025
While winter's chill lingers here in NJ, hopefully these tunes can bring you some warmth and joy as we slowly head into spring. As Oscar Wilde said, "Wisdom comes with winters." Here's hoping we will all be a bit wiser.
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Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Summer Roots & Strings Playlist
Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Summer Roots & Strings Playlist
This playlist features music that holds a special place deep in my soul. Maybe it's my Irish roots, Tennessee upbringing, or my dad's time playing upright bass in the Memphis folk/country band, Bittersweet Singers.
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Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Spring Sounds
Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Spring Sounds
I love singing out loud. It’s one of my favorite things about music. But, in my art studio, where the walls don't reach the ceiling, I must be a good neighbor and suppress the urge.
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Read more: Behind the Stitch: The No. 609 Backpack Tote
Behind the Stitch: The No. 609 Backpack Tote
Lightweight, versatile, slim — a mainstay in our Standard Issue Collection. The No. 609 is designed with our signature water repellent waxed canvas and accented with black, tumbled veg tan leather, both defining features of our Standard Issue collection.
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Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Winter Mellow Down
Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Winter Mellow Down
My music taste spans across many genres, but my first love is the alt-country and indie music that shaped my high school and college years at the University of Minnesota.
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Read more: Product Flashback: No. 092 Card Case
Product Flashback: No. 092 Card Case
Few items in our collection rival the popularity of our No. 092 Card Case. The concept for the design emerged more than two decades ago in 2002.
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Read more: Horween Leather Company: Waxed Flesh Leather
Horween Leather Company: Waxed Flesh Leather
Few leathers have a storied and heroic past like the waxed flesh leathers made in Chicago by Horween Leather Company.
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Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 211 Bike Frame Pouch
Product Spotlight: No. 211 Bike Frame Pouch
Ever since I got my first decent BMX bike in the 1980s (a Chrome Raleigh Rampar with all the fixings), I have always had a bike under me.
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Read more: Friends of Billykirk: DeCarlos Morse
Friends of Billykirk: DeCarlos Morse
If you live in downtown Jersey City you have likely crossed paths with the dapper gent, DeCarlos Morse, the owner of DeCarlos Bespoke.
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Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 486 Schoolboy Satchel
Product Spotlight: No. 486 Schoolboy Satchel
I have always been a fan of the iconic English satchel with its classic good looks and utilitarian design. In the mid 20th century, no schoolboy o...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk - Spring Studio Playlist
Billykirk - Spring Studio Playlist
GILLIGAN by Kirkland Bray Billykirk - Spring Studio Playlist I know I’m not the only one excited about warmer weather and longer days. Here’s t...Read more -
Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 117 Mechanic's Belt
Product Spotlight: No. 117 Mechanic's Belt
Kirk, Arnold, and Chris at Aaron's Manufacturing in DT Los Angeles. 2015. This year, we are adding a product spotlight email to the mix. First up ...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk - Winter Studio Playlist
Billykirk - Winter Studio Playlist
I have a tendency to sing out loud in the studio, probably to the displeasure of those around me. When the song is good, I just can’t help it! Once...Read more -
Read more: How to Re-wax Your Billykirk Canvas Bag
How to Re-wax Your Billykirk Canvas Bag
A guide for maintaining waxed canvas bags — blending family heritage, craftsmanship, and detailed steps to re-wax for lasting durability.
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Read more: Pencils Made in the USA Since 1916
Pencils Made in the USA Since 1916
Musgrave Pencil Company is a family-owned pencil factory founded in 1916 and located in Shelbyville, Tennessee. When we were searching for a penc...Read more -
Read more: Q&A with Pink’s Inks (aka Pink Sinks)
Q&A with Pink’s Inks (aka Pink Sinks)
Chris sat down with screen printer Dylan Houser of Pink’s Inks at his Philadelphia shop to ask him a few questions about his business and how he g...Read more -
Read more: A Brief History of Colonial Currency in America
A Brief History of Colonial Currency in America
Part 1: Early Tales From Wampum to the First Mint Buffalo nickels, Steel Wheat pennies, Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, Franklin half-d...Read more -
Read more: Waxed Canvas: Humble, Heroic Beginnings that Show No Signs of Fading Away
Waxed Canvas: Humble, Heroic Beginnings that Show No Signs of Fading Away
When we first formed Billykirk in 1999, we only had leather on our minds. However, within a couple of years we branched out and began making totes,...Read more -
Read more: PSA: Disinfecting & Conditioning Your Leather Goods
PSA: Disinfecting & Conditioning Your Leather Goods
We have worked with leather for 20 years and up until about a month ago we didn't give any thought to disinfecting our leather goods. Heck, we did...Read more -
Read more: Woodland Camo: Nostalgia Takes A New Form
Woodland Camo: Nostalgia Takes A New Form
It’s not every day that you get to revive a memory from your past and turn it into a tangible product in the present. Chris and Kirk of Billykirk ...Read more -
Read more: Murder on the Orient Express Sweepstakes
Murder on the Orient Express Sweepstakes
At Billykirk we are often approached to collaborate on various items. So, when legendary New York based apothecary company, C.O. Bigelow asked us t...Read more -
Read more: A Backpack Designed for Coffee Lovers
A Backpack Designed for Coffee Lovers
We were recently approached by Intelligentsia to create a coffee kit bag. As quality coffee lovers, we jumped at the chance to work with such a rev...Read more -
Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Nyugen Smith
Friends of Billykirk: Nyugen Smith
Performing the Flag: A flag for a new Caribbean/A new flag for the Caribbean (with Dominique Duroseau) at the Brooklyn Museum, 2017 Photo: Pascal B...Read more -
Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Angus Vail
Friends of Billykirk: Angus Vail
Rendering of the Container Globe at Brooklyn Bridge Park "Shakespeare, in his day, was punk rock," said Angus Vail at a 2016 TEDx Talk about his ...Read more -
Read more: The Brentwood, an Old Motel Turned “Best New Hotel in the World”
The Brentwood, an Old Motel Turned “Best New Hotel in the World”
Have you grown tired of dreary, commercial hotels? You’re not alone. Traveling is one of our favorite things to do, and hotels filled with musty ...Read more -
Read more: The Thornproof Wool Collection
The Thornproof Wool Collection
Unlike other tweeds, thornproof wool is designed entirely for strength. With our thornproof designs, we endeavored to make an elegant, understated ...Read more -
Read more: What is Natural Leather?
What is Natural Leather?
Custom Valet Tray made for Lafayette Restaurant and Bakery in 2013. What makes leather so special? Of course it’s durable, can stand up to daily ...Read more -
Read more: Leather Tanning Techniques
Leather Tanning Techniques
Ever wonder what makes leather different from a decomposing body? It’s a technique used for thousands of years, invented and reinvented by cultur...Read more -
Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Aaron Ruff
Friends of Billykirk: Aaron Ruff
At Billykirk we often meet other makers doing awesome things. One maker we have had the pleasure of working with is jewelry designer and craftsm...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk x Uncrate Blackout Collection
Billykirk x Uncrate Blackout Collection
For more than ten years, Uncrate has been a leading guide for men looking for stylish gear, travel destinations, and the latest tech. Over the ye...Read more -
Read more: We're Back Folks!
We're Back Folks!
After roughly two years of strong focus on the development and improvement of our line, we're back to tell you about our growth and ongoing mission...Read more -
Read more: Want to be in our coffee table book?
Want to be in our coffee table book?
To celebrate 15 years of making hand-crafted goods in the USA, we are putting together a coffee table photo book featuring only well-worn Billykirk...Read more -
Read more: Look good, write well: 4 gifts for writers in 2014
Look good, write well: 4 gifts for writers in 2014
The biggest New Year’s resolution for writers (in 2014 and in previous years) is simply to write. Whether 80 words or 8,000 words, daily writing is...Read more -
Read more: New Year's Day Sale: Leather trays, for an organized 2014
New Year's Day Sale: Leather trays, for an organized 2014
Top New Year's resolutions' lists generally include saving money and getting organized. Our No. 309 Leather Change Tray can help de-clutter, store ...Read more -
Read more: Happy customers: Satisfied by Billykirk bags this holiday season
Happy customers: Satisfied by Billykirk bags this holiday season
We’re lucky to have some of our loyal customers share Billykirk leather and canvas bags as gifts, and even luckier to hear from the recipients who ...Read more -
Read more: Happy Holiday Wishes
Happy Holiday Wishes
Today, we’re sending warm wishes to all of our customers, collab partners and friends. Here’s a glimpse of the view from Billykirk’s home office i...Read more -
Read more: Leather boxes for simple wrapping with style
Leather boxes for simple wrapping with style
The logic behind wrapping gifts feels flawed: Spending time putting something together that’s intended to be ripped apart. So we’re putting togethe...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk Worn in: Photos of a well-aged leather wallet
Billykirk Worn in: Photos of a well-aged leather wallet
We design our leather bags, card cases and other items for men and women to wear them well and watch them improve with age. It's always nice when ...Read more -
Read more: Concrete paperweights: Sturdy, Solid Style
Concrete paperweights: Sturdy, Solid Style
Paperweights have been around as long as desks, but the earliest recognized “classic” paperweights came up in the 1840s, and they were generally ma...Read more -
Read more: What’s in store for NYC Pop Up Flea (Dec 6-8): Q&A with Michael Williams
What’s in store for NYC Pop Up Flea (Dec 6-8): Q&A with Michael Williams
What if this year’s holiday shopping - and much of your personal shopping for the year - could be done in a weekend? That’s the thought behind mens...Read more -
Read more: Support U.S. made with Billykirk's Small Business Saturday deal
Support U.S. made with Billykirk's Small Business Saturday deal
Support local, support U.S. made this holiday shopping season. As a follow up to our Black Friday sale, we're offering 15% off on our entire websi...Read more -
Read more: Discount leather bags & more: Black Friday with Billykirk
Discount leather bags & more: Black Friday with Billykirk
Supplement your family’s holiday traditions with goods from our family’s tradition of U.S. made leather bags, belts, wallets and more. This Black F...Read more -
Read more: Inside look: Classic & limited edition trucker wallets
Inside look: Classic & limited edition trucker wallets
The pioneers of America’s paved highways kept chained pocket wallets so they could travel freely, riding fast or picking up stranded trekkers and ...Read more -
Read more: Billykirk & American Made Matters Day
Billykirk & American Made Matters Day
Hello early holiday shoppers! Today, November 19th, is the 1st Annual American Made Matters Day. It's a day to encourage consumers to buy at least...Read more -
Read more: Seen (& heard) in Boston: Leather satchels for a stylish commute
Seen (& heard) in Boston: Leather satchels for a stylish commute
Fall morning T rides in Boston are typically full of scarves, tweed jackets, textured stockings and no shortage of leather satchels. They are less ...Read more