1. 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

    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...
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  2. Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: Getting Through Winter 2025
    Collage of silhouettes of two white figures climbing a snowy mountain

    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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  3. Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Summer Roots & Strings Playlist
    Image of person wearing straw hat holding an old concert ticket

    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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  4. Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Spring Sounds
    Man with arms crossed in front of a white brick wall

    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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  5. Read more: Behind the Stitch: The No. 609 Backpack Tote
    Man posing with No. 609 Backpack Tote in Brush Brown

    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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  6. Read more: Billykirk Mixtape: 2024 Late Winter Mellow Down
    Man in hat with glasses in front of a wooden door with Billykirk Mixtape

    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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  7. Read more: Product Flashback: No. 092 Card Case
    Front and back GIF of fifteen No. 092 Card Cases

    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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  8. Read more: Horween Leather Company: Waxed Flesh Leather
    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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  9. Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 211 Bike Frame Pouch
    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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  10. Read more: Friends of Billykirk: DeCarlos Morse
    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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  11. Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 486 Schoolboy Satchel
    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...
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  12. Read more: Billykirk - Spring Studio Playlist
    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...
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  13. Read more: Product Spotlight: No. 117 Mechanic's Belt
    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 ...
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  14. Read more: Billykirk - Winter Studio Playlist
    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...
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  15. Read more: How to Re-wax Your Billykirk Canvas Bag
    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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  16. Read more: Pencils Made in the USA Since 1916
    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...
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  17. Read more: Q&A with Pink’s Inks (aka Pink Sinks)
    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...
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  18. Read more: A Brief History of Colonial Currency in America
    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...
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  19. 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

    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,...
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  20. Read more: PSA: Disinfecting & Conditioning Your Leather Goods
    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...
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  21. Read more: Woodland Camo: Nostalgia Takes A New Form
    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 ...
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  22. Read more: Murder on the Orient Express Sweepstakes
    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...
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  23. Read more: A Backpack Designed for Coffee Lovers
    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...
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  24. Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Nyugen Smith
    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...
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  25. Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Angus Vail
    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 ...
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  26. 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”

    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 ...
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  27. Read more: The Thornproof Wool Collection
    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 ...
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  28. Read more: What is Natural Leather?
    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 ...
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  29. Read more: Leather Tanning Techniques
    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...
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  30. Read more: Friends of Billykirk: Aaron Ruff
    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...
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  31. Read more: Billykirk x Uncrate Blackout Collection
    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...
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  32. Read more: We're Back Folks!
    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...
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  33. Read more: Want to be in our coffee table book?
    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...
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  34. Read more: Look good, write well: 4 gifts for writers in 2014
    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...
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  35. Read more: New Year's Day Sale: Leather trays, for an organized 2014
    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 ...
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  36. Read more: Happy customers: Satisfied by Billykirk bags this holiday season
    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 ...
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  37. Read more: Happy Holiday Wishes
    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...
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  38. Read more: Leather boxes for simple wrapping with style
    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...
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  39. Read more: Billykirk Worn in: Photos of a well-aged leather wallet
    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 ...
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  40. Read more: Concrete paperweights: Sturdy, Solid Style
    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...
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  41. 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’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...
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  42. 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 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...
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  43. Read more: Discount leather bags & more: Black Friday with Billykirk
    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...
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  44. Read more: Inside look: Classic & limited edition trucker wallets
    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 ...
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  45. Read more: Billykirk & American Made Matters Day
    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...
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  46. Read more: Seen (& heard) in Boston: Leather satchels for a stylish commute
    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 ...
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