George Black founded the Black Manufacturing Company in Seattle in the early 1900s. In this 1924 catalog, the Black Bear label is seen on a wide variety of work and dress clothing for men and boys for activities ranging from logging to hiking to office work. The company also sold bedding, household linens, gloves, socks, and underwear. Black Manufacturing remained in business until 1998, when they closed due to overseas competition. In late 2017, a group began to revive the business and its reputation for rugged clothing and move it in a more contemporary direction.

Caption information source: Seattle Magazine, December 2017 (online edition)