The Power of Being the Black Sheep

"Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say that a nonconformist is a blight on society. But it has been proven over the centuries that being different means standing at the edge, that one is practically guaranteed to make an original contribution."

— Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.

Every family has one. The one who left town, dressed differently, took the job nobody understood and came back years later with stories nobody else had. We named this magazine after him, because he's who we write for.

Black Sheep covers style, watches, tech, motors, design and the finer vices. But the products are the easy part. What we care about is the man choosing them: the one who would rather own one great thing than five average ones, and who knows why he likes what he likes.

What being the black sheep gives you

• Freedom to go. Nobody expects you to stay put, so you get to explore the world and choose where you put down roots.
• Freedom to choose. The life you build, the way you dress, the work you do and the people you love are yours to decide, not what you were "supposed" to have.
• A stronger sense of self. When you've had to defend who you are early on, you learn who that is. That independence shows in everything, down to the watch on your wrist.
• Respect for other outsiders. Being on the edge teaches empathy for everyone else who's there. The best ideas usually come from that edge.
• Your own pack. The black sheep doesn't run with the herd; he finds his people. That's what we want this magazine to be.

Our patron saints

Some of the best stories ever told are about black sheep: Luke Skywalker, the farm boy nobody expected much from. Frodo Baggins, the one hobbit who left the Shire. Harry Potter, the kid living under the stairs. Jon Snow, the outsider at his own family's table. None of them fit in. All of them mattered.

How we work

We research products the way a good buyer does: fit, materials, construction, price history and what owners say after months of use. When we haven't handled something ourselves, we say so. Brands can't pay to be included in our guides.

Some links on Black Sheep are affiliate links. If you buy through them, a retailer pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Tips, corrections or partnerships: get in touch. Welcome to the flock you actually chose.