Blackwing 651: Behind the Design
The Blackwing 651 is a tribute to Bruce Lee and his philosophy of simplicity, directness, and freedom. We worked closely with the Lee family on the design of the pencil, which is an ode to one of Bruce Lee’s most iconic outfits (and one that he designed himself). It also draws inspiration from Bruce Lee’s own hybrid expression of martial arts and philosophy named “Jeet Kune Do.”
Bruce Lee cemented himself as a martial arts and international movie star following the outstanding success of his films, “Big Boss” and “Fists of Fury.” Both of those films shattered international box office records and helped establish Bruce Lee as a household name. In 1972, Bruce Lee began development and principal shooting on his next project, “Game of Death,” in which he was set to write, produce, direct, and act.
Before his untimely death in 1973, Bruce Lee filmed over 100 minutes of footage for “Game of Death” including the famous fight scene between him and NBA Hall of Fame Star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The main premise of the film was to highlight Bruce’s Jeet Kune Do martial arts philosophies while exposing his opponents’ flaws. Using the original footage filmed in 1972, “Game of Death” was posthumously released in 1978.
Bruce Lee in his iconic outfit from “Game of Death” (1978) 
Bruce Lee in his signature yellow & black jumpsuit from “Game of Death” (1978)
Today, Bruce Lee’s yellow and black jumpsuit worn in “Game of Death” is one of the most iconic outfits in film history. It has been mimicked and referenced in countless movies, tv shows, and video games. The “Game of Death” outfit has gone on to represent Bruce Lee’s signature look, synonymous with the actor.
As the legend goes, Bruce finalized the yellow and black jumpsuit to best showcase the daunting size of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s footprint striking the suit during their famous fight scene. In designing the jumpsuit, Bruce wanted it to be emblematic of his martial arts philosophy and representative of Jeet Kune Do, “the form with no form.” The outfit was a direct expression of his fluidity in combat and not being bound to any specific style.
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