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- Sweatshorts S vs M fit
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Mister Freedom® P.T. HENLEY, “M.A.S.H.” , “R&R” and “Jungle” Edition. By popular demand, we revisited our 2011 Gym Henley pattern, with stricter manufacturing standards and with production consistency in mind, leading to the new classic MF® P.T. HENLEY. The original edition was released in dozens of eclectic NOS tubular jerseys, with all-over-the-place sizing and specs, and many one-of-a-kind units. Total goat rodeo. This time around, the P.T. HENLEY is exclusively cut from our “SKIVVY” all-cotton tubular jersey knit (no side seams), a fabric of MF® SKIVVY T-Shirt fame. Skivvy vs. Stanley? Both are a matter of personal preferences regarding fit/silhouette/drape, and more importantly depending on one’s body shape and proportions. Not to drop names here but, according to MF® internal records, Matt Damon went with the Stanley, so did Brad Pitt and Johnathan Majors (Lovecraft Country), while Channing Tatum opted for our Skivvy, etc… Regardless, we chose to release the P.T. Henley in the Skivvy jersey, for its tighter knit properties. The P.T. HENLEY still features the MF® signature coverstitch/flatlock construction of our original Gym Henley. It is now available in three classic options: a) The “M*A*S*H.” edition (a reference to the 1970 film comedy featuring the antics of the (fictitious) 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit): White tubular body, contrast gunpowder grey needle-out jersey neckband, OD (Olive Drab) stitching and button placket facing. b) “R&R” edition (a reference to military in-country Rest & Recuperation periods for the enlisted man, during the Korean and Vietnam conflict): White tubular body, tonal natural stitching, blue chambray button placket facing. c) “Jungle” edition: OG-109 (Olive Green, Vietnam era) tubular body, tonal trims. The MF® P.T. HENLEY is designed by Mister Freedom® and manufactured in California, USA. SPECS: SIZING/FIT: CARE: Available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles brick & mortar store, and fine retailers around the World. Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom® SCUBA Utilities, “Okinawa 301” left-hand twill denim These came about as we were considering turning the Scuba Trunks pattern – inspired by old school UDT combat swimmer shorts – into a pair of pants. The mission? Coming up with a pair of dungarees not related to the ubiquitous 5-pocket jeans, that could have existed. “Wanna turn shorts into pants?”, I quipped, “Here it is, Barney-style, just add legs!” The Mister Freedom® Design Dept kindly remarked that morphing our swim trunks into a pair of practical work pants may take a few more cups of brain juice. There it is. A modern day wearable blending vintage military aesthetics and utilitarian clothing functionality, as featured in the “Chairborne Commando” star-studded Hollywood blockbuster.
Our Scuba Trunks may have challenged some in the Heritage Fashion community regarding “how short can you go?”, and, incidentally puzzled a few beach goers in my coastal neighborhood for a couple of years now, but its long-legged successor, the Scuba Utes, shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows in public. At least initially. Just wait for the “sick fades” on that sweet “Okinawa 301” indigo left-hand twill denim, and watch the crowds part and jaws drop! The MF® Scuba Utilities are designed in California by Mister Freedom® and manufactured in Japan in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co. FABRIC: SPECS: SIZING/FIT:
The resulting stiffness of the garment is due to the reactivated starch in the denim fabric, and is normal. Stiffness will easily subside with normal wear, fabric will soften. The D-ring waist strap allows for about ½ inch to one inch cinch. I opted for a W31 in the Scuba Utilities, fully cinched, for a comfortable fit (I wear a W32 in all models of Scuba Trunks.) I’m about 5’7 / 145-150 lbs. CARE: Available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles brick & mortar store, and fine retailers around the World. Thank you for your support. Christophe Loiron
MF® SCUBA Trunks, 2×1 “Army” denim
MF® SCUBA Trunks, “Tiger Stripes” camo twill
MF® SCUBA Trunks, P42 “Frogskin” camo HBT
MF® SCUBA Trunks, OD/Khaki HBT
Mister Freedom® SCUBA TRUNKS This here is the one garment that inspired and fired-up our entire mfsc Frogsville concept in 2021! As the swimwear of choice of the Naval Special Warfare combat skin diver since WW2, the unique silhouette/cut (short length, high waist, double D-ring adjustable strap) has long been associated with the badassery of the Naked Warriors, UDT Frogmen and US Navy SEALs. The characteristic style spread to other branches and MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), and was adopted by rescue swimmer schools – AIRRs (Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers), SAR, MCCSSS (Marine Corps Water Survival School) – at times worn as PT uniform in USMC Recon Units, as daily uniform (matched with a green skivvy aboard a ship on deployment during Desert Storm source), even as General Purpose trunks. The style was adapted from 1940’s civilian athletic/sport trunks, see vintage satin 1930s-50s belted basketball/boxing shorts. The utilitarian pattern of the trunks evolved very little though the years. The original regulation model, part of the frogman’s sea bag, were issued in khaki carded cotton chino twill, and this is how “UDT shorts” are still commonly known today. However, vintage specimen suggest that several distinctive models and patterns were produced for the military, some more or less obscure. Trunks cut from a wide variety of fabrics also exist, showing in-the-field creativity. Those non-reg versions were usually rigger-made or tailor-made, using recycled uniforms, surplus shelter halves/ponchos, or locally-milled fabrics. For our Mister Freedom® interpretation, the SCUBA Trunks, we combined details and cuts from several military-issued swim shorts from our archives, the oldest being a 1943 US Navy contract pair (NXsX-35162) issued to a “NASH, R.D”, and the most unusual one a 1940s-50s private purchase pair labelled “Frank Bros. Military Uniform and Civilian Clothing, San Antonio, TX” featuring an interesting underwear “diaper” back pattern. We applied the usual MF® twist, blended all the vintage references into a contemporary wearable garment, and, yes, steered clear of the Frank Bros style.
The waist strap allows for a ½ to 1 inch cinch. Many period photos of SEALs in the 1970s show the trunks being worn with the top waist button undone, belt un-cinched, waistband rolled down. This practice may show a tendency at the time to prefer a lower rise than the old 1940s high-waisted cut, amongst other concerns. Our friend John T, of @Mosquito_Boat IG fame, a salty USMC veteran and knowledgeable preserver of military History, confirmed the practice during his time serving as a proud US Marine in the 1990s-00s, with anecdotes I won’t relate here. Personally, the SCUBA Trunks have rapidly become my go-to PT beachwear, as hinted by the 38,779 photos on my IG feed, cosplaying as a half-naked weekend warrior peddling wares. The MF® SCUBA TRUNKS are a re-imagined classic designed in California by Mister Freedom® and manufactured in Japan in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co. FABRICS: b) BR (Buzz Rickson’s) Gold “Tiger Stripes” camo printed all-cotton twill, 1960s-inspired TSP pattern (same fabric as our Tiger Advisor Jacket). Inside waistband cut from contrast signal orange NOS cotton twill. c) OD/Khaki combo HBT (Herringbone Twill), 100% cotton (same fabric as our HBT Raiders Fatigues) d) BR (Buzz Rickson’s) P42 “frogskin” double-sided camo pattern, all-cotton HBT, reversible, constructed jungle (green) side out, also wearable with beach (beige) side out (same fabric as our Map Shirt) SPECS: SIZING/FIT:
The D-ring waist strap allows for a one inch ~ ½ inch cinch. I wear a W32 in all models, and can get away with a W31 in the “Army” denim version. I’m about 5’7 / 145-150 lbs. CARE: Available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles brick & mortar store, and fine retailers around the World. Christophe Loiron |
