CHRISTOPHELOIRON®

Mister Freedom® MF51 Field Shirt, navy blue & indigo blue melton wool, mfsc FW2020 “Waterfront Surplus”. Made in Japan.

Mister Freedom® MF51 Field Shirt, melton wool.

Mister Freedom® MF51 Field Shirt, melton wool.
mfsc FW2020 “WATERFRONT SURPLUS”, SURPLUS catalog.
Made in Japan.

The main inspiration behind the MF51 is the Government-Issued “SHIRTS, MAN’S, FIELD, WOOL/NY” (DA-36-030-QM-8549), a Korean War era US military cold weather staple. We combined the classic OD wool overshirt pattern with the vibe of vintage USN and civvy CPO shirts.

Vintage US Army Field Shirt, 1954 pattern, issued in 1956.

US Army M-1951 Cold-Wet/Dry Clothing System.

What stands out of the original design is the angled shoulder yoke pattern with its characteristic “X” rear panels intricate construction, and the two utilitarian large chest pockets matched with the wide open collar.
For a custom military tailor look à la MF®, we spiced-up the inside of the shirt with OD bias tape panels, and a concealed olive twill smart phone pocket. The left pocket flap features a pen slot, with an inner pen sleeve noticeable from the contrast stitching on the inside of the shirt.

If the originals were issued in an olive green shade #108 wool/nylon blend, we opted instead for a soft-hand navy blue melton wool, blending with our “Waterfront Surplus” theme and its many nautical-related garments. We are also releasing an indigo-dyed melton wool version of the MF51, which looks very similar to its navy blue mate, but with the added appeal of future indigo fading and natural evolution from wear.

We played around with the milspecs/instructions triple military labeling. The MF51 harbors our new 2020 original “MFSC Naval Clothing Tailor” woven rayon label (the two nautical pennants representing Mike and Foxtrot, and not the flag of Scotland), along with two white quartermaster-style cheesecloth tags, a branding combo visible on the outside from the unusual uninterrupted stitch.

The two darts of the lower back panel were initially intended to be easily unstitched by the wearer to add width to the shirt. If we kept this detail and the broad shoulder cut, we adjusted the fit to a more contemporary silhouette, as the vintage specimen are quite ill-fitting. Still, our MF51s are considered overshirts and are cut accordingly to accommodate layering.

The Mister Freedom® mfsc MF51 FIELD SHIRT is designed in California by Mister Freedom®, and manufactured in Japan by Sugar Cane Co.

FABRIC:
10 Oz. Melton wool, soft-hand, milled in Japan.
Color options:
a) Navy blue Melton wool.
b) Indigo-dyed Melton wool.

SPECS:
* Pattern inspired by 1950’s US Army Field Shirts and vintage CPO shirts.
* Open collar.
* Angled shoulder yoke pattern and “X” rear panel construction.
* Olive green contrast stitching.
* Cotton bias tape front panel facing.
* Two large utilitarian chest pockets.
* Inner smart phone pocket.
* Pen slot/pocket.
* Lower back panel cinching darts.
* Olive green corozo buttons.
* Original mfsc triple labeling.
* Made in Japan.

SIZING:
The Mister Freedom® mfsc MF51 FIELD SHIRT comes ready-to-wear and requires no soaking or processing. This shirt style is considered an overshirt and the garment is cut accordingly to accommodate layering.
I opted to size down to a SMALL for a trimmer silhouette for my frame (5’7/150 Lbs), considering our Southern California climate often limits the need for heavy layering. The small MF51 feels quite snug, more like a fitted CPO than an overshirt, but the medium was much too roomy for my own taste. The size that will work for you depends on your own proportions and desired silhouette.

Please refer to sizing chart and compare measurement with a similar garment that fits you well to chose the proper size.

CHART

CARE:
Dry clean only.

SIZES: S, M, L, XL, XXL

Available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles brick & mortar store, and fine retailers around the World.
Email [email protected] or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.
Thank you for your support.

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2020

Mister Freedom® Black “BALOO” TWO-TONE Jacket, Black veg-tan TEA-CORE cowhide & cognac sheepskin combo, Sportsman FW2020. Made in USA.

The happy Mister Freedom® BALOO family.

Mister Freedom® Black “BALOO” TWO-TONE Jacket, black veg-tan ’Tea-Core” cowhide leather & sheepskin.
Fall 2020 mfsc Sportsman catalog.
Made in USA.

The MF® BALOO Jacket pattern is our take of the famous vintage “Grizzly” style, a popular garment of 1930’s working America, combining mouton fur and leather in one handsome waist-length fashionable coat. Originally designed with ease of movement in mind for outdoor activities in cold temperatures, the Grizzly style soon replaced the more cumbersome full-fur coats of the late 1800’s – early 1900’s.
Surviving vintage specimen are today highly-collectible, but often too dried-out for wear, most original 1930’s Grizzly jackets ending-up as wall display.

The Mister freedom® BALOO is not a straight-up replica of these early outdoor jackets, rather the morphing of a MF® Campus into a “Bear Jacket”, as Grizzlys are sometimes referred-to. The resulting garment is a contemporary piece, easier to pull-off these days than a buffalo coat, yet retaining its vintage appeal.

Sometime in 2017, we released our first BALOO model, in natural veg-tan leather with brown cognac sheepskin panels. A solid black BALOO followed in 2019, featuring black tea-core veg-tan leather (initially-developed for our popular “STALLION”) matched with tonal sheepskin panels. This Fall 2020 edition features contrasting cognac brown sheepskin panels.

Regarding “tea-core” leather, as previously discussed, the term refers to an old-school tannery dyeing method, distinct from the more common dip-dyed method. “Tea-core” dyeing results in the skin side color being different from the flesh side color. Traditionally, to achieve this, hides are first dip-dyed in a light brown color. This is followed by spraying the skin side with a darker color top-coating. Japanese industry experts refer to this type of leather as Cha-Shin (茶芯), Cha meaning brown, and Shin meaning core. It is a sought-after characteristic of vintage engineer boots and older leather jackets.

Starting with our MF® signature natural ‘pink’ veg-tan cowhide introduced in 2013 with the 1930’s style “Campus Jacket”, we worked with a tannery willing and patient enough to comply with our demands and high expectations, and added our twist on black tea-core leather. The idea was simply to combine the patina potential of veg-tan natural leather (a sun-tanning/wearing/conditioning journey mastered and well-documented by our good friend USMC MGySgt John “VEB”) with a solid black appearance.

The BALOO being fully lined, the “tea-core” is initially only noticeable to the keen eye, on the edges of the side cinch straps, key-hole button holes, and arrow-head pocket stops. As the Black BALOO gets some mileage and naturally ages, normal abrasion of the thin black topcoat from wear will reveal the natural ‘pink’ underside, in turn evolving into a rich golden tone. With patience, regular wear, with the expected nicks, scratches, water spills, natural sun-exposure and occasional conditioning with products such as Pecard Leather Dressing, an attractive patina is likely to develop.
Anyone is free to experiment with his/her own method for a natural patina, understanding that actual wear and patience will always beat dragging the jacket behind a truck. I am not making this up.

The MF® Black “BALOO” TWO-TONE Jacket in black veg-tan ’Tea-core” cowhide leather and contrasting cognac brown sheepskin panels is designed and made in California by Mister Freedom®.

SPECS:
PATTERN: An original pattern inspired by 1930’s sportswear ‘Cossack’ type unlined leather jackets, 1930’s “Grizzly” type leather jackets, and other vintage sportswear and outdoor garments.

LEATHER:
* Black vegetable-tanned “Tea-Core” full grain cow hide leather, black topcoat with natural-color flesh side, milled and supple, about 2-3 Oz weight. Exclusively developed for MF®.
* Soft-hand genuine sheepskin panels, warm golden brown/cognac finish with subtle color variations.

Lining: 100% cotton brushed flannel with a 1940’s-50’s-inspired vibrant plaid pattern, discharge-printed. Fabric milled in Japan.

NOTE: The Mister Freedom® Black BALOO TWO-TONE Jacket is made of genuine leather, not pleather. We use full-grain, and not top-grain leather (aka corrected or buffed leather, sanded to level surface inconsistencies). No two hides are alike and each panel may feature variations in texture along with natural imperfections.

DETAILS:
* Vintage 1930’s style, inspired by our Cossack-style MF® Campus Jacket and Grizzly-style American sportswear jackets.
* Fully lined with a soft cotton brushed flannel featuring a vintage style discharge-printed plaid pattern.
* Single panel sheepskin back.
* Slash pockets with arrow-head pocket stops.
* Side gussets with adjustable side straps (NOS metal slide buckles)
* Keyhole button holes.
* Corozo ‘Cat Eyes’ wood buttons, backed by genuine bone buttons.
* Mister Freedom® woven “Sportsman” label.
* Made in USA.

SIZING:
The MF® BALOO Jacket is ready-to-wear and true-to-size.
The fit could be quite snug, depending on one’s body type. If planning on layering, with a heavy cable knit wool sweater and a denim jacket for instance, considered sizing up for a comfortable fit.
At 5’7/150Lbs, I am usually a 38 in mfsc jackets and opted for a comfortable 38 in the Black BALOO TWO-TONE, with enough room for some layering.

Refer to sizing chart below for approximate measurements. Please consider the thickness of the sheepskin when trying to match your chest measurements and the jacket’s measurements. Please contact [email protected] if in doubt about sizing.

CARE:
No specific initial conditioning or pre-treatment is required. Just wear and enjoy the slow patina evolution.
According to frequency of wear and exposure to the elements, some conditioning might be applied to the sleeves if the leather feels dry, using products similar to Pecard Antique Leather Care. Be aware that conditioning should be applied with care and expertise.
* Do not use heavily-oily products designed for footwear, such as neatsfoot oil or Pecard Shoe Care Oil.
* Do not attempt to condition the sheepskin panels…
* Do not dry clean. Even professional leather cleaning facilities might not be competent on how to treat the specific BALOO jacket veg-tan leather/sheepskin/cotton lining combo.
* Should parts of your jacket get accidentally stained from normal wear, consider this a normal stage of the evolution of a garment made for the outdoors.
Embrace the fact that the black “Tea-Core” leather is prone to get nicked and scratched, revealing the natural color under-layer, unavoidably showing signs of wear. Occasional conditioning when needed (according to actual frequency of wear) will contribute to an attractive warm tone natural patina, and a healthy-looking leather.

Available Sizes:
34 (X-Small)
36 (Small)
38 (Medium)
40 (Large)
42 (X-Large)
44 (XX-Large)

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2020

Authentic vintage 1940’s-50’s New-Old-Stock rubber HALF SOLES for US Army Service Shoes.

Authentic vintage 1940’s-50’s NOS rubber HALF SOLES for US Army Service Shoes.
Authentic US G’vt Issues, Size 8 – 8 ½

These have been sitting in our Mister Freedom® Vintage Archives for some years now. These USA-made New Old Stock rubber half soles are authentic 1940’s-50’s US G’vt-issued supplies for military footwear. They appear to have been manufactured at the time by “Ply Co” (see small branding on reverse side), and feature the characteristic WW2 period US Army sole thread and markings, and obsolete Mil-Specs.
Besides showing minor signs of years of storage, the ¼ inch thick rubber is still healthy and bendable, making these vintage soles quite desirable for a period-correct resole job by your favorite local cobbler.

I had sent out my old faithful 2013 MF® Trooper Boots (Size US7) along with a set of these for a resole a while back, and after many miles of asphalt and outdoors abuse, the half soles are still holding.

Our stock is limited to size 8 – 8½. Soles can easily be trimmed by a professional to accommodate smaller size needs. They also might work on larger sizes, according to footwear. Refer to measurements photo to determine if these will match the requirements of your shoes or boots resoling project. Convert inch to cm here.

UPDATES on MF® FOOTWEAR PRODUCTION: We are still currently working on releasing our much-anticipated next batch of MF® Trooper Boots and MF® Road Champs. Production has been delayed due to the many technical challenges associated with our demanding standards, and obviously by current events this year. We do not have an ETA yet on either models, but are shooting for sometime in 2021, provided a sudden alien spaceship invasion doesn’t interfere.

Subscribing to our soon-to-be-released MF® NEWSLETTER will keep you in the loop. We again thank everyone on the waiting list for their patience and support, and apologize for the long delay.

NOS half soles available as pairs from www.misterfreedom.com, and our Los Angeles red brick HQ.
As of August 20, 2020, we are open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, face-covering required and appointments encouraged.
Email [email protected] or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.

Thank you all for the support,

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2020

Mister Freedom® Original SHOP STICKERS. Made in USA.

: MF® “GYPSY” Shop Sticker ©2020

: MF® “SURPLUS” Shop Sticker ©2020

: MF® “CALIFORNIAN” Shop Sticker ©2020

: Vintage Stickers Inspiration, MF® Archives.

Mister Freedom® SHOP STICKERS.
Made in USA.

Alert the media, stop the press, we got ‘em. We’ve made stickers!

Inspired by vintage advertising stickers, the type I used to collect from stores as a kid in the 1970s-80s, a labeling method apparently pioneered by “Stan The Sticker Man” (aka Stan Avery®) sometime in 1935, the first batch of original Mister Freedom® SHOP STICKERS is finally here.

After a bit of R&D to figure out what separates the men from the boys in the land of self-adhesive labels, from the modern home-printed types to the old school resilient ones still clinging to car bumpers and landfill refrigerators after years of exposure to the elements, we knew exactly what we wanted. A laminated semi-gloss sticker with vibrant colors that looks vintage, feels sturdy, lasts, and, importantly, that is produced in the USA. We sourced-out a reputable USA manufacturer that doesn’t outsource production, and voila.

The original artwork of each MF® Shop Sticker is a reference to past and present mfsc collections, featuring graphics from our eclectic woven label and packaging short history, a venture that started sometime around 2006 with the Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co Naval Clothing Tailor capsule.

In this first batch of MF® Shop Sticker designs, one might recognize graphics from the 2017 mfsc GYPSY BLUES collection, the CALIFORNIAN Blue Jeans (see original 2010 blog post), and the on-going SURPLUS catalog initially kicked-off in 2017. More to come, in non-chronological order.

Stickers individually available from www.misterfreedom.com, and our Los Angeles red brick HQ.

Note that, as of August 6th, 2020, our HQ is open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm. Face-covering, common sense, and 6ft-distancing required. Appointments strongly encouraged for walk-ins.
Email [email protected] or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.
Thank you for your support,

Mister Freedom® RANCH BLOUSE, 14 Oz.”SC66″ Selvedge Denim, mfsc FW2020. Made in USA.

Mister Freedom® RANCH BLOUSE, 14 Oz. “SC66” selvedge denim.
FW2019 mfsc Sportsman catalog.
Made in USA.

This marks the first drop of the Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane mfsc FW2020 collection.

The original Mister Freedom® Ranch Blouse pattern was initially introduced during Fall 2011. The design blended vintage influences from the “big three” (aka Lee®, Levi’s®, Wrangler®), along with more obscure now-defunct work wear off-brands, and combined them all with our own aesthetics and wacky ideas.

: Circa 2012.

The MF® Ranch Blouse has a definite 1930’s ~ 1940’s flare, featuring the traditional bells and whistles of “Type I” jackets, ie. pleated front and buckle-back. On a side note, front pleats of vintage early workwear cotton twill jackets (canvas or denim) were not intended as a fashion statement, but rather served as expansion pleats, the stitching merely keeping the pleats in place, easily removable/pulled by the wearer should extra chest room be needed. In later years, front pleats of “fashion” denim jackets became ornamental, at times riveted, fully stitched down or even covered by patch pockets, rendering them purely decorative. We opted for fully-functional pleats in our original 2011 design, secured by the MF® trademark arrowhead-shaped dart contrast stitch, adopted since by a few other makers.
The 1920’s-influenced round collar of our first Ranch Blouse was modified on some of the later versions to a pattern sometimes referred-to as an “English spread” (for shirting), but known to us as the “Uncle Sam” collar. The “US” collar pattern is featured on this “SC66” 2020 edition. A vintage NOS woven plaid flannel fabric compliments the under-collar and pocket flap facing.

The “SC66” (Sugar Cane 1966) 14 Oz. indigo denim twill is an old favorite of ours, making its initial mfsc appearance on the first ever LOT64 model, introduced sometime in 2013. My worn and later cropped-up pair is displayed above, as a reference to the fading potential of that specific denim fabric. Another worn specimen can be seen here. That same denim was also used on both the 2013 “Lot64” Ranch Blouse, and its 2014 “Uncle Sam” follow-up version.
When we heard that our friends at Toyo Enterprises had a new batch milled last year, we jumped on the occasion to bring back this long-sold-out favorite to the mfsc Sportsman catalog.

For this SC66 release, the stitching still consists of a color combination of yellow and orange 100% cotton thread. Our two front pockets are lower than usual chest pockets on traditional trucker jackets, allowing the wearer to use both shirt and jacket pockets without creating too much bulk.
Outside branding comes in the form of a yellow “M” stitched on the front pockets. The labeling consists of our old buckaroo dude on a 1930’s workwear style printed cloth patch. The tack buttons are brass type for this FW2020 edition.

The “SC66” Ranch Blouse is designed in California by Mister Freedom®, and manufactured in USA in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co., from denim fabric milled in Japan.

SPECS:

FABRIC:
14 Oz. “SC66” right-hand-twill denim (aka Sugar Cane 1966), white/pink line selvedge ID, milled in Japan.
Under-collar/facing: Vintage NOS woven plaid fabric, turquoise/green/red dominant, 100% cotton.

DETAILS:
* An original mfsc pattern, inspired by early denim ‘trucker’ type jackets and vintage workwear.
* MF® “Uncle Sam” type collar pattern.
* ‘Vintage’ boxy but trim silhouette.
* Pleated front with original MF® arrowhead dart stitching.
* Original MF® “M” stitching on chest pockets.
* Single pocket flap.
* Fabric selvedge featured on front panel fold.
* NOS woven plaid fabric facing for collar and pocket flap.
* Original “brass” cast MF® branded tack buttons.
* Buckle back, concealed selvedge strap, adjustable, riveted.
* Copper rivet reinforced, unmarked hardware, leather washer.
* Combination yellow/orange 100% cotton stitching.
* Original mfsc printed “Buckaroo” cloth label.
* Made in USA.

SIZING FIT:
The “SC66” Ranch Blouse comes UN-WASHED and is cut so that the measurements match the labeling AFTER an initial cold soak/line dry.
We recommend the usual protocol before wearing:

Cold soak for about 30-40mn, with occasional hand agitation.
Spin dry and line dry.
Wear briefly before fully-dry to set creases, then hang until fully dry.

I wear my usual Ranch Blouse size in this “SC66” edition, a comfortable cold-soaked 38. I am 5’7 and approx. 150 Lbs.
Please refer to sizing chart for approximate raw/soaked measurements.
Soaked = 30mn cold soak, spin dry and line dry (ie. minimal shrinkage).

CARE:

Wash when necessary. We recommend turning garment inside-out to avoid potential marbling of the denim fabric. Wash separately from light-colored garments.
Machine wash with cold water, gentle cycle, eco-friendly mild detergent and line dry.

As with all indigo-dyed denim, temporary croaking (color bleeding) is to be expected, as the indigo color could potentially rub on light color garments and furniture. Indigo rubs can easily be spot cleaned using a small amount of laundry detergent on a clean damp cloth.

Available Raw/unwashed ONLY.
Sizes
32 XX-small
34 X-small
36 Small
38 Medium
40 Large
42 X-Large
44 XX-Large

Available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles red brick HQ (as of July 24, 2020, we are open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, face-covering required), and fine retailers around the World.
Email [email protected] or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.
Thank you for your support,