 
 
Limited Edition Nihon tourist T-shirt: “I SURVIVED JAPAN 9.0 AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY SHIRT”
I’ll try to be brief.
We are all getting depressed by the on-going dramas unfolding in Japan since March 11th 2011.
As a small and humble token of appreciation of a People, and respect of a Country I personally owe so much to, here is what we cooked up at work:
We hand stenciled 15 custom numbered T-shirts, with original artwork inspired by not-so-serious“tourist” type 1960’s-70’s graphic T-shirts. The recent events are obviously a non laughing matter, but some ‘lightness’ is the only remedy i have found against the daily flow of bad news and alarming updates…
Mister Freedom will be donating ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the sale of each shirt to the American Red Cross, who will properly dispatch the funds to help those affected by the recent 9.0 earthquake in Japan and Tsunami throughout the Pacific. The MF donation for the FULL AMOUNT, $100.00/shirt, will be made on the day of your purchase, and official receipts will be available on demand.
Of course we don’t expect you to be wearing the shirts, if you were not there when the 9.0 hit… But if you have a friend in Japan and would like to show that you “did something” by sending him/her this shirt as a present, know that your generosity will be helping some folks in need of food/shelter/support. (Just wait a bit and let the Post Office deliver more urgent goods for now.)
We will be updating this post with the name or website of the 15 participants.
SPECS:
100% cotton indigo blue dyed Tubular T-shirts/ Vintage 1950’s-60s NOS military T-shirts/ Hand stenciled with slight variations/ Dual discharge and red waterbase ink printing/ Limited Edition of fifteen numbered shirts/ Packaged in custom made original MF chipboard boxes/ Pre-Washed and fully shrunk.
LIST OF DONORS (we salute you…):
T-shirt No. 01/15: RUMI I CHUNG (Australia)
T-shirt No. 02/15: BEATLE (Germany)
T-shirt No. 03/15: DOC BLUE (France)
T-shirt No. 04/15: THIS SUNDAY (USA)
T-shirt No. 05/15: JAMES SEARS (USA)
T-shirt No. 06/15: GREGOIRE (USA)
T-shirt No. 07/15: MAX RINCON (USA)
T-shirt No. 08/15: JOE McINTYRE (USA)
T-shirt No. 09/15: JOHAN HURTIG café.se (Sweden)
T-shirt No. 10/15: MICHAEL GOLLOTTI (USA)
T-shirt No. 11/15: LEAH GIONIS (Australia)
T-shirt No. 12/15: WALTER CARILLION (USA)
T-shirt No. 13/15: JAMES SEARS (USA)
T-shirt No. 14/15: NOBUKO NISHIMURA Fr/jp design&vintage (France)
T-shirt No. 15/15: KAI FU CHENG (USA)
Size: Small only
Retail $100.00 (full amount going t0 the American Red Cross). We pay for shipping
We thank you sincerely in advance. Call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail john@misterfreedom.com or jordan@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. We ship internationally.
UPDATE (March 19th 2011, 1:48PM)
All of us at MISTER FREEDOM® wish to thank all of you dearly for your prompt actions and your generosity…
Thanks to the above listed 15 international donors, and everyone who applied, the American Red Cross has received a payment of $1500.00 (MF® made the full payment on day 1 because of the obvious urgency. Official receipt above.)
Lotsa love from MF® to all for your support of the JAPAN Disaster Relief.
 
 
 
MISTER FREEDOM® x SUGAR CANE Spring 2011 Collection “Les Apaches”: VESTE OUVRIER
Voila l’été…et voila les Apaches!
I would like to thank everyone involved in making this collection a reality, all the believers, supporters, risk takers and hard workers, especially our friends at Sugar Cane Co for their unconditional support with this new MFSC collaboration.
MFSC Veste Ouvrier (workman’s jacket):
Inspired by early french work wear gear, the first installment of the MFSC Apache collection is a our version of a french worker’s coat. We combined elements of several 1900’s to 1940’s pieces to make our veste ouvrier. We kinda like that one…
SPECS:
PATTERN: An original MFSC pattern and fit, inspired by early french bleu de chauffe.
FABRIC: Two options (fabrics loomed in Japan exclusively for MFSC):
A) INDIGO Métisse: 9.7 oz. indigo dyed twill blend, 70% cotton and 30% linen, un-sanforized. The yarn core is white, the indigo outer has a purple blue shade typical of early french indigo work clothes. Fades, bleeds and reacts to sun light…
B) INDIGO Rayure: 8 oz. indigo/white warp and black weft striped twill, herringbone weave, white selvedge, un-sanforized (respectfully lifted from a late 1800’s swatch of french textile). Fades…
BUTTONS: Original MFSC Corozo natural wood buttons. (aka “vegetable ivory”, corozo buttons where an hi-end option for suiting from the 1900’s to 1940’s). Five button-front.
DETAILS:
* Original slanted button holes, to keep straight vertical closure.
* Inside white cotton twill pocket backing, to reinforce pocket top edges.
* Concealed chest pocket, with flap covering the MFSC woven label (NO visible branding/logo, so you don’t feel like a billboard…).
* Cinch back belt, with original french NOS metal sharp-prong buckle (DISCLAIMER: guaranteed to mess up your car seat, but we figured they have been around on battle fileds and in factories since the 1840’s, so we’re taking the risk in 2011…). The buckle is removable and you can switch to one that fits your needs.
* Concealed chin strap.
CONSTRUCTION: Tailor type single needle french seams, no overlock nor chainstitch. 100% Cotton thread, oxidized black/brown colour.
SHRINKAGE: Both fabric options are RAW and unwashed, and will shrink lightly with cold wash/hang dry.
SIZING: The Apache collection is sized/labelled in french! (all the way, baby…).
92 (small), 97 (medium), 102 (large), 107(Xlarge), 112(XXlarge)
PACKAGING: The garment comes in an individual old school chipboard box, exclusive to MF.
The original oil painting was masterfully executed by Mr. PATRICK SEGUI of RIVETED blog fame, and a paper print of his artwork will be featured on the Apache Collection box tops. Merci M’sieur Pat’…☺
LIMITED EDITION: For US and EU, a total of 130 jackets were made
A) 70 pieces of INDIGO Métisse veste Ouvrier
B) 60 pieces of INDIGO Rayure veste Ouvrier
Garment designed in California by MISTER FREEDOM® and manufactured in Japan by Sugar Cane Co.
Available RAW (unwashed)
Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL
Indigo Métisse (solid): Retail $579.95
Indigo Rayure (stripe): Retail $549.95
NOTE:
The Indigo métisse veste ouvrier featured in the above photos has been worn ‘in the field’ on/off for about 2 months, washed cold about 5 times, minimal soap, hang dry. NFS. Production jackets are NOT distressed and are available UNWASHED only.
Call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail john@misterfreedom.com or jordan@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. We ship internationally.
  
Mister Freedom® Musette Biribi
On your way to breaking rocks in Tataouine? Here is the perfect little haversack to carry your casse-croute…
Inspired by late 1800’s French Military government issued shoulder bag for personnel effect/bread/tobacco carriage (musette modele 1892), originally made of linen/hemp fabric, cachou colour.
Poilus and pioupious often carried two, slung over each shoulder, when in the field.
MF’s interpretation of this old timer is an addition to our Biribi concept.
SPECS:
* 100% cotton NOS 10 oz. stripe denim twill, solid white selvedge (showing on inside flap fold).
* Double layer construction.
* Made in good ol’ U.S. of A.
* Light weight
* Indigo dyed HBT woven strap, adjustable.
* No outside branding, inside flap custom stenciling.
* 1930’s NOS vintage French metal buttons.
* Vintage french NOS metal double prong strap adjuster buckle.
Available One Wash (preshrunk)
Made in USA
Approx size: 13” x 10.5” x 3”
Retail $129.95
Call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail john@misterfreedom.com or jordan@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. We ship internationally.
Featured on the photos is a one-of-a-kind linen Mister Freedom® “Bourgeron Biribi”, available in different sizes now!
 
 
Need to get rid of that muffin belly before the summer, pally?… Go hit the bag.
MISTER FREEDOM® Gym Henley MF 6744
SPECS:
* NOS American all cotton tubular jersey knit (no side seams)
* Lightweight and soft texture
* Wide palette of colours available, blues, reds, browns, white/black…
* Close fitting early undershirt silhouette
* Traditional flat overlock construction
* Contrast placket lining, assorted colours
* Contrast 2 by 1 ribbed collar band
* Baby overlock bottom “rolling” edge
* Metal NOS European military buttons, some models with fabric covered buttons
* 100% cotton contrast thread stitching
* Solid front and back, no graphic (have no fear, the thingy on the chest is a removable sticker)
* Each shirt slightly differs in size and shade
* Made in California, good ol’ USA
On Sizing:
Due to the nature of 100% cotton jersey knit, the shirts will stretch naturally and adjust to the body of the wearer. (A size 36 out of the dryer will feel tight at first, but will stretch out a few inches in the chest when worn, think old Hanes tubular Tshirts…)
Most shirts vary slightly in sizes (due to eclectic shrinkage of all the different knits/colours) but are classified in six size groups: 34 to 44.
The length is an average ratio of 1.5 to the chest measurement. (36 = Chest 17 inches/ Length 17×1.5=25.5 inches). The bottom hem roll-up naturally, due to baby overlock stitching.
For an average and approximate reference (laid flat before wear):
A size 36 (~small): approx. Width 16 -17 inches across the chest, approx. Length 24-25
A size 38 (~medium): approx. Width 18 -19 inches across the chest, approx. Length 27-28
A size 40 (~large): approx. Width 20 -21 inches across the chest, approx. Length 30-32
A size 42 (~Xlarge): approx. Width 22 inches across the chest, approx. Length 27-28
(I know, we couldn’t make it more confusing…Sorry!)
Available Washed only (fully shrunk)
Available Sizes 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 (most colours not available in full size scale, due to limited supply of tubular body fabric we used.)
Retail $49.95
Call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail john@misterfreedom.com or jordan@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. We ship internationally.
    
From the late 1800’s all the way to the first half of the 20th Century, a dreaded future for french draftees and ruffians was to “get sent to Biribi.”
The term Biribi encompassed penitentiaries in Algeria and Morocco. Often associated with the Bat’ d’Af’ (French military disciplinary battalions of North Africa), Biribi was the solution chosen by the French government to tame hard headed rebels, anarchists and other misfits.
Youngsters with a misdemeanor police record, individuals who had tried to dodge the draft (common practice was to stick a rusty fork in your thigh to invalidate yourself…), or just had an issue with authority, ended up doing time under the blazing sun in the ol’ African French Colonies. Fun activities included breaking piles of hot rocks, building never ending roads, enduring constant humiliation such as the infamous crapaudine, but mainly learning the ropes for a future life in the underworld. Biribi made the tough tougher and buried the weak.
Biribi and other French colonies penitentiaries (Bagne de Cayenne…) disappeared in the mid 1950’s, after numerous testimonies of survivors had shaken public opinion, and international pressure had forced the government to change its penal system. The year 1972 marked the official dissolution of the last Bat’ d’Af’ unit.
On a lighter note, Biribi will be the background for a small limited edition group of garments. We will be using NOS (New Old Stock) rolls of disparate vintage fabrics, mainly cotton/linen homespun style early french textiles and selvedge stripe ticking twills, NOS vintage buttons/trims and single needle machine construction. Early French bourgerons (military work dungarees) were often made of unbleached linen or linen/cotton blends, plain or HBT weave. The use of stripe fabrics for early penitentiary gear is believed to be a way to facilitate the spotting of escapees, before they could get their hands on more blending outfits…
The MF “Biribi Bourgerons” pictured above are a sample of our small production.
Available One Wash (preshrunk)
Made in USA
Assorted Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Retail $249.95: Shrinkage varies from one NOS fabric to the other. It is impossible for us to make a graded sizing pattern for each textile, so slight differences in fits are to be expected with each style. Some styles will not be available in all sizes. On the “fit picx” (this is JUST to get an idea), our Lady model is wearing an XSmall, John a Medium, CL a Small. The fits are left up to the wearer according to which silhouette works for them.
Call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail john@misterfreedom.com or jordan@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. We ship internationally.
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