Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA Western Snap Shirt.
NOS “Liberty” 2×1 Denim (Columbus Mills) Edition.
FW2024 mfsc Sportsman catalog.
Made in USA.
The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA, introduced during Fall 2013, was our first traditional “western snap” shirt and has been released in a variety of denim-related fabrics.
Its fancier legacy is our Dude Rancher today, with more elaborate pattern work inspired by flashier vintage cowboy fashion. The OG design of the APPALOOSA — discussed here — blends humbler and more plebeian utilitarian roots, mostly lifted from a vintage 1950s Roebucks denim snap shirt (SEARS’ iconic workwear house brand rolled out in 1949.)
Our choice of painted metal snaps over the more obvious front closure option of pearl snap buttons — a detail inspired by 1950s Ranchcraft type shirts, JC Penneys’ own workwear house brand — helps separate our APPALOOSA from the average contemporary western shirt.
After the initial 2013 goat rodeo of releasing the first batch of the APPALOOSA in mixed yardages of NOS denims of unknown origins and specs, we re-cut the pattern in 2015 in an unassuming NOS HBT stripe denim fabric (with amazing patina potential), followed by a small batch of double indigo twill in 2016.
We decided to pull the pattern out of retirement this year, and sourced out a special NOS 2×1 “Liberty” denim fabric. Classic dark indigo blue warp, sturdy 10 Oz., slubby texture, dry hand, wide loom (i.e. no selvedge), produced by the legendary but now-defunct Columbus Mills, in Columbus, Georgia, USA.
Following the regrettable closing of Cone Mills’ White Oak plant in 2017, Columbus Mills terminated its traditional denim-producing activities in 2018.
Another sad story for American manufacturing. In the aftermath of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement, a US bi-partisan groundbreaking treaty from 1994 establishing a tariff-free three-country accord), it became hard to compete for our domestic Textile Industry, and even harder to survive with Chinese denim pouring in the US at $1.25 a yard…
Long-standing American brands like Wrangler® — after the takeover from fast fashion conglomerate KONTOOR who now owns Wrangler® and Lee® — seized the opportunity to relocate manufacturing in Mexico (where they could pay factory workers ~30% of what they were required domestically), enjoying as well the less stringent local Environmental and Labor Laws. Who doesn’t like a pair of “authentic” jeans retailing at $40? The home consumer was happy. The staff from the likes of Columbus Mills getting a corporate layoff notice because their CEO opted for shareholders’ profits and offshoring over long-time employees’ job security? Not so much.
On a lighter note, from the looks and feel of the raw “Liberty” denim yardage, the APPALOOSA is bound to deliver some impressive evo results with normal wear and wash routine. I have yet to break-in my new shirt, but will keep you posted!
The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA Western Snap Shirt is designed and made in California, CA., in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co. Cut from NOS “Liberty” denim fabric milled in USA by now-defunct Columbus Mills in Georgia.
SPECS:
FABRIC:
NOS 2×1 “Liberty” denim fabric, 10 Oz., classic dark indigo blue warp, slubby texture, dry hand, wide loom (i.e. no selvedge), produced by the now-defunct Columbus Mills, in Columbus, Georgia, USA.
DETAILS:
* Classic utilitarian ‘western shirt’ type silhouette and fit.
* 1950s-style painted metal DOT snaps for front closure and cuffs.
* Vintage ‘Roebucks’ type slanted front yoke.
* Western style single arcuate back yoke.
* Two chest pockets, snap flaps, mounted into yoke construction.
* Double snap cuffs.
* One piece sleeve plackets.
* Orange and yellow combo contrast stitching, high count, 100% cotton.
* Double chainstitch construction with green color thread “Sportsman” inside signature.
* Chambray side gusset, chainstitch run offs.
* Original mfsc “The Sportsman” woven rayon label.
* Made in USA
SIZING/FIT:
The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA Western Snap Shirt in “Liberty denim comes RAW/unwashed. The pattern is designed so that the measurements match the labeling AFTER an initial cold soak/line dry.
We recommend the usual protocol before wearing:
- Cold soak in a tub for about 30-40mn, with occasional hand agitation.
Sizing on previous versions of our APPALOOSA Shirt has been a bit erratic.
At 5.7’ ~145 lbs, I opted for a SMALL on this 2024 iteration, for a comfortable fit.
The tagged size that will work best for you depends on your body type and how you like your clothes to fit.
Please refer to our sizing chart and reach out to [email protected] for further sizing advice.
CARE:
When laundering is needed after repeat wear, machine wash on DELICATE, cold water, mild eco-friendly detergent. Line dry.
Do not use the washer’s heavy-duty cycle. Hot water and heat dryer are also not recommended and may result in excessive and irreversible shrinkage.
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®
©2024
Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA Western Snap Shirt
NOS HBT stripe denim edition (2015) fabric evo
Made in USA
The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA, introduced during Fall 2013, was our first traditional “western snap” shirt and has been released in a variety of denim-related fabrics.
Its fancier legacy is our Dude Rancher today, with elaborate pattern work, but the OG design — discussed here — blended more plebeian Roebuck denim snap shirts and utilitarian roots of vintage cowboy fashion.
After the initial 2013 goat rodeo of releasing the first batch in mixed yardages of NOS denims of unknown origins and specs, we cut the pattern in an unassuming NOS HBT stripe denim fabric in 2015, followed by a small batch of double indigo twill in 2016.
Fabric wise, classifying that 2015 release in the HBT/stripe family is a bit misleading. The vertical woven herringbone twill pattern is hardly noticeable to the untrained eye (it’s even hard to capture on camera!), and the weft pin stripe not as blatant as, say, classic workwear hickory stripes.
The “unassuming” part is because that specific fabric in its raw state looks like an average 2×1 denim, and will only reach full character after repeat wear/wash cycles.
We don’t resort to factory-distressed gimmicks to make our clothes more relevant to contemporary fashion, and more appealing to the average consumer, we let you do the hard work of breaking-in your own clothes. A “vintage wash”, in industry parlance, consists in mechanically abrading/sand-blasting/stone-washing/laser-burning/etc a perfectly fine garment, resulting in a fake patina that took 90% out of the life of said garment, and ultimately makes you look like a tool.
More on that here.
 “Wear your clothes!” A few pieces of the Appaloosa NOS HBT denim still available from www.misterfreedom.com and our Los Angeles brick & mortar store.
Email [email protected] or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.
Thank you for your support.
Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2024
 Happy MF® DUDE RANCHER Western Snap Shirts Family ©2023  Introducing three smashing Mister Freedom® Dude Rancher family members in finer-than-frog-hair cotton sateen for FW2023! 
 Happy MF® DUDE RANCHER Western Snap Shirts Family ©2023 
Mister Freedom® DUDE RANCHER Western Snap Shirt, cotton sateen edition.
FW2023 mfsc Survival School x Sportsman collection.
Made in Japan.
This is not exactly our first rodeo when it comes to “cowboy shirts.” The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA, introduced during Fall 2013, was our first traditional “western snap” shirt and released in a variety of denim-related fabrics. We discontinued that pattern.
Its much fancier successor, the all-original MF® “DUDE RANCHER”, is our second spin on the style. The pattern is inspired by a selection of vintage “cowboy” shirts from our archives, each with specific variations of a style pioneered by Rockmount Ranch Wear legendary CEO Jack Weil starting circa 1946. “Papa Jack”, as he was called, is credited as the father of the modern Western shirt, and the first “designer” to opt for snap button closure, vs. the earlier 1930s shank button styles.
Our DUDE RANCHER pattern was of course twisted MF® style, and has become a Mister Freedom® staple since its 2019 poplin debut in our catalog. It is today available in a wide range of old school fabrics.
The MF® DUDE RANCHER features the expected western-style front and back curved shoulder yokes, but we decided on arcuate panels subtle-enough to keep the shirt not too “Roy Rogers”, no offense to the Singing Cowboy belting it out on his steed Trigger.
Our playful “M” branding on the chest pockets is disguised as decorative stitching. The tricked-out forearm pattern and intricate one-piece elbow/cuff reinforcement diamond-shaped placket is quite a garment construction tour de force, for anyone who knows his/her way around a sewing machine.
Another distinctive design choice are the painted metal snaps, reminiscent of sought-after vintage 1950s Ranchcraft or Blue Bell western shirts, as previously featured on the MF® Sportsman printed flannel Camp Shirts. If pearl snap buttons are more-commonly associated with traditional western shirts, these metal snaps are a bit more subdued and utilitarian.
Our fabric choice for this season is a nod to classic Lee® Westerner™ shirts, popular in the late 1950s/60s with dude ranch vacationers in search of a whiff of a romantic rugged Old West, and “Urban Cowboys” set to deck themselves out in western fashion alike. In pop music culture, “Cosmic Country” in the 1960s, and a revival in “Country & Western” in the 197os also brought some exposure to the style. I’ve always loved old sateen Westerners, and scoring one was always thrilling during my rag-picking days.
Our choice of black rayon fabric as the collar band facing/shoulder yoke lining is a reference to fancy specimen by the now-defunct classic “Tem-Tex” label and their elaborate Texas-made cowboy shirts. Our recent “Hooper” edition Dude Ranchers — available in four finer-than-frog-hair 1950s style cotton corduroys — are riding on that fancy trail.
 Vintage 1950s “TEM-TEX” Western shirt from the Mister Freedom® Archives, inspiration for the FW2023 MF® Dude Rancher black rayon collar/yoke lining. ©2023 Our original cotton sateen DUDE RANCHER western snap shirt will pair well with any classic wardrobe, and look sharp with traditional denim blue jeans or dressier slacks.
The MF® DUDE RANCHER Western snap shirt is designed in California by Mister Freedom® and manufactured in Japan in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co.
FABRIC:
Fancy 100% cotton sateen, 7 Oz., milled in Japan.
Three classic color options:
a) Ivory
b) Black
c) Sandstone (khaki)
SPECS:
* An original mfsc pattern, inspired by traditional 1950’s western-style shirts.
* Original western-wear arcuate front and back yokes combo.
* Attractive pointy pocket flaps, complementing the yoke pattern.
* 1950’s-style painted metal snaps (paint will chip with age.)
* Original curvy “M” decorative stitching on pockets.
* Intricate diamond-shaped cuff/elbow reinforcement patch.
* Vintage style side gussets.
* Rounded shirt tails.
* 100% cotton high-count tonal stitching.
* Original MF® mfsc “TRUCK STOP” woven label.
* Made in Japan.
SIZING/FIT:
The cotton sateen MF® DUDE RANCHER comes RAW/unwashed. This shirt is cut so that the measurements match the labeling after an initial cold soak/line dry.
We recommend this usual protocol before wearing:
- Cold soak for about 30-40mn, with occasional hand agitation.
- Machine spin dry cycle, and line dry.
I opted for a MEDIUM on this DUDE RANCHER sateen edition, for a trim, traditional western “cowboy” shirt fit. (I’m 5.7’’ approx. 145 Lbs.)
Please note that I tended to size down on earlier versions, so do refer to our sizing chart for approximate soaked measurements to properly dial in your size.
This is how we measure. Please use those guidelines to compare measurements of a garment of a similar style you own (i.e. a shirt), and that fits according to your liking.
When in doubt, reach out to the MF® Team [email protected] with your body measurements and fit expectations to get educated sizing recommendations.
CARE:
Machine wash on DELICATE, cold water, mild eco-friendly detergent. Hang dry.
Wash with similarly-colored garments.
Do not use the washer’s heavy-duty cycle. Heat dryer is also not recommended and may result in excessive shrinkage.
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®
©2023
 New MF® Dude Rancher Corduroy, Ruby Red version, Day 1 of an experimental “Sunshine” treatment.  MF® Dude Rancher Corduroy, Ruby Red, after a month of outside exposure in the California sun, as an experimental “Sunshine” treatment for colorfastness. 
 MF® Dude Rancher Corduroy, Indigo Blue, after a month of outside exposure in the California sun, as an experimental “Sunshine” treatment for colorfastness. 
 MF® Dude Rancher Corduroy, Black, after a month of outside exposure in the California sun, as an experimental “Sunshine” treatment for colorfastness.
 MF® Dude Rancher Corduroy, new and month-long “Sunshine” treatment (only experimental) 
 Original “Stunt Gladiators of Hollywood” wooden truck tailgate from the 1978 movie HOOPER, now hanging at MF® HQ, scored in a California Desert thrift store, sometime in 2021! Mister Freedom® DUDE RANCHER Western Snap Shirt, corduroy edition.
FW2022 mfsc HOOPER Collection.
Made in Japan.
The Mister Freedom® APPALOOSA introduced during Fall 2013 and released in a variety of denim-related fabrics was our first traditional “Western snap” shirt.
Its much fancier successor, the all-original MF® “DUDE RANCHER”, is our second spin on a western-style shirt pattern. The pattern is inspired by a selection of vintage “cowboy” shirts from our archives, each with specific variations of a style pioneered by Rockmount Ranch Wear legendary CEO Jack Weil starting circa 1946. “Papa Jack”, as he was called, is credited as the father of the modern Western shirt, and the first “designer” to opt for snap button closure, vs. the earlier 1930s shank button styles.
Our DUDE RANCHER pattern was of course twisted MF® style and has become a Mister Freedom® staple since its 2019 poplin debut in our catalog. It definitely became popular in Italy… It is today available in a wide range of old school fabrics.
The MF® DUDE RANCHER features the expected western-style front and back curved yokes, but we decided on arcuate panels subtle-enough to keep the shirt not too “costumey”. The playful “M” branding on the chest pockets is disguised as decorative stitching. The tricked-out forearm pattern and intricate one-piece elbow/cuff reinforcement diamond-shaped placket is quite a garment construction tour de force, for anyone who knows his/her way around a sewing machine.
Another distinctive design choice are the painted metal snaps, reminiscent of sought-after vintage 1950s Ranchcraft or Blue Bell western shirts, as previously featured on the MF® Sportsman printed flannel Camp Shirts. If pearl snap buttons are more-commonly associated with traditional Western shirts, these metal snaps are a bit more subdued and utilitarian.
The fabric choice for this “HOOPER” edition is inspired by a mid 1950s vintage dressy corduroy shirt from our archives, bearing the famous Texas-made defunct “Tem-Tex” label. Corduroy western-cut shirts are quite unusual, so the fabric became a good candidate for us. We sourced out a Japan-milled fancy all-cotton 14W grade (14 wales per inch), similar to the Tem-Tex original, in a rich Ruby Red, Ivory White, genuine Indigo Blue, and Black options.
Our choice of black rayon fabric as the collar band facing is also a reference to the fancy Tem-Tex specimen.
Vintage 1950s “TEM-TEX” Western shirt from the Mister Freedom® Archives, color inspiration for the MF® Dude Rancher 2022 corduroy edition. We went for tonal stitching on three of the color options, but decided to jazz-up the indigo version with an attractive contrast yellow/gold thread combo. Finer than frog hair if you ask me.
To experiment with color fastness, and because chemically-distress garments are against our religion, we submitted three samples to the California sun for about a month. The body of the shirts were stuffed with paper and set on mannequins fully exposed to the elements, moved around occasionally, same process as our Sunshine Edition Ts & jackets. These experimental prototypes are photographed here for potential “evo” reference only, not available for purchase.
The MF® DUDE RANCHER Western snap shirt is designed in California by Mister Freedom® and manufactured in Japan by Sugar Cane Co.
FABRIC:
Fancy 100% cotton 14W corduroy, milled in Japan.
Four color options: Ruby Red, Ivory White, Indigo Blue (genuine indigo), and Black.
SPECS:
* An original mfsc pattern, inspired by traditional 1950’s Western-style shirts.
* Original Western-wear arcuate front and back yokes combo.
* Attractive pointy pocket flaps, complementing the yoke pattern.
* 1950’s-style painted metal snaps (paint will chip with age.)
* Tonal stitching. (Indigo version features fancy yellow/orange combo contrast stitching)
* Original curvy “M” decorative stitching on pockets.
* Intricate diamond-shaped cuff/elbow reinforcement patch.
* Vintage style side gussets.
* Rounded shirt tails.
* 100% cotton hi-count stitching.
* Original MF® mfsc “TRUCK STOP” woven label, blending well with our “HOOPER” storyline.
* Made in Japan, slowly produced.
SIZING/FIT:
The corduroy MF® DUDE RANCHER comes RAW/unwashed. This shirt is cut so that the measurements match the labeling after an initial cold soak/line dry.
We recommend this usual protocol before wearing:
- Cold soak for about 30-40mn, with occasional hand agitation.
- Spin dry and line dry.
- Hang until fully dry.
I opted for a MEDIUM on this corduroy version of the DUDE RANCHER, for a trim, traditional western “cowboy” shirt fit. (I’m 5.7’’ approx. 145 Lbs.)
Please note that I sized down on earlier versions, so do refer to sizing chart for approximate soaked measurements to properly dial in your size.
This is how we measure. Please use those guidelines to compare measurements of a garment of a similar style you own (i.e. a shirt), and that fits according to your liking.
When in doubt, reach out to the MF® Team [email protected] with your body measurements and fit expectations to get educated sizing recommendations.
CARE:
Machine wash on DELICATE, cold water, mild eco-friendly detergent. Hang dry.
Wash with similarly-colored garments.
Do not use the washer’s heavy-duty cycle. Heat dryer is also not recommended and may result in excessive shrinkage.
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®
©2023
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