Mister Freedom® Campus jacket, natural veg-tan cowhide, Special “SUNSHINE” Edition. Made in USA, suntanned in California.

Lot.36A MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.36B MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

 

Lot.38A MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.38B MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

 

Lot.40A MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.40B MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.40C MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.40D MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.40E MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.40G MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

 

Lot.42A MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42B MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42C MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42D MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42E MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42F MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42G MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42H MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.42K MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

 

 

Lot.44A MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.44B MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

Lot.44C MF® Campus “SUNSHINE” Jacket.

 

Mister Freedom® CAMPUS Jacket  “Sunshine” edition.
‘The Sportsman’ catalog.
Made in USA.

We thought a bit of sunshine wouldn’t be unwelcomed these days!
This is a project we actually started developing a while back, occasionally supplying costume designers and stylists with unique specimen for the movie or entertainment industry over the years. We figured some of you might also enjoy these, so they are now documented.
This small select grouping of natural veg-tanned MF® Campus jackets have all received a special outdoor treatment over several months, bathing under our lovely California sunshine and conditioned with ample doses of patience and elbow grease!
The whole process is a bit more involved than just sticking a pale out-of-box Campus Jacket on a hanger in the sun, and watch it magically morph into a golden beauty. The desirable warm orange tones characteristic of old vintage “cossack” type jackets are usually the result of 90 years of wear, neglect, exposure to the elements, … not just suntanning. Additionally, while exposure is key, if the jacket is left too long outside, the sun is more likely to bleach out the golden tones than darken them. Timing is important, and none of the process is an exact science.

Our friend John VEB V has documented his journey with his own Campus early on, and with outstanding results. We pretty much followed a similar procedure for this “Sunshine” batch, without the wearing part. Here is a summery of the high-maintenance process:
1) We set the veg-tanned Campus on a bust form outside, stuffed the arms and body with paper to avoid un-natural tan lines and fold marks. Let the jacket sit outside for several days, rotating it around, exposing all covered areas (under collar, arm pits, side gussets, etc…) From its initial natural pale pink color, a ‘copper pink’ gradually develops…
2) After some time, depending on weather and according to visible results, we generously wiped the entire jacket with a clean, damp cloth. This tends to bring the skin side of the leather “to life”, somewhat sealing it from future water spots. Each leather panel will react differently to water, some slightly shrinking, some slightly stretching, creating natural torquing and subtle seam puckering.
Briefly putting the jacket on to set some natural creases is an option at this stage, but stuffing/shaping it again a key step.
3) Let the sun do its thing again for several days, moving the jacket around a few times a day.
4) When the leather has taken a darker tone and looks ‘thirsty’, condition the entire jacket by hand-rubbing every panel and seams with a combination of Pecard Leather Dressing, saddle conditioner, and our own secret sauce. Rub, rub, rub… all along making sure to not apply conditioner to the corduroy facing nor to the flesh side.
5) Let the sun dry-up the leather again, then repeat steps above according to results and desired effect… This can take months, and feels like a full-time job after a while!

Each Campus specimen reacts differently to this whole process, according to the specifics of the hides used in the construction, which part of a hide each panel is cut from, the leather grain, the amount of conditioning and rubbing, length of exposure, UV levels, etc… Some hides tan much faster than others, some develop warmer tones than others, giving each jacket its own character.
Because of their uniqueness after this treatment, we are providing measurements for each jacket, following our usual sizing method.

Please note that we just wanted to kick-start the process of a natural patina, not ‘distress’ the jacket or mimic a vintage patina. These few select MF® Campus jackets “Sunshine” edition definitely remain a DIY project for the future owner, they have 100% life left in them, as they have not been weakened by industrial “vintage” distressing.
Actually wearing the garment is the only way to develop an authentic wear-and-tear patina, arm creasing, daily nicks and scratches, natural staining, leather stretching and cracking, … eventually achieving the ultimate lived-in patina that tends to make well-made ‘heritage’ garments more valuable and appealing used than new. It definitely contributes to our MF® humble rags maintaining their resale value, keeping them cherished as heirlooms and away from fast-fashion landfills.

We are offering a few limited sizes for now, and inventory will be according to our ability to process more, time, weather, etc… Again, some of these “Sunshine” specimen have actually started their high-maintenance tanning/conditioning journey more than a year ago, not exactly a click away on Amazon for restock! New inventory will be added to this post when available.

If interested in the style and design background of the original Mister Freedom® Campus Jacket, please refer to the original 2013 post for the full specs.

The naturally “aged” MF® Campus Jacket “SUNSHINE” edition in veg-tanned cowhide leather is designed, made, and organically processed in California by Mister Freedom®.

Limited sizes soon available from www.misterfreedom.com
These few Campus “SUNSHINE” Jackets are not part of the on-going sale.

Thank you for your support.

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2020

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