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Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane msfc FW2023 LookBook Preview, PART 2: “SPORTSMAN” catalog & more!

C) Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane mfsc FW2023 “SPORTSMAN” catalog

* MF® CAMPUS BLOUSE & CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, 13 Oz. Awa-Ai fiber denim (USA) *

* MF® DUDE RANCHER Shirt, cotton sateen (Japan) *

* MF® CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, cotton duck canvas, dark navy blue (USA) *

* MF® FRONTIER Chinos, NOS 2×1 denim (USA) *

* MF® ARISTOCRAT Shirt, double indigo twill *

MF® ARISTOCRAT Shirt, double indigo twill

* MF® CONTINENTAL Sportcoat & NOUVELLE VAGUE Slacks, “Player” denim *

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co mfsc FW2023 Preview, PART 2:

Welcome back, friends, and thank you for making it this far!

Next up is our FW2023 Sportsman line up, all produced in USA.

Besides the usual classic vintage-inspired workwear and rugged Americana additions, the design twist on the more dressy pieces this season is a reference to French “Nouvelle Vague” cinema and period 1960s European continental fashion, worked into contemporary wearables. Dig yourself the 1960 French version of the 1958 Coasters’ “Three Cool Cats” here, if you’re in a dancing mood.

Note that, although they are produced in Japan, we are including in this grouping our latest Dude Ranchers.

The FW2023 Sportsman line up consists of:
1) CAMPUS BLOUSE (aka Campus jacket), Awa-Ai fiber denim:
Our classic 1930s style leather jacket pattern translated into a woven fabric garment, a follow-up to the popular “Midnight” denim Campus jacket.
Fabric: Sugar Cane Co original Awa-Ai fiber denim, 13 Oz., 70% cotton x 30% recycled sugarcane fibers, white w/ green line selvedge ID. “Awa” is the old name of one of the States in the Shikoku Island of Japan, famous in the old days for its natural indigo (“Ai”). Denim woven on shuttle looms exclusively for SC, very neppy and textured, beautiful dark indigo color.

* Rounded collar cut from contrast camel brown 14 Oz wide-wale corduroy, a nod to vintage Lee® Storm Riders denim jackets.

2) CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, Awa-Ai fiber denim:
Our popular old school five-pocket silhouette.
Fabric: Sugar Cane Co original Awa-Ai fiber denim, 13 Oz., 70% cotton x 30% recycled sugarcane fibers, white w/ green line selvedge ID.

3) DUDE RANCHER Shirt, cotton sateen:
Our classic Western style shirt, in a new fancy edition, á la vintage 1950s Lee® Westerner shirts.
Fabric: 100% cotton sateen, 7 Oz.
Color options:
a) Ivory
b) Black
c) Sandstone (khaki)

4) CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, “Frontier” Duck:
Our popular old school five-pocket jeans silhouette, and a nod to 1960s brown duck Lee® Riders.
Fabric: Duck canvas, dark navy blue, 100% cotton, 12 oz., milled in USA.

5) FRONTIER Chinos, NOS 2×1 denim:
Limited 2nd run of the 2019 Sportsman Chinos “Frontier” edition, with updated stripe pocketing.
Fabric: 2×1 indigo denim twill, 10.5 Oz., dark indigo warp x grey weft, 100% cotton with a subtle waxy finish. Milled by Kurabo (JAPAN)

6) ARISTOCRAT Shirt, double indigo twill:
Our original dress shirt pattern, elegant yet casual.
Fabric: 100% cotton double indigo twill, NOS Kuroki, 7 oz., solid white selvedge ID, milled in Japan.

7) NOUVELLE VAGUE Slacks, “Player” denim:
Inspired by European casual 1950s-60s fashion, with period French cinema references. Merging slacks and denim jeans. Frogmouth front pockets and snap button waistband.
Fabric: NOS 10.5 Oz. crosshatch “Player” denim twill, light indigo moss blue-green color, slubby weave of cotton-linen blend (linen or similar natural vegetal fiber), with a 1960’s ‘sharkskin’-type sheen, milled in EU.
Fabric previously featured on our Continental “Player” three-piece suit.

8) CONTINENTAL Sportcoat, “Player” denim:
Our staple unstructured sportcoat pattern, a versatile jacket inspired by French 1950s utilitarian work uniforms and period casual fashion.
Introduced in 2016, we are running a limited restock to match the 2023 Nouvelle Vague Slacks, adding an easy-to-wear two-piece suit option, perfect traveling companion for your next trip to the French Riviera.
Fabric: NOS 10.5 Oz. crosshatch “Player” denim twill.

That’s a wrap!

Our original FW2023 “SURVIVAL SCHOOL” mfsc collection, CALI-JAN, and SPORTSMAN line ups are designed in California by Mister Freedom® and exclusively manufactured in Japan and USA in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co, in limited quantities.
Please note that the FW2023 lookbook/preview features show samples, not necessarily reflecting quality/fit/details/labeling of the upcoming production.

Thank you very much for your renewed support.

Love from Sunny California,

c & Joe

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2023

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane msfc FW2023 LookBook Preview, PART 1: “Survival School” & Cali-Jan

A) Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co FW2023 “SURVIVAL SCHOOL”

* Mister Freedom® x Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 “BAILOUT” Flyer’s Jacket *

* Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane MF-41 UTILITY Jacket & MECHANIC Trousers, OG-107 Sateen *

* Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane SNIPES Shirt, HBT, Army Green Shade 44 *

* Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane BARNSTORMER Jacket, Khaki Jungle Cloth *

* Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane PEACOAT, 14 Oz. SC301 “Okinawa” fiber denim *

B) Mister Freedom® x Tailor Toyo FW2023 “CALI-JAN” Souvenir Jacket

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co mfsc FW2023 Preview, PART 1:

FW2023 blog preview has been split in two parts for clarity, and is broken down in three A) B) C) groupings.

Dear Friends,

Hope this finds you well, healthy, and in good spirits.
Here is a preview of our Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane (mfsc) SS2023 collaboration, for your consideration.

Unlike what this avalanche of visuals suggests, we’ve kept things streamlined and concise this season. First grouping is a new capsule concept we’re calling “SURVIVAL SCHOOL”, small but packing a lotta punch, and featuring a collaboration piece with Buzz Rickson’s, to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.

A) FW2023 mfsc “SURVIVAL SCHOOL”:

This mfsc FW2023 “Survival School” capsule collection is an original line up freely-inspired by 40s~70s US military survival gear, vintage experimental MIL-SPECS garments, early NASA astronauts training program visuals etc.

Brief historical background of our storyline:

In the early days of WW2, a downed pilot’s chances of being rescued and making it back to safety were very slim.
The USAAF (United States Army Air Force) soon realized that training a serviceman in the art of flying was not enough. Arial combat training was lengthy, qualifying candidates few, so a skilled flyer needed to survive after a bail-out.
A downed aviator’s field experience was invaluable knowledge, and sharing that experience with new pilot recruits was crucial.

The odds of returning to base camp started changing with the establishment of “Survival Schools”, and the implementation by the DoD of proper “Survival – Evasion – Escape” training for all flying personnel. (timeline for USAAF here)

Newly-designed experimental gear was also being issued and tested in combat situations and survival circumstances.
Starting in the mid-1940s, official films recreating fictitious survival scenarios (jungle, desert, mountains, arctic) were produced, and became required viewing during training and on base. (Castaway, 1944)
Swimming skills became a requirement for all aircrews. Survival crash courses through tough physical training and studies of illustrated manuals became mandatory for Army Air Force and USN flyers.
Training in basic survival skills, acquiring jungle and mountain terrain knowledge, exotic fauna and flora expertise, learning about wilderness adaptability, food foraging, land navigation techniques, cold and hot weather survival, local language and customs essentials, expertise in blending with the elements to avoid capture, evasion tactics, …, all lead to greater chances to make it home for American flyboys.

Techniques, technology, and TO (Theater of Operations) have obviously evolved through the years for US Armed Forces, and so have instructions in survival manuals. If what applied to the Korean cold front in the 50s had to be adapted to Vietnam’s steamy jungles in the 60s, the basics and message remained the same after “Survival School”: “you now have the skills to live another day”, Sir.

For more background on our R&D inspiration and design process, check out:
* Vintage USAAF and USN pilot survival gear.
* Visuals from 1950s-1970s US military survival program, from “Arctic Indoctrination Survival School” (aka “Cool School”) to “Tropical Survival School” (aka “Green Hell”), to “Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape” (SERE) training.
* Visuals from NASA astronauts on desert/jungle survival training (+ here) or geological field trips ( photos 1965, 1965, 1965, 1967, 1969…)

: Natick label on a vintage 1970 Float Coat

One may notice the double labelling, branding this small collection.
The bottom woven label is our familiar “MFSC Naval Clothing Tailor”, partly covered by a printed cloth label stitched on top, a nod to the little-known Quartermaster Research Facility (aka Natick Army Labs), a US Department of Defense organization located in Natick, Massachusetts. The “CLOTHING & TEXTILE RESEARCH UNIT” has been tasked with designing and developing anything from new uniforms/gear/fabrics/camo/etc for the US military since 1952. The double labelling conveys the “test gear” approach of our designs.

Again, no replicas this season, just imagined (or re-imagined) garments that “might have been”, with the usual grain of salt and design liberties we like to take with History, and the reassurance that we do not take ourselves too seriously, resulting in garments easily workable into a classic wardrobe.

FW2023 mfsc “SURVIVAL SCHOOL” line-up:

1) MA-1 “BAILOUT” Flyer’s Jacket, Mister Freedom® x Buzz Rickson’s 30th Anniversary:
Inspiration: Vintage early to mid-60s USAF MA-1 (MIL-J8279 Type D) flight jackets.
Fabric: heavy 2×2 nylon twill shell (rescue orange) and lining (1960s sage green).

* All period-correct Mil-Specs fabric & trims + construction/manufacturing/expertise courtesy of Buzz Rickson’s (Toyo Enterprise)
* Fully reversible, Indian orange side out as the main side.
* Wool knit collar/cuffs and zipper tape: contrast sage green.
* Vintage Mil-Specs zippers and wool/cotton pile interlining.
* Sleeve utility pocket on rescue orange side.
* Made in Japan as a collaboration with Buzz Rickson’s.
Note: CL production size = SMALL

2) MF-41 UTILITY Jacket:
Inspiration: US Army M1941 HBT utility jacket + mfsc 2015 Utility Jacket
Fabric: OG-107 cotton sateen, vintage Mil-Specs, 9 Oz.

* Black painted starburst tack buttons.
* Unlined, all clean seams.
* Made in Japan
Note: CL production size = SMALL

3) MECHANIC Trousers:
Inspiration: 1950s USAF mechanic Utility Trousers (MIL-T-4335A) + mfsc 2014 Mechanic Trousers
Fabric: OG-107 cotton sateen, vintage Mil-Specs, 9 Oz.

* Orange cotton rip-stop inside reinforcement accents.
* Orange snap accent on side cinch tabs.
* Button fly, corozo buttons.
* Map pocket on left lower leg.
* Made in Japan
Note: CL production size = W30 or W32

4) SNIPES Shirt:
Inspiration: a revisited vintage 1930’s US Army wool uniform pattern + our classic mfsc 2020 Snipes Shirt.
Fabric: Cotton HBT cloth, ~6 Oz., Army Green shade 44 (AG-44), white selvedge ID.
Note: CL production size = SMALL or MEDIUM

4) BARNSTORMER Jacket:
Inspiration: 10-button Peacoat + 2010 mfsc P-Jacket + vintage civilian 1940s USN “Barnstormer” deck jackets.
Fabric: Heavy 100% cotton jungle cloth, 14 Oz., 1940s USN khaki.

* Classic 1910s~1920s USN wool peacoat pattern/construction.
* Fully lined (beige corduroy for body & OG-107 sateen for arms)
* 1920s style 13-Star buttons.
* Black leather contrast pocket welt/pocket stops.
* Detachable chin strap.
* Tonal stitching.
* Made in Japan.
Note: CL production size = 38

5) Denim PEACOAT:
Inspiration: revisited original mfsc 2008 denim P-Jacket (Peacoat), our take on vintage 10-button USN/USCG Peacoats.
Fabric: Sugar Cane Co original SC301 “Okinawa” fiber denim, 14 Oz., 80% cotton x 20% Okinawan recycled sugarcane fibers, white selvedge ID.

* Classic 1910s~1920s USN wool peacoat pattern/construction.
* Fully lined (beige corduroy for body & OG-107 sateen for arms)
* 1920s style 13-Star buttons.
* Black leather contrast pocket welt/pocket stops.
* Detachable chin strap.
* Ivory contrast stitching.
* Made in Japan
Note: CL production size = 38

B) Mister Freedom® x Tailor Toyo FW2023 “CALI-JAN” Souvenir Jacket:

Next up is our 4th collaboration to date with Tailor Toyo (renown branch of Toyo Enterprises), the Master of “Sukajan”, and this number stands on its own.

Inspiration: This style of jackets has its origin in the naval base of Yokosuka, Japan, where skilled tailor shops have provided souvenir apparel to military personnel stationed there since the mid-1940s.
Sukajan is a composite word morphing (Yoko)Suka and the term Jaanpa borrowed from the english word jumper (ie. baseball/bomber style jacket.)

Following our debut 2015 Saigon Cowboy Party Jacket, explosive 2016 Mururoa Jacket, stellar 2017 Apollo Jacket, here comes the CALI-JAN, blending California vibes, 1960’s Vietnam-made souvenir jacket graphics (Viet-Jan) and 1950’s Japan-made jacket styles and visuals.

We were in uncharted waters during R&D, with many choices to make regarding style/color combo/stitching/etc, and I was very attached to not end-up with an original garment that would look too contemporary or fashiony. And, as the CALI-JAN would be fully reversible, there were two sides to consider!

At the end of a long process – and thanks to the team of experts at Tailor Toyo, the company’s long history with producing authentic sukajan, extensive communication with our dear friend Tanaka San (aka Tom) to coordinate it all, and, to the credit of Toyo’s network of skilled and experienced artisans who hand-operate the vintage embroidery machines – this modern rendition (from a poorly-executed doodle to the finished garment) turned out pretty cool!
Our 2023 CALIJAN looks legit, straight out of Dobuita Dōri circa 1955!

The original graphic pays respect to our beloved State of California, USA, and references a mixed bag of random iconic slices of Americana, from Frank Bullit’s 1968 green Mustang in the streets of San Francisco, to Buck Owen’s cheap patriotic acoustic guitar and the Bakersfield Sound, to Marilyn Monroe’s time on Catalina Island, to 1960’s surfer culture (CA State official sport), to California poppies (CA State official flower), to Blue & Gold (CA State official colors), to the endangered Joshua Trees etc…
And of course, the ubiquitous Joe Greene, aka Couscous, Sleepy Joe, the Dude, …, and actually the only native Californian involved in this whole project!
Cowabunga, says the Dude.

Fabric: 100% rayon fine twill.

* Fully reversible.
* Traditional ‘loose’ two-tone wool knit.
* Vintage style 50s zipper.
* Quilted pattern shell.
* Crafted (this word is abused in but does apply here) in Japan in very limited quantities.
Note: CL production size = MEDIUM

Next blog post will focus on FW2023 additions to the Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane SPORSTMAN catalog, and more…

Hang in there, and thanks for taking the time to look/read!

Christophe Loiron
Mister Freedom®
©2023

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane msfc SS2023 LookBook Preview!

Mister Freedom® x SugarCane Co SS2023 “FROGSVILLE x SAIGON” collection preview

Can I go home already?

MF® Swabbies Modified, Khaki HBT ©202

Mister Freedom® x SugarCane Co SS2023 Sportsman catalog additions

: MF® RB canvas ©2023

Salut les filles

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co mfsc SS2023 Preview:

Dear Friends,

Hope this finds you well, healthy, and in good spirits.

Here is a preview of our Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane (mfsc) SS2023 collaboration, for your consideration. Two main groupings this season, “FROGSVILLE x SAIGON CLASSIFIED” made in Japan, and “SPORTSMAN” made in USA.

This first grouping blends two familiar original Mister Freedom® concepts, FROGSVILLE and Saigon Cowboy.

Our FROGSVILLE saga is an original stylistic venture freely inspired by Vietnam-era US combat diver imagery, military rigger-made garments and period custom local tailor-made clothes, all thrown in the Mister Freedom® blender, where we translate 1940s-1970s references and vintage influences into modern day wearables.
This season, we are bringing in some 1950s French Indochina vibe from Saigon Cowboy to the Frogsville mix, and even adding a covert operation MACV-SOG twist!

For those into Military History, intel on that “twist” – i.e. the secret war happening “across the fence” in South East Asia (1964-1972) – was eventually declassified in the 1980s, and the existence and deeds of SOG unveiled. With the sworn-to-secrecy agreements signed by all SOG members lifted, testimonies of survivors (casualty rate was known to be “100%”) and proper official acknowledgment of the heroic actions of those units was finally possible. SOG stories even made it to the video game market…

So, grab the popcorn, click here, here, or here, …, and enjoy the rabbit hole.

For facts and visuals, check out author John Plaster’s books, and collector Jason Hardy’s series of well-documented printed photo essays, in coffee table book format.

As per MF® SOP, no replicas for us in this SS2023 line up, just (re)imagined garments that “might have been”, with the usual grain of salt and design liberties we like to take with the past. Each pieces is easily workable into any classic wardrobe.

This SS2023 chapter of “FROGSVILLE x SAIGON Classified” consists of:

1) ONE-ZERO Smock (Japan):
Inspiration:
Taking design cues from One-Zero jackets, as worn by SOG (Studies and Observations Group) Team leaders (1-0) in Vietnam (= “across the fence”, ie Cambodia and Laos, where the US was not supposed to run ops.) Initially designed as sterile (= unlabeled and unidentifiable) black nylon rain jackets for operations, they were deemed too noisy in the bush and mostly worn around camp. For our “fictitious” version, and rather than using an (ultra rare) original or civilian windbreaker pattern, we heavily modified the pattern of a Belgium Paratrooper 1955 jump smock and combined it with what a 1-0 jacket could have looked like.
Fabric options:
a) Lizard camo, printed canvas fabric, 100% cotton.
Note: This is our mfsc interpretation of the classic French TAP47 “Lizard” camouflage (aka “Lézzard” , “Lézard” or “Léopard” as the French confusingly call it), popular during the 1950s Algerian War as the camo of choice for French Paratroopers (TAP = Troupes Aéro Portées).
Introduced in Sept. 1950 and inspired by WW2 field-tested British Denison smock camouflage (source: “Paras Français Algérie 1954-1962”, Histoire & Collection ISBN: 978-2-35250-164-0), many different versions of the Lizard exist, not unlike its Tiger Stripes American successor.
We opted for the TAP47 pattern (tan/khaki background with green and brown horizontal brush strokes, adapted for tropical theater as opposed to the darker/greener version of the European ETO), as used for M51-M56 tents.
Our source fabric was a genuine vintage NOS French M1956 canvas quarter-shelter tent.
b) Black nylon, BR (Buzz Rickson’s) vintage Mil-Specs grade.

2) BOONIE Hat “Stingy” brim (Japan):
Inspiration:
In-country made bush hat, using left over fabric recycled for used uniforms and gear (tiger stripes, ERDL etc), as worn by elite Special Forces in Vietnam. SOG Teams would often train off the regulation wide-brim jungle hats, in order to have a better peripheral vision on covert ops in the bush.
Fabric:
Lizard camo.

3) SCUBA Trunks (Japan):
Inspiration:
Our classic UDT swim shorts revisited pattern, rigger-made.
Added inside pocket for practicality. Non-regulation issue, in-country style.
Fabric options:
a) Lizard camo.
b) OG-107 sateen, 100% cotton.
c) SC “Okinawa” Denim, selvedge, 11 Oz.

4) SNIPES Shirt (Japan):
Inspiration:
Special release of our N-3 shirt inspired pattern. Non-regulation issue, in-country style.
Fabric:
Indigo HBT denim.

5) SWABBIES, Modified (Japan):
Inspiration:
Straight leg version of the SS2021 Swabbies, top block pattern inspired by a private purchase pair of 1940s-50s USN dungarees. Non-regulation issue, in-country style.
Fabric:
Khaki HBT, sulfur dyed, subtle contrast color combo accents, 100% cotton.

6) RnR Shirt, Action Packed, Type II (Japan):
Inspiration:
Modified collar pattern of our original MF® x Sun Surf Rock’n’Roll Shirt from 2015. Using the classic wing tip collar pattern typical of our recent RnR shirts.
This works in our story as a civilian garment worn on R&R (Rest & Recuperation) by military personnel. It is documented that some SOG team members favored wearing “loud” shirts while on leave during their tour of duty in Southeast Asia. (if I remember well, source: “We Few: US Special Forces in Vietnam” by Nick Brokhausen)
Fabric options:
Classic vintage “Aloha shirt” style 100% rayon fabric, vintage “Action Packed” novelty print.
a) White.
b) Black.

7) Crew Chief, Jungle Green & Black (USA):
Inspiration:
Our popular skivvy shirt with long sleeves, 100% cotton tubular jersey, and featuring flack lock construction, making a return in two new color options.
Color options:
a) Jungle green
b) Black

8) PT Henley, Jungle Green & Black (USA):
Inspiration:
Our classic henley undershirt pattern, featuring 100% cotton “skivvy” tubular jersey and original flack lock construction, now available in new color options.
Color options:
a) Jungle green
b) Black

There it is.

Next up is our SS2023 Sportsman line up, all produced in USA.

Besides the usual classic vintage-inspired workwear and rugged Americana additions, the design twist on the more dressy pieces this season is a reference to French “Nouvelle Vague” cinema and period 1960s European continental fashion, worked into contemporary wearables. Think Belmondo in Pierrot Le Fou (1965), or Delon in Plein Soleil (1960), early 60s French Riviera etc.

The SS2023 Sportsman line up consists of:
1) “Midnight” Campus Jacket:
Our classic 1930s style leather jacket pattern translated into a woven fabric garment.
Fabric:
16 oz “Midnight denim”, selvedge, indigo warp x black weft, milled in Japan

2) CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, NOS Cone denim:
Our popular old school five-pocket silhouette.
Fabric:
Indigo denim, New Old Stock Cone Mills denim, organic cotton, 12.75 oz, USA.

3) RANCH BLOUSE “Frontier” Duck:
Our classic Type I denim jacket-inspired interpretation.
Fabric:
Duck canvas, dark brown, 100% cotton, 12 oz., USA.

4) CALIFORNIAN Lot.64, “Frontier” Duck:
Our popular old school five-pocket silhouette, and a nod to 1960s brown duck Lee® Riders.
Fabric:
Duck canvas, rust brown, 100% cotton, 12 oz., USA.

5) RANGER Shirt, “Midnight” indigo twill, NOS Cone Mills:
Our original 1930s style traditional workwear chin strap shirt pattern.
Fabric:
Indigo warp x black weft “Midnight” twill, NOS Cone Mills, 7 oz., 100% cotton, USA.

6) SLACKS “Nouvelle Vague”, color denim:
Inspired by European casual 1950s-60s fashion, with period French cinema references. Merging slacks and denim. Frogmouth front pockets and snap button waistband.
Fabric options:
NOS color denim, slubby crosshatch, 60% cotton x 40% linen, 8 oz., Italy.
a) Slate grey
b) Charcoal grey

7) CONTINENTAL Sportcoat, color denim:
Our staple unstructured sportcoat pattern, a versatile jacket inspired by French 1950s utilitarian work uniforms and period casual fashion.
Introduced in 2016, we are running a limited restock to match the Nouvelle Vague Slacks, adding an easy-to-wear two-piece suit option.
Fabric options:
NOS color denim, slubby crosshatch, 60% cotton x 40% linen, 8 oz., Italy.
a) Slate grey
b) Charcoal grey

8) ARISTOCRAT Shirt, woven stripe linen:
Our original dress shirt pattern, elegant yet casual.
Fabric:
NOS woven stripe, light weight & breezy, 100% linen, Italy.

9) BERKELEY BD Shirt, L/S, indigo dobby:
Our classic early 60s-inspired pull-over Berkeley shirt pattern, long sleeve, morphed into a full open-front shirt.
Fabric:
NOS dobby indigo, slubby horizontal ribs, origin unknown.

Our original SS2023 “FROGSVILLE x SAIGON Classified” mfsc collection and SPORTSMAN line up are designed in California by Mister Freedom® and exclusively manufactured in Japan and USA in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co, in limited quantities.
Please note that the lookbook/preview features show samples, not necessarily reflecting quality/fit/details/labeling of the upcoming production.

Voila!

As always, besides the classic vintage style references, the common thread in all these original garments is the Mister Freedom® on-going commitment to ethical manufacturing, original designs, and resistance to fast fashion, with styles that will easily incorporate into one’s existing classic wardrobe.
I have said this before, but I know that you, as a “consumer”, have many options in selecting menswear apparel to match your aesthetics, ethics, and price point.
We are therefore particularly grateful to the discerning few who have chosen to give our humble Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane collaborations support through the years (2007!), sharing our passion and making us look good in your slice of the world.

Thank you very much for allowing us to continue doing what we like for all these years, without compromising to lower standards and fleeting fashion trends.

Love from (usually) Sunny California,

Soon available from www.misterfreedom.com, our Los Angeles red brick HQ, and fine retailers around the World.
Email sales@misterfreedom.com or call 323-653-2014 with any questions unanswered above.
Thank you for your support,

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane msfc FW2022 FROGSVILLE-HOOPER LookBook Preview

Mister Freedom® x SugarCane Co FW2022 “FROGSVILLE R&R” collection

Mister Freedom® x SugarCane Co FW2022 “HOOPER” collection

MF® Cashmere V-neck “Terrence” Sweater ®2022

Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane Co mfsc FW2022 Preview:

Dear Friends,

Hope this finds you well, healthy, and in good spirits.
It is that time of the year…
Here is a preview of our Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane (mfsc) FW2022 collaboration, for your consideration.

Two main groupings this season:

First are a few additions to our “FROGSVILLE” theme, an original collection freely inspired by vintage UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) gear, Frogmen and US Navy SEALs, where we revisit US military rigger-made garments and exotic local-made garb. The mission is to translate 1940s-1970s references and vintage influences into modern day wearables. Our frogman is going on R&R (Rest and Recuperation) in-country this season!

This FW2022 chapter of “FROGSVILLE” consists of:

1) CHINO UTILITY TROUSERS, BR Chino twill (Japan)
* An original mfsc pattern introduced in 2015, revisited.
* Cut from Buzz Rickson’s vintage mil-specs 8.2 Oz. chino twill.

2) CRACKERJACK CPO Shirt (Japan)
* Inspired US Navy enlisted Dress Blue Jumpers recut and recycled by local tailors into civilian “souvenir” garments.
* 9.2 Oz. Melton wool.
* Navy blue / ivory white

3) MARINER SWEATER, roll-neck cable knit (Japan)
* Fisherman cable knit pattern.
* 100% cotton.
* Indigo blue / black

4a) PT Henley, original M.A.S.H. edition (USA):
* MF® original “Skivvy” knit tubular body, white.
* Contrast OD (Olive Drab) stitching, OD poplin button placket, green ox bone buttons.

4b) PT Henley, R&R edition (USA):
* MF® original “Skivvy” knit tubular body, white.
* Tonal stitching, blue chambray button placket, natural ox bone buttons.
Note: A two-pack PT Henley combo is available and comes in a special printed cardboard box packaging.

5) SHIP Cap, solid (USA)
* 6-panel pattern, snap-back, baseball cap profile, inspired by US Navy PX command ball caps.
* NOS Cotton/Linen blend selvedge denim, dark indigo blue.

6) L/S SKIVVY T-Shirt (USA)
* MF® original “Skivvy” knit Tubular body, white, long sleeve edition.
* Vintage style needle-out ribbed neckband & extended cuffs, ecru.

There it is.

Next grouping is “HOOPER”, an exciting new stylistic escapade for us, with visuals borrowed from the vintage world of motion picture stuntmen/stuntwomen, before CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) replaced adrenalin highs and broken bones.

To briefly set our FW2022 stage, the two main characters in Quentin Tarantino 2019 “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Rick Dalton played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cliff Booth played by Brad Pitt) were partially based on two Hollywood legends: actor Burt Reynolds (who actually started his career as a movie stuntman) and former paratrooper and professional stuntman Hal Needham.

Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham (1980)

In the 1970s, Burt Reynolds was one of America’s most popular comedy actors, and Hal Needham one of the highest paid Hollywood stuntmen. They were actually close friends in real life, and bachelor pad roommates for some 11 years.
After 46 broken bones, Needham, who often played stuntdouble for Reynolds, eventually got tired of jumping off buildings and crashing cars for a living. He decided to create his own business (Stunts Unlimited), and dreamed of actually becoming a movie director. In 1977, he wrote the B-movie “Smokey and the Bandit”, and, to convince producers, enrolled his buddy Reynolds to star in it… Screen magic happened, and against all odds, the low budget “redneck buddy” movie became a hugely-popular hit in the USA. The flick remains today an iconic piece of period Southern culture Americana captured on film.
Following this success, Needham directed the movie “Hooper, The Greatest Stuntman Alive” (1978), a tribute to his profession: the stunt doubles, actual unsung heroes of the silver screen. Again, Burt Reynolds was the leading star, playing the fictitious stuntman Sonny Hooper.
Watch “The Bandit” documentary (2016) if you get a chance.

Our FW2022 mfsc “HOOPER” capsule collection blends vintage Hollywood professional stuntmen styles (yes, with an ounce of 70s macho men open collar shirts, aviators, sideburns and gold chains!), classic western wear, 1970s-80s automotive fashion (old school NASCAR garments, Wynn’s gear, 1980s “Auto Style” jackets etc), and classic vintage car/motorcycle racing promotional garments for gearheads.

To simplify things, the usual seasonal additions to our classic made-in-USA SPORTSMAN catalog have been incorporated into the HOOPER storyline, adding an earlier 1960s-70s McQueen in Palm Spring Desert vibe.
About a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, the actor’s Palm Springs home in the California desert was his get-away and escape from the busy Hollywood life. Hot days, cool nights, relaxing around the pool or desert racing, camping trips to the Sierra Madre Mountains… some of that lifestyle was famously documented at the time by photographers William Claxton or John Dominis (LIFE, 1963).
If McQueen often insisted on performing his own stunts, frowned by the studios considering risks and insurance liability, pros like Bud Ekins (the famous jump in “The Great Escape”, 1963) or Loren Janes (the moving train stunt in “The Hunter”, 1980) were never too far.

This adds a blend of cool 60s sportswear and vintage casual suiting to our action-packed HOOPER mix.

The FW2022 “HOOPER” line-up (made in USA & Japan) consists of:
1) SONNY Puffer Vest (JP):
* Reversible, quilted, 70s style synthetic fiber filling.
* Indigo corduroy x Blue denim / Indigo corduroy x brown denim.

2) ROADEO Puffer Jacket (JP):
* Quilted, 70s style synthetic fiber filling.
* Orange x Gold nylon / Black x Brown nylon / 7 Oz. denim x chambray.

3) Five-panel FEED CAP (USA):
* 1970s style trucker hat, snap-back.
* NOS denim/white mesh.
* Solid / Patched.

4) DUDE RANCHER Shirt, Corduroy edition (JP):
* Our popular original western snap shirt pattern.
* Black / Ivory / Ruby Red / Indigo Blue.

5) CALIFORNIAN LOT.64 “OUTLAW”, Midnight denim (USA)
* The popular fit of our classic Lot.64 Californian five-pocket jeans, with western-style “frogmouth” pockets.
* 16 Oz. Midnight denim, dark indigo warp x black weft.

6) RANCH BLOUSE, “Frontier” Duck Canvas (USA)
* The classic MF® Ranch Blouse pattern in a USA-milled sturdy and dry 12 Oz. brown duck canvas.

7) Leather RANCH BLOUSE, “Bison” (USA)
* A leather version of our classic MF® Ranch Blouse pattern.
* Veg-tan cowhide, tea-core with a cognac color top coat.

8) WORKMAN Shirt, “Americana” stripes (USA)
* NOS 100% cotton woven stripe fabric, white with blue & red stripes.

9) BRONCO CHAMP Type II (USA)
* 1960s style cafe racer rider jacket, a revisited pattern from our 2009 MF® Bronco Champ original, USA-made this time.
* Cotton printed flannel lining.
* Natural veg-tan cowhide / Black tea-core veg-tan cowhide.

10) CALIFORNIAN LOT.674 “Groovy”, NOS Cone denim (USA)
* Our slimmest five-pocket jeans, slightly tapered leg, 1960s vibe silhouette, button fly.
* NOS 14 Oz. Cone blue denim.
* Groovy NOS cotton printed canvas pocketing!

11) Cashmere V-Neck “TERRENCE” Sweater (Japan)
* A classic menswear staple garment, revisited with 50s—60s style extended cuffs/waistband.
* Fancy cable knit pattern.
* 100% Mongolian Cashmere.
* NOT made in China, and in very limited quantities.
* Black / Yale Blue / Ice-Blu

12) CONTINENTAL Sportcoat & Trousers (USA)
* NOS 100% cotton “Bossa” 3×1 cross hatch denim, 11 Oz.
* Lining/Pocketing: NOS 100% cotton woven stripe fabric, white with blue & red stripes.

13) CALIFORNIAN LOT.674 and COWBOY Jacket, Corduroy Edition (USA)
* Our slimmest five-pocket jeans (slightly tapered leg) & classic trucker denim jacket pattern, for a 1960s-70s vibe silhouette.
* Vintage 60s sportswear-style 14 wale corduroy, T/C (20/80) blend.
* Brown cord: Lot.674 and Cowboy Jacket.
* Indigo Blue cord: Lot.674 and Cowboy Jacket.

Both our original “FROGSVILLE” and “HOOPER” FW2022 collections are designed in California by Mister Freedom® and exclusively manufactured in Japan and USA in collaboration with Sugar Cane Co, in limited quantities.
Please note that the lookbook/preview features show samples, not necessarily reflecting quality/details/labeling of the upcoming production.

Voila!

Thank you very much for your renewed support.

Love from Sunny California,

🌞✌🏼👴🏼🌴