MFxBR “PENSACOLA Seaplane Jacket, Intermediate” We were honored to be involved with our friends at BUZZ RICKSON’S celebration of their 20th Anniversary this year. MF® came up with a simplified scenario to make this jacket ‘plausible’, aiming for solid and timeless, as the pieces that usually inspire us. After research and some hours on the drawing table, the MFxBR “Pensacola Seaplane Jacket” started shaping up: Well, we had our name… now we just needed a jacket.
Why navy and white? Well we figured these were not unpopular colors in the USN and USAAF, and this being an amphibious Op type garment it made sense. The corduroy lining is a nod to the hand-warmer pockets of early Peacoats, same specs and shade. The single layer waist band wool knit is that of Type M-422 Jackets, cuffs those of A-2 Jackets, but in natural color. To spice it up we dug out an old stock of military ‘ring’ removable buttons. We were lucky to get our hands on some rare NOS composite white buttons, with an engraved anchor, in their original Gov’t issued packaging.
Designed in California by Mister Freedom® and expertly crafted in Japan by Buzz Rickson’s of Toyo Enterprises in a one-time limited edition. In the US and EU, the MFxBR Pensacola Jacket is only available from Mister Freedom®. SPECS: PATTERN: An original MFxBR pattern, inspired by vintage American mil-specs flight apparel. WASH/SIZING: Please refer to sizing chart below for raw/rinsed measurements (‘rinsed’ = soaked in cold water for 30mn, spin dry and hang dry). Original rinsing is optional and for reference only.
Available RAW (unwashed) Sizes 36 (small), 38 (medium), 40 (large), 42 (Xlarge), 44 (XXlarge) Please call 323-653-2014 or Email sales@misterfreedom.com to get yours while they last. Available from Mister Freedom® HQ in Los Angeles, and from our online store. (Note: The painted jacket in the photo was just a custom prototype we did for BUZZ RICKSON’S 20th Anniversary party. Production comes WITHOUT any graphics, of course)
BUILDING UP SELF-CONFIDENCE IN PEOPLE
When not particularly blessed with self confidence in young adult life, one needs to rely on a few good souls to build it back. The fine bunch below, from close friends to business acquaintances, is a non-exhaustive list. To early self-confidence builders who inspire one to keep doing it his way, I dedicate this post.
Kenny Thomas In my early days of rag collecting solo, Kenny was a Designer at Ralph Lauren… In the mid 90’s, he purchased some Japanese indigo boro from my garage, rags that I had randomly picked up in Japan. These 100 year old patched-up textiles were used as back-drops for RL collections rigs at the time… Boro fabric has been pretty much featured on every single fashion blog and magazine by now.
Todd Snyder As head of design at J.Crew in the mid 90’s, Todd and his design team (Frank Muytens was there) regularly visited my non-glamorous warehouse in Sun Valley, CA., to pick up inspirational pieces from the ol’ pile of rags. Graphics, fleece, plaids etc…
Toyo Enterprises When randomly approached by Tom Tanaka and team at the Mister Freedom® store back in 2006, I was asked to design a pair of jeans, carte blanche… Little did they know that I had NO idea where to start. Made a pair from scratch, a few days before due date. The “Utility Trousers, MFSC 7161” were born and were the foundation of our on-going MFSC collaborations that keep me clothed every day. Solid folks, all of them.
Kiya Babzani Kiya and his imported Japanese denim mecca Self Edge was the first US retailer to pick up the Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane line for his store in San Francisco, sometime in 2008.
Katsu & Leo Yoshida The design legend and visionary guru behind Japanese ‘Yoshida Kanban’ (‘Porter Bags’) stumbled across an early version of Mister Freedom® store in Los Angeles (Martel Avenue location) sometime in 2004. He quietly picked up vintage items no one was looking for yet, giving me confidence that the early AM hunting wake-up calls were worth it…
Sir Paul Smith A group of dapper folks set foot into Mister Freedom® store, sometime in 2007… I ended up discussing old rags with a certain Gentleman after he was done shopping.
Steve Garbarino Mr. Garbarino, then Chief Editor of “BlackBook Magazine”, sent photographer Sye Williams to the store in 2006. He then ran the first paper media article on Mister Freedom® to appear in a US Publication.
Michael Williams The trend forecaster globe trotter and his website needs no introduction. After a visit, Michael ran a bit about Mister Freedom® on his popular “A Continuous Lean” website back in 2008. The first major ‘blog’ to highlight what was going on at 7161 Beverly Boulevard.
Doug Bihlmaier and Bob Melet As the ‘A’ Team behind all the vintage buying for Ralph Lauren in the 1990’s, these two then partners-in-crime have been responsible for giving me the energy to carry on digging deeper and deeper for hidden treasures…
Tina Wakino From bearing with my 7 days/week schedule and my moods, to sanding the floors of the freshly rebuild store mezzanine in 2006… and everything in between and after, Tina has seen it all happen. She can testify of the blood sweat and tears as an insider and a compañera. She has also inspired me to try to become a better person… the hardest task of them all.
Additionally, warm thank you to all past and present supporters of Mister Freedom®. Just because it’s not hot enough here in Sunny CA, we’ll be hitting the East Coast in July for (capsule) New York MENS If you own a portable fan and a large sombrero, come join us and dig the re-bop. Christophe Loiron PS: For a quality paper print of the above poster (original painting by none other than Mr. Patrick Segui), get a copy of the latest MEN’S FILE Issue 5. Cut it out & pin it on your wall, next to Miss July. Mister Freedom® Musette Biribi 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. SPECS: Available One Wash (preshrunk) 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! |