Dear Friends,

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

Here is a preview of our Mister Freedom® x Sugar Cane (mfsc) FW2023 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.

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.

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…)

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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.

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)

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you very much for your renewed support.

Love from Sunny California,

c & Joe