Made in Collaboration with SAUNDERS ARCHIVE, two rare pieces of British Militaria. Based in rural Nova Scotia, Alexander Saunders is one of the world's foremost authorities on rare British military garments, with a particular focus on WWII and post-war era pieces. Over the past 15 years, he has assembled The Saunders Archive, an exceptional private collection that has become an invaluable resource for collectors, researchers, and designers seeking to understand the evolution of military workwear and its enduring influence on modern menswear.
Saunders' journey began in the army surplus shops of his youth, digging through racks of old combat pants and RCAF flight jackets. These early experiences, combined with his immersion in skateboarding and punk subcultures where distinctive clothing choices were integral to personal expression, laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion. Working in relative isolation from fashion's commercial centers has afforded him the freedom to pursue knowledge purely for its own sake, developing an expertise rooted in genuine curiosity rather than trends.
The Saunders Archive is distinguished by its focus on the rarest and most innovative patterns, particularly the "space-aged" designs that emerged from British military development in the post-war years. His collection includes extraordinary pieces such as early Royal Navy windproof deck smocks, SBS Canoeist Smocks, and RAF MK1 "Fishtail" Flight Parkas. These garments represent the pinnacle of mid-century military design, featuring exceptional details and materials with no expense spared.
Among the archive's most significant holdings is what Saunders believes to be the earliest known example of the classic Royal Navy windproof deck smock, manufactured by Aquarock in 1958, which provides the basis for our ROYAL NAVY WINDPROOF DECK SMOCK, 1st Pattern.
