Clutch CafeUnited Kingdom
Ships from United Kingdom
£950
Buy NowArguably the finest Americana reproduction brand from Japan, the Real McCoy's painstakingly recreate and update original garments for the modern day offering the best from the past, replicated to perfection without compromise in Japan. Originally developed for crew working the exposed decks of British aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy windproof smock was built to confront relentless North Atlantic wind head-on.
Function dictated every detail. Most will recognise the later pattern with its distinctive front cable flap - often regarded as one of the most iconic British military garments ever produced. This, however, is something else entirely. This is the extremely rare first model, produced briefly in 1958 and issued in extremely limited numbers.
So obscure that even seasoned collectors rarely encounter one, it represents the true origin point of the design. Developed in collaboration with the Saunders Archive in Nova Scotia, The Real McCoy’s painstakingly studied what is believed to be the earliest surviving example. Every detail, from proportions to construction, reflects that original garment.
The smock is highly adjustable by design. The hood, waist, hem, and cuffs are equipped with drawstrings and fastening systems, allowing the wearer to cinch the jacket tight against wind and driving rain. It’s a pure function-first garment, built for exposure and movement. This is McCoy’s at its best: deep research, rare historical reference, and faithful execution.
A garment that speaks not just to military design, but to Britain’s bold post-war experimentation, when utilitarian clothing was really pushed to its limits. As Alexander Saunders notes: 'Shortly after meeting with The Real McCoy’s, I ended up finding what I believe to be the earliest known example of the classic British Royal Navy Windproof Deck Smock, dated to 1958.
No one makes a better smock than the British, it is hard to beat some of the British designs in my eyes... the Brits, especially in the post-war…
Description from Clutch Cafe.
Shops in United Kingdom.
