Skarbek Smock

Red

Brown

Tartan

A classic timeless jacket popular with adventurers from the early 1900’s up to, including and beyond the Second World War.

With a Scandinavian heritage it offers windproof protection on expeditions in the Polar regions, in the mountains and at sea.

Also used as a key piece of early specialist military clothing for the desert, mountains and maritime environments.

Primarily used by SOE agents, but various specialist military units such as the LRDG, SAS and SBS were also known to wear similar quarter zip ‘over the head’ smocks, variously for boating, canoeing, overland desert mobility in vehicles, skiing and mountaineering.

The jacket provided great operational utility, with generous pockets for ‘first line’ load carriage (hat, gloves, rations, first aid, etc) and personal protection from the elements.

Born from necessity

Developed, tested and used for decades in the Scandinavian wilderness by hunter gatherers, it is no wonder the cotton smock/anorak was adopted by 'modern day' adventurers in the 'Race to the Pole' in the early 1900's.

Many of these explorers had military backgrounds - Oates, Evans and Scott - so again no surprise the 'Fit, Form and Function' of this (now) iconic Smock continued to be used on arduous and extreme adventures into the 40's, 50's and beyond.

The Skarbek Smock, named in honour of an SOE expeditionary legend retains all these vintage qualities and features, but also combines the best cotton fabric for better protection, coupled with some unique brand features of Rough Bounds.

Man walking in grass wearing a brown Skarbek smock

Inside badge detail of Skarbek smock in brown

Inside badge detail of Skarbek smock in red

Inside badge detail of Skarbek smock in tartan

Arm badge detail of Skarbek smock in brown

Washing instruction badge of Skarbek smock in tartan

Arm cuff detail of Skarbek smock in tartan

Woman smiling on a Scottish beach wearing a tartan Skarbek smock

made in britain

Staying true to tradition, we craft our smocks with British tightly woven, lightly waxed cotton, offering built-in weather protection. Traditional sewing skills and a wealth of features brings each smock to life. The Skarbek Smock is the ultimate companion for your outdoor escapades. Whether you're traversing hills, strolling along shorelines, or immersing yourself in forests, it is purposely designed for great outdoors.

key features

Lady sewing a Skarbek jacket on sewing machine

Christine Granville

Krystyna Skarbek

The Skarbek Smock is named in honour of Krystyna Skarbek, better known in Britain as Christine Granville.
Chrsitine was Britain's first female Special Agent of the Second World War. Renowned for her daring intelligence and unconventional missions in Nazi-occupied Poland and France, she was hailed as the "bravest of the brave."
Skarbek's achievements influenced the recruitment of more women agents, and earned her prestigious awards, including the George medal, OBE and Croix de Guerre.

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