"I found a box of these horseshoe nails," Raeburn said, holding up a tapered, metal square-headed nail. "And I just fell in love with them. They're simple, straightforward and iconic-looking. And each one of them has this little Swiss flag emblem [stamped] into them."
Raeburn used the horseshoe nail motif as an allover print that appears on the lining of some pieces (printed on overdyed surplus Swiss Army cotton bed sheets) and even convinced Victorinox to melt some of the nails down and use them on the exterior scales (the part that's usually made of red plastic) in a limited production of Swiss Army knives.
The knife is one of the eight pieces in the collection, which also includes a sentry's scarf (made from surplus military blankets), a recruit's cap with fold-down ear flaps (made from repurposed surplus Swiss military jackets), a duffle backpack (made from military tarpaulins), a hoodie made from parachute material, a captain's coat (made from repurposed wool military coats -- some of which date back half a century), an officer's parka made from sleeping bag fabric and a cocoon blouson that Raeburn said was his favorite piece.
"It's made from surplus Swiss military sleeping bags" Raeburn said,"and has this waterproof sleeping bag outer [shell] and some of the original buckles so it can be rolled right up and stored just like a sleeping bag."
Each item in the collection is limited to just 100 pieces each, which will be sold through Victorinox boutiques as well as 25 boutiques worldwide starting in September.
