The universe of Milo & Dexter

Inspiration

A glimpse behind the curtain and into the archives reveals how Milo & Dexter's obsession with rich culture references that have not and will not fade

Milo & Dexter was born not just from a place, but from a feeling—the kind that lingers long after a moment has passed. To truly understand where it all began, you have to go beyond the factory floor, beyond any single individual, and into a shared experience, a collective memory. It’s the hum of a childhood summer on Vancouver Island, where the air smells like pine and salt. It’s the deep quiet of winter in the Rockies, where the world slows under thick layers of snow. It’s the crisp wind against your face while sailing the Great Lakes in fall, and the first warmth of spring rolling through the Maritimes. These landscapes are stitched into us, shaping our earliest memories, our daydreams, and ultimately, our vision.

WOOL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

Left: 1999 aboard Air Canada flight to London. Classic peppered fisherman sweater and Winnie the Pooh teddy bear. Right: Same wool sweater in Ireland.

We believe that clothing should hold that same sense of nostalgia and permanence—the way a well-loved jacket carries the imprint of years gone by, or how an old wool sweater still smells faintly of home. Our garments are not just made to be worn but to become part of a life well-lived. Crafted in Canada with time-honored techniques, every piece is built to last, to be passed down, to carry the stories of those who wore it before. We draw inspiration from objects with soul—those that grow richer with time, tell a story through their wear, and remain relevant no matter the decade.

BETWEEN THE LINES

Left: 1997 in Ottawa. Right: Skiing in the Rocky Mountains, 1998.

BETWEEN THE LINES

Left: 1997 in Ottawa. Right: Skiing in the Rocky Mountains, 1998.

This philosophy is woven into everything we create. We look to the timeless, to the well-worn, to the objects and ideas that carry history in their seams. A childhood sweater, stretched at the cuffs, passed down from an older sibling. A coat that once belonged to a grandfather, its wool softened by years of wear. A pair of boots scuffed by adventure, worn through endless days of exploration. These are the pieces that stay with us—not because they are new, but because they hold stories, because they remind us of who we were and who we still are.

Our inspiration lives in these moments—the quiet persistence of things built to last, the effortless elegance of the past carried forward. It’s in the weight of tradition, in the familiarity of shapes and textures that have stood the test of time. The way certain garments feel inevitable, as if they’ve always existed, as if they were meant to be worn and reworn across generations. We are drawn to these pieces—not because they belong to a single era, but because they transcend them.

Nº1

The fisherman sweater

Hand Knit Wool Fisherman Sweater

NOW

Hand Knit Wool Fisherman Sweater
Steve McQueen, 1968

THEN

Steve McQueen, 1968
Nº2

The Cotton Staple

Classic Cotton T-Shirt

NOW

Classic Cotton T-Shirt
Brooke Shields, circa 1985

THEN

Brooke Shields, circa 1985
Nº3

An Enduring Cap

Harris Tweed Classic Flat Cap

NOW

Harris Tweed Classic Flat Cap
1958, Canada

THEN

1958, Canada
Nº4

Classic Rugby

Classic Striped Rugby

NOW

Classic Striped Rugby
Mick Jagger, 1965

THEN

Mick Jagger, 1965
Nº5

Timeless Silhouette

Classic Denim Shirt

NOW

Classic Denim Shirt
Patti Smith, 1975

THEN

Patti Smith, 1975
Nº6

The Princess and The Sheeps

Black Sheep Sweater

NOW

Black Sheep Sweater
Princes Diana, 1983

THEN

Princes Diana, 1983
Nº7

Stripes and the Sea

St. John's Sailor Shirt

NOW

St. John's Sailor Shirt
James Dean, 1955

THEN

James Dean, 1955
Nº8

A Wool Staple

Classic Merino Wool T-Shirt

NOW

Classic Merino Wool T-Shirt
Sailing, circa 1970s

THEN

Sailing, circa 1970s