Yellowknife (Feb 16/05) - You don't have to travel to Australia to get a taste of Down Under.

Marty Sanders opened Aussie Western Wear, located in Centre Square Mall on Feb. 5.

Aussie Western Wear and Sheep Co. Inc. opened in the Centre Square Mall, Feb. 5.

Owner Marty Sanders comes to Yellowknife via Fort McMurray after having lived in Australia for seven years.

Sanders owns a similar store in Fort McMurray which is "doing OK," he says.

Sanders came to Yellowknife because he heard good things about the diamond capital and "it's nice and cold" so it's a good place to sell his wares.

Aussie Western Wear has that distinctive western look, leathery smell and when you add the boomerangs, the Australian theme clicks.

"The main line is sheep skin slippers and sheep skin seat covers. Let me tell you when it's -30C there's nothing like slipping some sheepskin covers onto cold leather," says Sanders.

Other items in the store include sheepskin lined jackets, hand-crafted woolen sweaters, buffalo leather purses, leather briefcases and belt buckles.

Sanders may have just opened his second store, but he plans to open a third in Grande Prairie, Alta., as soon as possible.