Paul Smith marks 50 years with new book, collection

Published by Phaidon and edited by Tony Chambers, the new monograph "Paul Smith" captures the unique spirit of Paul through 50 objects presented in the book.

New Delhi: Veteran British designer Sir Paul Smith recently launched an eponymous book to mark the 50th anniversary of his brand Paul Smith.

Published by Phaidon and edited by Tony Chambers, the new monograph “Paul Smith” captures the unique spirit of Paul through 50 objects presented in the book and carefully selected to explore not only Sir Paul’s work over the years but also his thought process and the ethos of the brand. It also explores everything from his very first show in Paris, his Floral Street shop in London, to the evolution of the stripe and his most recent collections and collaborations. In this way the book presents his work in a surprising and visually exciting way and shows him to be a truly dynamic and versatile designer.

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It celebrates Paul’s varied inspirations through portraits of fifty objects. It has quotes and contributions from many of Paul’s friends and collaborators from across his fifty years in business.

The objects chosen range from a packet of flower seeds to personal family photographs, and each one has had a significant influence on Sir Paul. Every object illuminates a different aspect of his work as a designer and leads to discussions on subjects from breaking down the formality of wearing a suit, the importance of teamwork and the power of humour.

The brand has also launched a 50th anniversary capsule collection of casual menswear and womenswear that looks into the vast back-catalogue of photo prints that Paul Smith has created over the years. Archive graphics spanning from 1988 to 2002 offer a snapshot of Paul’s vivid approach to design.

These archive graphics span a period from 1988 to 2002 and offer a snapshot of Paul’s colourful, graphic and sometimes surrealist approach to print design.
The key print in the collect is the spaghetti print, which was first seen in autumn/winter ’94, inspired by a plate of fake shop display spaghetti that Paul discovered during a visit to Tokyo in the 1980s.

Other prints feature a shiny green apple and a floral rose motif. The graphics appear on a range of casual jersey pieces, bomber jackets, and shirts for men and women. A series of trainers, bags and small accessories complete the range.

To balance this casual, sportswear inspired offering, a devore velvet suit adds another element to the capsule collection, while emphasizing Paul’s expertise in tailoring and appreciation of intricate handwork. The red devore velvet suit comes with an intricate floral pattern on the jacket and trouser. Inside the jacket, a bright rainbow-stripe lining celebrates another of Paul’s famous design signatures.