MINI and Sir Paul Smith unbox production-ready cars at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo. Following the minimalist MINI STRIP (2021) and the electrified MINI Recharged (2022), the MINI Paul Smith Edition infuses the celebrated British designer’s world-famous aesthetic – ‘classic with a twist’ – into the new MINI family. Available for all MINI Cooper 3-door, 5-door, and convertible models, the new edition masterfully blends shared heritage with a playful, optimistic, and independent spirit.

designboom interviews Sir Paul Smith and Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design, to delve into the history, shared philosophies, and latest design that drive the two British brands’ enduring, long-term relationship.

MINI and Sir Paul Smith unbox production-ready cars at the Japan Mobility Show 2025

MINI X PAUL SMITH HIStory

With the MINI Paul Smith Edition debuting at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the partnership between the two British brands already holds particular significance in the country. Sir Paul Smith’s dedication to the Japanese market is evident in his respectful, committed approach, continuous visits since the 1980s, and near 140-strong shops in the country. Holger Hampf echoes MINI’s loyalty, emphasizing the Japanese influence in keeping the brand afloat in 1980s and 90s when all other global production had been halted. This mutual respect forms the bedrock of a long-term collaboration that started in 1998 with a uniquely blue Classic MINI and, over the past few years, also introduced the STRIP and Recharged.

‘Discussions about near-future collaborations started right after we finished the STRIP,‘ explains Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design, to designboom. ‘It is my favorite show car. I love the honesty in the concept. And from there on, our conversation continued with the Recharged and now Paul Smith Edition.‘

Nottingham Green paintwork accents the side mirrors, octagonal radiator grille, and one of the two roof variants

BRITISH CLASSIC WITH A TWIST

Discussing the collaborative design process in the latest edition, Holger Hampf describes a methodology centered on provoking ideas and fostering confidence in every design decision. Sir Paul Smith’s input brings an element of irreverence and an artistic view, most notably through the use of vibrant, colorful elements – a key feature that defines his aesthetic.

‘I use the word irreverence quite a lot when I’m styling for my shows,‘ admits Sir Paul Smith. ‘In the early days, when I first started in this 1970s, men were dressing in a very classical way. It was considered really risque to wear a colorful sweater or anything. I learnt to nudge against these rules. For instance, a denim shirt with a cashmere suit is exactly wrong but that is what makes it right. The choice shows your personal confidence, artistic view or something. That is why I give the customer the ability to have a bit more fun in a quite classic outfit. Now, this irreverence is shown in production MINIs.‘

the special design adds british classic with a twist

The design philosophy shared by both the fashion and automotive icons converge on minimalist and sustainable design elements. Sir Paul Smith’s long-standing use of natural materials like bamboo in his fashion designs and shop interiors is a testament to his commitment to sustainability. This is reflected throughout his MINI collaborations, starting with the STRIP and now the 100% recyclable Vescin-textile interior of the Paul Smith Edition.

‘Sustainability should be automatically considered these days,‘ clarifies Sir Paul. ‘Anyway, we do it in everything I design: we make shirting from bamboo, our in-house-designed shops include nature, and we made sure the Edition cars considered its materials too.‘

the ‘signature stripe’ – a central Paul Smith design feature – colorfully adorns the roof on the driver’s side

This overlap of design philosophies is crucial in realizing a new collaboration between the two brands. Sir Paul Smith  and Holger Hampf explain that three color choices are inspired by a careful observation of architecture as well as natural elements. A standout feature, however, is the specially created Nottingham Green paintwork – a deliberate tribute to Sir Paul’s hometown – which adds sophisticated accents to the side mirrors, the octagonal radiator grille, the wheel hub covers with Paul Smith lettering, and as the paintwork for one of the two roof variants. Further exterior detailing includes the ‘signature stripe’, a central Paul Smith design feature, that colorfully adorns the roof on the driver’s side.

‘I look everywhere for inspiration about color. This is not just through very obvious artists like Matisse, but also through the Renaissance who had an amazing use of color combinations. Sunsets, shooting stars, and even my hometown lend imagination for different tones in my work,‘ notes Sir Paul.

Holger then adds: ‘Take a look at some of the details on the car. There are certain corners where materials and colors come together, such as the Nottingham Green, for example. This precision is very typical for automotive design. When different colors are applied, it creates very interesting discoveries, which we now see on the new models.‘

the dashboard and door panels are made of black knitted surfaces

The British ‘classic with a twist’ character extends into the interior with a modern, elegant look. The dashboard and door panels feature black knitted surfaces, while the nightshade blue sports seats are made of Vescin with knitted textile in the shoulder and headrest areas. The steering wheel’s textile band features decorative stitching in bright colors drawn from the same signature stripe on the exterior  – quintessentially Paul Smith.

the steering wheel’s textile band features the signature stripe stitching in bright colors as on the exterior

The fashion designer’s playful spirit is evident in the small, hidden details that bring an element of joy and discovery to the car: a graphic of a stylized, hand-drawn ‘rabbit’ on the floor mat, and upon opening the door, the driver and passenger are greeted with a handwritten ‘hello’ as a light projection on the floor. Sir Paul Smith’s positive motto, ‘everyday is a new beginning,’ is inscribed on the door sill. This thoughtful integration achieves the desired balance between classic and artistic elements that matches so well with the bold, playfulness of MINI.

‘The features give a very MINI welcome,‘ confirms Holger. ‘Paul Smith is positive and friendly, and so the car greets drivers and passengers in a very personal way. I love the handwritten signatures throughout the interior. It is very casual – and that’s also what MINI is all about.‘

the nightshade blue sports seats are made of Vescin with knitted textile in the shoulder and headrest areas

This enduring collaboration, which began back in 1998, has consistently resulted in unique styling. From the fashion designer’s limited edition classic MINI in a specially created blue, to the 1999 one-off celebrating the classic’s 40th birthday with 86 stripes in 26 colors, the partnership is centered on friendship, fun, and creative synergy. As Holger Hampf looks forward to the next steps, Sir Paul Smith assures that the collaboration is not just creatively rewarding but grounded in a practical and sustainable long-term vision. The MINI Paul Smith Edition is thus more than just a car; it is a shared mindset that ‘everyday is a new beginning’.

inside includes hand-drawn lucky ‘rabbit’ on the floor mat, ‘hello’ as a light projection, and Sir Paul Smith’s positive motto – ‘everyday is a new beginning’ – inscribed on the door sill

the MINI Paul Smith Edition is available across the MINI Cooper 3-door, 5-door, and convertible models

colors include Statement Grey (pictured), Inspired White or Midnight Black

MINI and Sir Paul Smith’s collaboration started in 1998 with classic MINI in blue (pictured left)

the MINI Paul Smith Edition debuts in Tokyo for Japan Mobility Show 2025

project info:

brands: MINI and Paul Smith

design: MINI Paul Smith Edition

model: MINI Cooper 3-door, 5-door, and convertible

debut location: Japan Mobility Show

debut date: 29 October 2025

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It’s been 50 years since Pablo Picasso died in his home in Mougins on April 8th, 1973, yet the everlasting impression and the profound impact of his body of work have left remain. For the anniversary year, the British designer Paul Smith leads the artistic direction of Picasso’s exhibition at the Musée National Picasso-Paris, melding his signature work with color, tailoring, and unexpected details with the museum’s treasured repertoire of the Spanish artist.

Titled Picasso Celebration: The Collection in a New Light, the exhibition will run from March 7th to August 27th, 2023 and display Smith’s curation around the masterpieces of Picasso’s collection in a way that invites the public to view the revered artist’s works through a contemporary lens, underlining their relevance in today’s world.

Pablo Picasso, Portrait de Dora Maar, 1937, huile sur toile, 92x65cm Musée national Picasso-Paris, Dation Pablo Picasso, 1979. MP158 | images courtesy of Musée national Picasso-Paris (header: Painted stripes room, Brigitte Veyne, preliminary sketch of the scenography imagined by Paul Smith)

In a sit-down conversation with exhibition curators Cécile Debray and Joanne Snrech, which can be found in the exhibition’s catalog, Smith admits that he’s not an expert on art at all. ‘I have a love of art, just as I have a love of all aspects of design. But I need to be really honest about the project at the Musée Picasso: the way it has been approached, the general idea at the core of the project, was that it should be a free expression of my way of showing the work of Picasso,’ he says.

Smith adds that ‘the initial request gave me a free hand to do whatever I wanted, which of course was quite frightening because there are many experts on Picasso around the world and my approach to the exhibition was on the contrary very spontaneous, not at all attached to the history of Picasso.’

Pablo Picasso, La Flûte de Pan, automne 1923, huile sur toile, 205x174cm, Musée national Picasso-Paris, Dation Pablo Picasso, 1979. MP79

Paul smith relies on his eye for spontaneous associations

The visions of Paul Smith and Pablo Picasso sometimes converge, for example around their shared love of objects, dress, and playfulness, thus leading to comparisons and an inventive approach to the presentation of the works. Although he has little academic knowledge of Picasso, Smith relies on his eye for visual and spontaneous associations to artistically direct the exhibition at Musée National Picasso-Paris.

‘I’m a very visual person, and my education in art and design is very minimal, so it always comes back to approaching things in a visual way,’ he says. ‘In a way, I’m covering myself for potential criticism by some of the more academic connoisseurs of Picasso in the art world, who might think this exhibition is disrespectful in some way. But we should keep in mind that the actual, original request was precisely to think of something that wasn’t an academic approach, to do things differently to mark the occasion.’

Pablo Picasso, Jacqueline aux mains croisées, 1954, huile sur toile, 116 x 88,5 cm, Musée national Picasso-Paris, Dation Jacqueline Picasso, 1990. MP1990-26

Finding inspiration everywhere

Like most of his works, Smith first chanced upon Picasso’s works while he was searching for inspiration. In his words, he finds inspiration in anything, ‘and if you can’t, please look again.’ He has quite a big collection of art, but while he doesn’t consider it on the level of Picasso, his connection with the world of art has been grounded by it. He’s rifled through the works of Braque and Picasso, glanced at the colors of Matisse and his cut-outs, and looked at the hues that dot Monet’s works.

‘As a creative person, the world of art has always been a reference for me, but when I say ‘art’, I don’t just mean ‘painting’, I also mean the world of Jean-Luc Godard, the opera composer Bellini and the architecture of Palladio. I take inspiration from anywhere and everywhere. Picasso, of course, has always been a part of that influence,’ he says.

Bull head, Brigitte Veyne, preliminary sketch of the scenography imagined by Paul Smith

For the exhibition, Smith hopes he has captured the direction in a less conventional way. ‘Hopefully, we’ve managed to put together more of a visual experience, in a way that is interesting for younger audiences and audiences that are not very knowledgeable about the work of this great master. It’s a more spontaneous and instinctive approach. As a designer of many different things, I’ve always worked in a very instinctive way, I’ve never labored over anything,’ he says.

On show along with the exhibition are the works by contemporary international artists Guillermo Kuitca, Obi Okigbo, Mickalene Thomas, and Chéri Samba who put their own slant on some of Picasso’s artistic innovations. 

Chéri Samba, Quand il n’y avait plus rien d’autre que… L’Afrique restait une pensée,1997, Acrylique sur toile, 81 × 103 cm, Collection André Magnin, Paris, AMCP2004314

Pablo Picasso, Le Jeune peintre, 14 avril 1972, huile sur toile, 91×72.5cm, Musée national Picasso-Paris, Dation Pablo Picasso, 1979. MP228

Pablo Picasso, Autoportrait, fin 1901, huile sur toile, 81x60cm Musée national Picasso-Paris. Dation Pablo Picasso, 1979. MP4

Paul Smith and Cécile Debray at Musée National Picasso-Paris

Picasso Posters, Brigitte Veyne, preliminary sketch of the scenography imagined by Paul Smith

project info:

name: Picasso Celebration: The Collection in a New Light

artist: Pablo Picasso

artistic direction: Paul Smith

curators: Cécile Debray, Joanne Snrech

exhibition museum: Musée National Picasso-Paris

location: 5 rue de Thorigny, Paris, France

dates: March 7th to August 27th, 2023

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designboom witnesses the debut catwalk of the model at an exclusive preview in london with paul smith and oliver heilmer, head of MINI design.

all images courtesy of MINI

the MINI STRIP was defined by an overarching theme of ‘simplicity, transparency, sustainability’. the design process began by literally stripping down the MINI electric to its structural essence – only vital elements remain. this use of maximum reduction created a minimalist yet high-class design that is fresh with sustainable solutions and unconventional, rally car-like in appeal.

‘for me, the MINI STRIP shows in an impressive way that MINI and paul smith share the same bold way of thinking about the future in terms of innovation and design – and together we create more. paul asked essential questions right at the start of the design process with his non-automotive and therefore fresh perspective. we are proud to have developed such a strong character statement together,’ explains oliver heilmer, head of MINI design, to designboom.

raw material defines the car’s exterior. the body was left in its unfinished state with no colored paint applied apart from a thin film to protect against corrosion. the unusual aesthetic leaves grinding marks on the galvanised steel panels proudly on display. paul smith dubs this rough-hewn effect as ‘the perfect imperfection’ of the design. screws are also left visible to showcase the car’s cycle at the end of its life. thus parts can be added-on or dismantled as needed.

‘I went to munich and asked MINI in advance to completely strip out a car and collect the materials that are recycled and recyclable. this gave a big list of various items, from boxes of rope to the seat cover and more,‘ paul smith tells designboom about the start of the collaboration. ‘this stripped out car was so gorgeous inside. it just had nothing in it. I thought that it was lovely this way and questioned why don’t we keep the MINI as close to this bare essence as possible.‘

elsewhere on the body, the MINI STRIP includes 3D-printed parts – made from recycled plastic – that add highly visual and textural elements to the design, including the black band and distinctive front and rear aprons. the blacked-off radiator grille and wheel covers are made from recycled perspex to reduce resources and increase vehicle range. recycled perspex was also used for the large panoramic roof to give unique views. unexpected details match the car’s unusual aesthetic. up close, passengers can find the paul smith stripes in a vivid composition of five colors at the door opening. a splash of neon green adorns the charging flap along with the fashion designer’s engraved drawing of an electric plug.

inside the MINI STRIP, again the car has been left bare; an exposed blue-colored body shell is dominant. all trim parts have been removed apart from the dashboard topper pad, door shoulders and parcel shelf – all of which are made from recycled cork. the main segment of the dashboard consists of one large, semi-transparent section with a smoked-glass finish. unlike other MINIs, there is no classic center instrument. instead, the driver’s smartphone takes center stage to stand and connect to the car.

‘one of the elements that we are really proud of is the use of the cork. cork, as you know, can be extracted without killing the tree. then, when you actually mould the material, its natural sap becomes the glue, and so, it realises in a very organic method. the exposed wires and plexiglass roof critics the many products that have been glued together and becomes a recycling nightmare as the recycler has to rip it into different pieces first. having the loose wires mean the users can just cut them off and recycled straightaway,‘ continues the british fashion designer.

the use of recycled, environment-friendly materials continues in the cabin, where it is apparent that no leather of chrome has been used. the seats are upholstered in a fully recyclable knitted fabric. similarly, the terrazzo-like patterned-rubber floor mats are also made from recycle materials. to paul, luxury is still delivered but in sustainability, as the term luxury depends completely on the ‘perspective of the user’.

‘the whole concept of luxury is very different. it has changed drastically in the last 20 years; it is now all about perspective,‘ reflects paul smith. ‘when richard rogers designed and built the pompidou centre and he put all the utilities on the outside, everybody was outraged. now, though, everybody finds it so interesting. as a creator it is a matter of being confident to experiment.‘

the steering wheel completes the minimalist design in the interior. it is reduced to its essentials. the rim is wrapped in handlebar tape, before three aluminum spokes run to the steering wheel’s impact absorber, whose mesh covering makes it possible to see the airbag within. the same style mesh also adorns the open door panels. visible screws also appear on the steering wheel, where there is a small paul smith fabric label that sits at the one o’clock position. quite naturally the stripped cabin feels like a MINI with its bare essence, architecture and rally-like feel.

‘the car is not a fashion statement. it’s a statement about rethinking sustainability in a more lateral way,‘ concludes paul smith to designboom.

concept info:

brand: MINI

collaborator: paul smith

concept: STRIP

The post paul smith designs one-off MINI STRIP car that maximizes material reduction appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

images courtesy of paul smith

the aesthetic continues from the porsche‘s exterior to interior, boasting a dark green roll cage, racing seat cushions in petrol blue, and a signed wooden gear shift. most of the car’s interior fittings have been stripped away, allowing the designers to continue the stripe motif throughout the car’s floor and tub.

the project reflects the long-seeded connection between the iconic british fashion house and the world of cars. paul smith has previously collaborated with land rover on a one-off edition decorated in a palette of 27 individual colors. the makeover is a special collaboration between paul smith and james turner—founder of sports purpose, a car garage dedicated to porsche customizations.

‘I have always been a fan of paul smith and I still remember buying my first paul smith jumper and jeans — in fact, I still have them!‘, turner said. ‘I am absolutely thrilled with the result and hope that fans of paul smith, porsche and racing worldwide will enjoy seeing it out and about in the future, looking utterly resplendent in its unique artist’s stripe livery.’

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as a tribute to the land rover defender which is set to cease production in december 2015, british fashion designer paul smith collaborates with land rover’s special vehicle operations division and chief creative officer gerry mcgovern to produce a one-off edition. decorated in a palette of 27 individual colors, the car pays homage to its service history with the army, navy and airforce, as well as its recognizable ties to the UK countryside. matching the fashion brand’s style, it is a typically vibrant version and was unveiled at their flagship store on london mayfair’s albemarle street.

its use of 27 colors, pays tribute to its service within the army, navy and airforce

‘I wanted deep, rich colors, but at the same time, I wanted them to work together yet be surprising’, says paul smith.

rear view of the one-off automobile

‘I wanted to give this defender a feeling of luxury. so I used a mix of leather and fabric for the seats. I actually used the fabric that I design for maharam, the american upholstery company. my designs are known for their attention to detail, so I didn’t want this defender to be any different.’ added paul.

the edition is a collaboration between paul smith and land rover

a look inside the edition’s unique interior

the bespoke vehicle outside paul smith’s flagship mayfair store in london

sir paul smith (left) standing alongside land rover’s chief creative officer gerry mcgovern (right)

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with just over a week until the 2014 FIFA world cup kickoff in brazil, paul smith celebrates the event with the release of a limited edition printed leather football. coinciding with the launch of the ball, a short film by british director oliver hadlee pearch brings the raw characteristics from street soccer into the one of the designer’s most renowned shops: westbourne house in london’s notting hill. in the video, the ‘suited and booted’ guinness world record holder and former football freestyle world champion, john farnworth juggles his way through the shop in a paul smith travel suit, grand brogues shoes and one of only 200 balls ever made.

the paul smith football boasts the company’s traditional colorway; the edition of 200 balls is crafted in leather

john farnworth juggles his way through paul smith’s notting hill shop in london
video courtesy of paul smith

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designed and handmade in the UK, swifty scooters have developed an folding kick scooter for urban commuting. the ‘swiftyONE’ is produced with an innovative mechanism which allows users to collapse the two-wheeler down to an ultra slim profile, making it storage efficient when folded. in this manner, it can be rolled on its front wheel or carried onto a bus or train. weighing just 7.8kg, it provides a smooth and fast ride due to its 16inch pneumatic wheels. in celebration of the company’s first anniversary, swifty is collaborating with paul smith and the conran shop on upcoming autumn / winter colour collections.

built for urban commuting

3/4 product view in green and purple colorway

user context

‘swiftyONE’ in its folded state

blue and red colorway

swifty scooters film for london bicycle film festival
video courtesy of swifty scooters

swifty x paul smith collaboration

swifty scooters + paul smith
video courtesy of swifty scooters

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designboom met paul smith in stockholm, february 9th, 2010.

what is the best moment of the day?

I actually really do love getting up in the morning, really early. I normally leave my house about 5:30 or 6 every morning and then I go swimming. no matter where I am – be it paris or tokyo, I’ll still find a pool. I wouldn’t say its the best moment of the day but I like it very much.

what kind of music do you listen to at the moment?

at the moment I’m listening to charlotte gainsbourg her new album, you know the daughter of jane birkin and serge gainsbourg. she’s a nice actress but I like her music as well. also I’m listening to fleet foxes, bob dylan. really it depends on my mood, florence and the machines… lots of things.

 paul smith logo

after many years of using every combination of simple stripes, paul smith created the ‘definitive stripe’ with 28 different colors in it. to print it, rather than have it as a woven stripe, he downsized to 14 colors.

 
do you listen to the radio?

I listen to the radio in my car when I go swimming. normally the news, so I suppose I catch up on world events then.

what books do you have on your bedside table?

I don’t really read books very often. my concentration span is very small.  if I do read I tend to read biographies or autobiographies because I feel like I can identify sometimes with how people have dealt with life – that’s quiet interesting. I’ve read things like yves saint laurent, christian dior, chanel but then completly opposite such as books by hanif kureishi, he’s a friend of mine. I’ve read all his books, they’re normally about sex and the 1960’s and rock n’ roll. I just started patty smith’s new book ‘just kids’. I know patty smith quiet well and I actually did an interview with her recently, I’m a big fan of hers. generally I tend to dip into books and not really read them cover to cover. I’m naughty like that, however my wife reads books. my wife read proust actually and she reads quiet alot of heavy stuff like ‘war and peace’, so I get her to tell me about things.

 new collection of tableware to celebrate the 50th anniversary of stelton, 2010.

 
do you read fashion magazines?

never. no magazines. I don’t want to clutter my head about what other people are doing.

where do you get news from?

just the radio, I don’t use the internet at all. I don’t use email. I have 3 assistants, they do for me.

(left) paul smith’s trademark miller brogues, part of the ‘dip-dye’ range, 2009
(right) flower details on the inside and colored strings

 
part of your work is to observe how women dress. do you have any preferences?

when I first started to dress women it was really because there was really a lot of demand from women who were girlfriends or wives of my male customers. so they would often buy a sweater or a raincoat or a jacket, back when the trend was wearing things very big. then when it came a time when people started wearing things a bit smaller they said to me ‘oh, can we have some women’s clothes’. in the beginning it was just about men’s clothes for women, but just a 5th of women who would want that. recently its been changing alot. I still like the masculine look on a girl the best, but I can’t survive just doing that so I have to do a bit more feminine pieces as well.

what kind of clothes do you avoid wearing?

I try to wear clothes that are appropriate to me personally, so I tend to wear suits or jackets because I think I look better in things which are structured rather than casual zip up clothes.

paul smith london – the byard, slim fit suit

do you have any pets?

for about 15 years I had 2 dogs and when they passed on I didn’t want anymore, because I’m traveling 7 months of the year so it’s too much of a responsibility for my wife.

when you were a child, did you want to become a designer?

no. I didn’t want to become a fashion designer until I was about 18/ 19. previously I wanted to be a sports person – a racing cyclist.

union jack umbrella, 2009

where do you work on your designs and projects?

I work on them everywhere – all the time. I’ve always got a pocket full of paper. I meet up with all my assistant designers almost every day, so its a constant thing. its never a conscious thing where I sit down and make a design.

do you discuss your work with other designers?

no. I mean I know alot of the other designers but I don’t discuss it with others. we say ‘hello’ to each other but we don’t discuss work .

paul smith evian water bottle, 2009
see more images here

describe your style, like a good friend of yours would describe it.

the way paul smith is always described is classic with a small twist. a lot of the things from the outside are very simple and easy to wear but on the inside you discover brightly colored lining or button holes that are purple or every button which is different, so its always got a sense of humor (or as they say ‘a twist’).

you are designer and chairman of your company. are you passionate in your involvement on the business side, as well as the designing?

yes, I’m chief executive, principal shareholder and chief designer of the brand. following the ‘savile row meets mr bean’ idea, as a designer I love using items from the yorkshire textile industry, the northampton shoemakers. I create collections that are acceptable in almost any circumstances due to their unmistakable englishness, but augmented by the unexpected. the reason I’ve been successful is because I know that VAT means Value Added Tax not vodka and tonic. despite being located in more than 50 countries, every paul smith store is individual. I mix fashion with an extensive selection of jewellery, books, art, antiques and an array of interesting and beautiful toys.

multistripe signature saddle, 2009

please describe an evolution in your work, from your first projects to the present day.

I’m designing 13 collections every season, so that’s 26 a year and that’s a heck of alot of difference. in the beginning it was a very simple, very english type of clothing for men but now I design a jeans collection, 3 women’s collections and I do spectacles etc. its a big difference.

 
what project has given you the most satisfaction?

I enjoy challenges. I like all the different projects I have worked really hard on. of course I most often design clothes but I also enjoy designing different things, like furniture…

paul smith skis edelwiser, 2009

are there any celebrities you would love to dress?

actually a lot of my customers are young architects and designers, which are quite relaxed with themselves, or writers and actresses not looking for the ‘uniform’ of other fashion designers. I’m not so attracted to celebrity, apart from ‘old pop stars’ I continue to design cloths for – mick jagger, brian ferry, david bowie – there are of course also younger singers, but we do not promote our collections through celebrities.

 paul smith cricket ball, 2009

is there any designer and/or architect from the past, you appreciate a lot?

people like dior with his new look in the 1940’s , chanel when she released women from underwear. it was very solid and put women into trousers, yves saint laurent when he was so pioneering where with his ‘le smoking’ suit which had trousers instead of an evening dress, … so you know the real greats that’s who I like.

and those still working / contemporary?

I use to be quite a big fan for a while of comme de garcons, but I think recently its not so relevant as it use to be. I like good people like alexander mc queen – he’s a clever guy (note: at time of this interview paul smith did not know that alexander passed away). john galliano, dolce and gabbana, when you filter it down they are all quite clever. they are always too extravagant for their fashion shows because they treat it like theatre, but when you actually look into their collections they’re relatively simple.

paul smith lounge stockholm, 2010
a room full of pictures of paul smith’s iconic boutiques
image © designboom
see more images here

please describe briefly your woman 2010 fall/winter collection

normally I have strong theme, not this year, it is just ‘britishness’. it’s very much about the english aristocracy, and the naughty daughter who likes to sneak off to london and go to rock concerts. it evokes country houses, outdoor pursuits and just a touch of urban decadence. harris tweed, flannel, pinstripes, and the rose florals, and monochrome pieces.

‘sent things’
‘they are always sent to me with the stamps and address on the object and NEVER in a box.
it’s amazing that they really arrive to destination… that the post offices don’t stop them.’
paul smith, 2010, see more images here
image © designboom

what advice would you give to the young?

there are a lot of designers in the world and a lot of producers of everything. so you’ve got to really analyze what it is that you have to offer and then try and get as much experience as you can as a student, like working in a shop or assisting somebody… learn your trade! you can’t do things too quickly. you have to really know what you’re doing.

paul smith pays a tribute to the arne jacobsen 7 classic chair with an interpretations
of the popular stacking series produced by fritz hansen, 2005

what are you afraid of regarding the future?

right now, its over consumption and over expansion and greed that we’ve witnessed in the last 10 or 15 years. I think we have to readjust and be more humble with our lives and be more satisfied with love and companionship, with conversation. be more down to earth! of course we all like money and we all like to do well but it might be something that we have to do in a more humble way.

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british fashion designer and stockholm furniture fair guest of honor 2010, paul smith created a lounge, composed of 4 rooms, filled with personal sources of inspiration and impressions. one room shows ‘sent things’, random items sent to paul smith by a secret admirer over the past years (designboom featured this space in one of our previous articles). another room is covered entirely with photos of flowers, taken by paul smith, and ‘adapted’ to dress chairs, sofas, teacups.

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‘I want to spread an interesting, optimistic atmosphere that inspires people and shows something other than pure elegance. I made an area which is divided into sections which is just, I hope, very intriguing for people.‘ paul smith to designboom.

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‘one section is full of flowers, photographs of flowers I’ve taken on my various trips around the world. to remind us about the importance of nature and how much inspiration we can get by observing how beautiful nature is designed (whoever designed it).’ paul smith

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‘it looks very pretty and it’s very optimistic’. paul smith

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another room is full of pictures of paul smith’s iconic boutiques and famous ‘corporate stripes’ – plus a selection of the goods he sells in these shops, from shoes to toys…  

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‘there is another area which shows all my shops. I’m passionate about individuality, so there is lots of attention to detail. the photographs are showing that every shop is different and got its own character. I think this is really important in today’s world where everything is so similar, so standardized, and easily available everywhere. hopefully people think that it’s an interesting approach to retail.’ paul smith to designboom

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upholstery textile for maharam. paul smith also designed a collection of patterns for rugs of swedish company bolon’s woven vinyl flooring.

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the multi-colored stripes decorate his namesake shopping bags, he has applied them to socks, pumps, handbags, fine china… he even customized a mini cooper with them. they have become his fingerprint.

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the fourth room is dedicated to one of his biggest sources of inspiration, the italian architect and designer giò ponti, who was also founder and artistic director of ‘domus magazine’. the room is featuring covers of the magazine as well as a handwritten letter by gio ponti to the director of the denver art museum, otto bach and his wife cile miller bach, in 1970.

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‘this section is dedicated to gio ponti, a brilliant man. he was an architect and interior designer, he designed a car, furniture, teapots he wrote design critic and could  tell the difference between art and crap. he tried to avoid the elitism and more-artistic-than-thou attitude which has effectively kept the creation of art solely in the hands of ‘artists’. he worked with fornasetti, (…)’ paul smith to designboom

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‘I show quite a lot of the old covers of domus magazines’ says paul smith, ‘gio ponti was the editor -in-chief of domus magazine, the italian architecture and design magazine, for many years. I think 50 years, very long time.’

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a letter by gio ponti to the director of the denver art museum, otto bach and his wife cile miller bach, 1970
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‘I love the way gio ponti has taken the time to turn this letter into something happy and optimistic regardless of its contents!’ paul smith told designboom.

how does paul smith find his inspiration?  yesterday, at the stockholm furniture fair, you could hear him tell his story in his talk entitled ‘I like things’. smith described how he started his career, how he works and how he (and all of us) can find inspiration in everything.

The post paul smith lounge stockholm appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

british fashion designer and stockholm furniture fair  guest of honor 2010, paul smith created a lounge, composed of 4 rooms, filled with personal sources of inspiration and impressions.

image © designboom

one room shows ‘sent things’, items sent to paul smith by a secret admirer over the past years. paul smith to designboom in an interview: ‘I don’t know whether it’s a girl or a boy, I only know this fan is from USA. for 15-20 years I received quite funny things from ‘him’, these include a surfboard, football, broom, stepladders, sledge, watering can, fishing rod, piece of wood and much, much more. only a few are shown here. they are always sent to me with the stamps and address on the object and NEVER in a box. it’s amazing that they really arrive to destination… that the post offices don’t stop them.’

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a view into the ‘sent things’ room of paul smith’s lounge at the stockholm furniture fair 2010
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seats and carpet designed by paul smith
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a view into the ‘sent things’ room of paul smith’s lounge at the stockholm furniture fair 2010
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paul smith
portrait © designboom

paul smith

was born in nottingham in 1946. he left school at the age of 15 with the sole ambition of becoming a racing cyclist, until his father hauled him off to work at a clothing warehouse. it wasn’t until an accident put an end to his dreams of becoming a racing cyclist that paul smith started to get more involved in his job, and it was pure coincidence that he met pupils from an art college and became interested in art and fashion.  smith began studying tailoring in the evenings, and with the help of his girlfriend (now his wife), pauline denyer, who had a fashion degree from the royal college of art, he opened his first boutique in nottingham in 1970. in 1976, he showed his first menswear collection in paris under the paul smith label. today there are 13 collections sold in seventy five countries. paul smith shops are found in london, paris, milan, new york, LA, san francisco, antwerp, singapore, hong kong, soeul, moscow, cape town and over 200 throughout japan. paul smith continues to be an integral part of the company; he is both designer and chairman.

The post paul smith ‘sent things’ appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.