Sir Paul Smith CBE RDI (born 5 July 1946) is a British fashion designer. His reputation is founded on his designs for men's clothing, but his business has expanded into other areas, too. Smith was made a Royal Designer for Industry in 1991, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000. His eponymous fashion company was founded in 1970 and has expanded into over 70 countries, selling its products via standalone stores, departments in high-end stores or malls, along with airport terminals, as well as the e-commerce section of its international website. Some of his brand's physical stores are recognized for their uniqueness and eccentricity, including the much-photographed vibrant, fluorescent pink flagship store in Los Angeles. Paul Smith opened his very own shop called Paul Smith “Vêtement Pour Homme” in Nottingham in 1970, which sold established clothing labels, alongside pieces that Paul Smith had designed himself. The store was just 3 square metres and was located at 6 Byard Lane in Nottingham. In 1976, Paul travelled to Paris to showcase his first men's collection, which featured a mix of casual and semi-formal wear. After that the Paul Smith brand continued to grow and he opened his flagship London store in 1979 on Floral Street in Covent Garden, London. 'Paul Smith Women' his first womenswear collection was launched in 1993, after reports of women coming into his stores buying smaller sizes to wear themselves. The first Japan store opened in Tokyo in 1984, growing over the years to 165 stores across the country. Smith opened his first shop in New York on Fifth Avenue in 1987, the company now has four shops in the state; the flagship on Greene Street as well as Williamsburg, Bleecker Street and Brookfield Place. In 1993, Smith took over a 'workwear' clothing company R. Newbold (established in 1885) and incorporated many of their designs into his new collection. The start of his childrenswear collection started in 1990 with the launch of a one off collection for boys, including casual and tailored pieces. In 2010, Paul Smith launched 'Paul Smith Junior' as a seasonal collection which often included remakes of his adult collections. In 1995, the Design Museum exhibited 'True Brit', a show marking 25 years of his business. The show then went on to Glasgow for the 'Festival of Design' and then moved to his hometown of Nottingham and put on display inNottingham Castle. Smith published his first book, entitled You Can Find Inspiration in Everything in 2001. The brand launched its ecommerce site in 2004. In 2016, Smith's second book, Paul Smith's Cycling Scrapbook was released, which documents a personal history of the sport he is very passionate about. His company remains independent, and Paul Smith owns the majority of it. |
