If it weren’t for a love of cycling at an early age, we wouldn’t have one of the world’s preeminent designers known for managing 12 different collections with a range of equally colorful and traditional European-made products. At age 17, Paul Smith was involved in a terrible cycling accident that put him in a hospital for 6 months of recovery, but this experience also introduced him to a group of friends who inspired him to express himself as an artist. After a couple years of work, Smith and his now wife opened up their first shop in 1970 and, within a few years, began to appear in shows in Paris. Fortunately for us, he never stopped and the rest is history.
Demonstrating that Sir Smith still has a deep love for cycling, he has designed a 100% cotton chino short featuring an embroidered cyclist pattern spread throughout the piece. The two front pockets as well as the two in the back are lined with an ivory/blue broad stripe pattern while the wood-like button fly slips through a purple stitch. Check out more looks at this signature Smith short after the jump before heading to The Goodhood Store to pick up a pair.
Bikes are among the most humble of transportation, but the bicycle has also long been an objet: a medium for industrial designers and their fans to push and blur boundaries between art and utility. And in the past decade, this appreciation and fetishization of the bicycle has reached new heights, fueled by influences as disparate as a resurgent Tour de France following (with all of the inherent sportsmens’ drama and violence), and an newfound appreciation by city-dwellers (note huge numbers of psuedo-messengers, alongside well-dressed adults on Dutch cargo bikes, in any fashion-forward city). The new cool of cycling has also allowed Englishman Paul Smith to revisit the sport; the designer was a would-be racer himself, and has been injecting a solid dose of cycling into his own collections, as well as collaborating with lifestyle cycling brand Rapha. And in a mark of pure love for the bike itself, Smith has just co-authored Cyclepedia, which gives a look back at notable bike designs of the past 90 years. The book touches on everthing from swooping carbon fiber to aggressive velodrome geometry to urbane and proper commuters – with plenty of quirky non-sequiters thrown in. Great gift for any fans of bicycle design; check out a few spreads after the jump, and see end clothing to purchase.
The Paul Smith Mini, its exterior painted with the signature multi-stripes for which the British fashion designer is famous, toured the United States last year, a journey that began at the Paul Smith Las Vegas store. To commemorate the cross-country road trip, the designer has released a set of accessories for each region of the country. The West Coast swing of the On Location series is represented by a laptop sleeve, toiletry case and billfold wallet, all printed with an image of the Mini parked underneath blue skies, palm trees and the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas road sign. The laptop sleeve and toiletry case are built with zippered canvas with brown leather trim, while the wallet is crafted with smooth black leather and contrast white topstitch, with the Vegas graphic adorned across the interior. The collection is available now at Paul Smith stockists like Por Vocacao.
Leica Camera and fashion designer Paul Smith have partnered on a limited edition camera case for the Leica D-Lux 5 digital camera. Handcrafted in England, just 300 cases were made — 150 in a smooth chocolate brown calf leather with signature Paul Smith multi-hued striping on the sides, and 150 in a grey croc-print leather with purple lining. Each case comes with a matching leather strap and features a “Paul Smith for Leica” insignia embossed on the back. The cases will release in October and be sold through Leica’s London store, as well as Paul Smith stores throughout the U.K.
Now that the Boston Celtics had proved to be a team above the Cleveland Cavaliers and captured the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the big question of the week now goes to, where will King James land? Perhaps the New York Knicks? Perhaps with the Chicago Bulls? The question is well speculated but still remains obscure and uncertain. While NBA fans ponder and continue to stay glued to ESPN, the rest of the world is getting heated up for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off in June. With only so many more days to go, some of the biggest happenings of the week does surround the soccer ball. Nike gears up with the “Write The Future” Campaign and continues to push its Nike Six (6) Collaborations. Of course, Umbro and adidas have stepped up in the soccer game as well. Stay updated and in the loop to get a feel for everything (both sports and non-sports related) going on as well, and keep reading to score your talking points and crucial information for the week!
The good Sir Paul Smith has been taking his penchant for color refined with a gentlemanly restrain to the slopes with the help of snowboard gear maker, Burton, since 2005. The English designer has been lending his creative braincells to Burton and the duo’s collaboration had grown from jacket and pants to a collection of apparel as well as a snowboard which is set to drop for this coming snowboard season. The collaborative Paul Smith Vapor snowboard is an exemplification of both labels’ dictum for impeccable shapes and love for colors. On the upper, the snowboard is kept restrained and cool in black, with a pop of color in the channel which allows for use with both the Burton EST and Burton 3D bindings; and on the flip side, things get a little wild as Paul Smith’s iconic rainbow stripes are interlaced with bold Burton logo. The Vapor is a lightweight board which allows for an effortless ride. The snowboard is set to drop later this year, so those who are thinking of upgrading their gear and look, here is a good option to consider before powder season kicks in.
Limited to 500 sets worldwide, the newest collaboration from Paul Smith is with Japanese audio component marker Audio Technica. Simply known as Limited Edition Headphones, the “over-the-ear” design is base on the Audio Technica’s popular ATH-ES7 model. Instead of the polished aluminum casing in silver, the Paul Smith variant feature a machined aluminum casing in brass, etched with both collaborators’ logos. The right and left side also feature the Paul Smith signature vertical stripes insignia. A 40mm drive and response frequency from 5 to 30,000Hz gives listener clarity in a comfortable package. Comes with a Paul Smith’s carrying pouch, the Paul Smith x Audio Technica – Limited Edition Headphones is currently on sale at selected Paul Smith retail locations, including Paul Smith Jeans chapter on ZOZO online shopping network.
With a rainbow of stripes as the label’s icon, Paul Smith is not a brand that is color shy. Taking the well-loved Converse Chuck Taylor All Star silhouette for a Paul Smith spin, the resulting kicks are streamlined Pinafore Trainers with an opulent green metallic finish on an black grain leather upper. The trainers are stamped with Paul Smith’s coat of arms on the suede tongue and the white heel grips are also decorated with the Paul Smith logo. Sleeker than your average canvas shoes, these trainers are night-ready and now available for order online via: Paul Smith.
Just knowing how to buy great kicks without knowing how to take good care of them is almost like disrespecting your shoes and the people who put them together. Especially now winter befalls upon us with its usual entourage of rain, snow and sludge, taking good care of your shoes will make sure they last miles longer than they would without. Paul Smith has got everyone covered in this area with a vintage looking wooden shoe care kit. With every imaginable wax and tool you might need for all your kicks and soles, the easy kit will help you keep everything in spanking tip-top condition without having to feel like a primp for sitting on the high chairs while staring down at the shoeshine boy. Probably good for making a few extra bucks too, the kit is a good investment especially if you have a penchant for quality shoes.
In the age of computers, keyboards and ultra mobility, there are rarely any occasions we get to express ourselves through pen and paper. However, it is oddly comforting and therapeutic to see penmanship and the process of actual marking and creating something by hand. French stationery maker, Rhodia, inspires countless to create with their signature grids, smooth paper and iconic orange cover.
Al Pacino questioned the Scent of a Woman; but, what is the scent of a man? Paul Smith answered this question with a new fragrance that is straightforwardly titled MAN. No fuss, no muss– just MAN. This new fragrance is created by Natalie Lorson who had worked with Jil Sander and Trussardi. MAN is a blend of orris, yuzu and incense, creating an intricate balance of sensual muskiness and freshness. These will be available Aug 6 at Paul Smith boutiques and online. Perhaps tis’ the season to switch out the AXE for some MAN.
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