Paul Smith: You Can Find Inspiration in Everything -

by Paul Smith

Far from being a fashion monograph, this book "images" Paul Smith's brain on to the page, presenting original and often humorous thoughts and ideas in shop windows, in advertising campaigns, in photographs and souvenirs brought back from world travels that became the inspiration for the look of the season. In addition to texts and images by Paul Smith himself, collaborations an account of his teenage obsession with cycling by Richard Williams, sports writer on the "Guardian"; a fiction by celebrated novelist James Flint; interviews with neuroscientist Dr Semir Zeki and curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist; two posters; and "The Bunny", a comic book within the book, complete with a cryptic crossword, puzzles, a fold-out board game and illustrations by various acclaimed artists and designers.

Genres: Fashion, Art, Design, Biography, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Paul Smith English fashion designer

At the age of 16, with no career plans or qualifications, Paul Smith was propelled by his father into a menial job at the local clothing warehouse in his native Nottingham. However his real passion was sport and his ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist, until aged 17 years when cycling-mad Paul was in a terrible accident.

Six months in hospital followed and during this time Paul made some new friends. After leaving hospital he arranged to meet them again and by chance the meeting place was a local pub that was popular with the students from the local art college.
Within two years, Paul Smith was managing his first boutique in Nottingham and with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer (now wife) and a small amount of savings, opened a tiny shop in 1970. Paul started to take evening classes for tailoring and with the help of Pauline (an RCA fashion graduate), Paul was able to create what he wanted. By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.

Reviews

[Kate Green]

Interesting and artistic biography of Britain's most successful designer - Paul Smith. I enjoyed this book, but thought it may have provided a little more direction in finding inspiration in everything!