PAUL SMITH ON FASHION 1

PAUL SMITH ON FASHION
As the men's element of London Fashion Week gets underway with the launch of an exciting new initiative, London Collections: Men, we visited the office of one of Britain's most successful fashion designers, Sir Paul Smith, to gain some invaluable insight into the complex world of fashion.

We have some choice quotes and tips from Paul here, matched by images from his amazing office, and then below is an in-depth interview with the irrepressible designer, which delves into the details of his success and ask the question: could a young British designer coming through today follow in Paul's illustrious footsteps?

At oki-ni we have always supported exciting new fashion talent - British talent especially. Like proud parents watching their children move from school, to college, to university, we have seen the likes of Christopher Shannon and J.W. Anderson move from the MAN and NEW GEN initiatives to the London Fashion Week schedule and then out into the world.

For young designers there is no guaranteed formula for success, but if you are just starting out in the rag trade you could do a lot worse than following the example of Sir Paul Smith. The 65-year-old knight of the realm is a walking, talking instruction manual, a living blueprint for anyone who has aspirations of one day seeing their name hanging from a swing tag or on the London Fashion Week schedule.

Since opening his first shop in Nottingham back in 1970 - financed by his own savings – Britain's best known fashion designer has slowly but surely built an empire that exports British eccentricity and Savile Row craft to the world -"Savile Row meets Mr Bean", as he once called it. Yet, with shops in 72 countries and sales approaching ￡200 million last year, there's nothing slapstick about Paul's operation and his success is beyond dispute. What's more, if you ask him, he's happy to share exactly how he achieved it.

"Keep your feet on the ground paul smith bags sale, understand your trade, live within your means, and grow carefully", says Paul with a smile. It all sounds so simple and, in truth, it might just be. People talk about a "secret to success" as if there is a trick or a formula that successful people are privy to and they are not, but the reality is that success is a by-product of hard work and passion; if your goal is to be successful then you're looking at things in reverse.

"Unfortunately, so many of us are informed by success these days", says Paul. "We're so informed by what other people are doing – this footballer earns this much, that guy's got this car." These, however paul smith multi colour stripe bags, are unwelcome distractions. "Fashion is about today and tomorrow", says Paul. "Nobody cares how good you used to be. You've really got to know your stuff basically."

"Fashion is about today and tomorrow. Nobody cares how good you used to be."

The great thing about Paul paul smith holdall bags, however, is that he isn't content to just know his own stuff, he has a rapacious appetite for stuff of all kinds. We asked him what job title would appear on his business card below his name: designer, creative director, CEO? "Does stuff", he replies, with a humble grin.

Paul's office is testament to how much stuff he does do. If a man's office is an extension of his character then Paul's is an enchanting jumble of organized chaos. A long central meeting table is flanked on all sides by shelves and bookcases loaded with books on every subject - from art to advertising paul smith shoulder bags. Stacked on top of the books you find objects and curiosities beyond number, collected by Paul on his travels and sent to him by admirers and friends from across the globe (more on this later). For example, "Patti Smith corner", as Paul calls it, is dedicated to things sent by his friend the celebrated musician, photographer, and poet, whose scope is nearly as broad as Paul's.

At oki-ni we often say that mess is a by-product of hard work, but in Paul's office it is a by-product of limitless curiosity - an attitude exemplified by the question that Paul has been asking for much of his 40-year career: why?

"Why shouldn't I do that? Why's that man fat? Why's that man tall? Why can't I have a building in bright pink? What's the problem with that?" Paul says in rapid succession. That's why I suddenly have my Los Angeles shop as a bright pink cube, or I design a bicycle, or I take photographs, or I write a sports column for Le Monde every month and I don't know anything about sport; I've lectured at Apple's headquarters for Jonathan Ive and I never use a computer."