Hello, My Name is Paul Smith – Design Museum

Hello, My Name is Paul Smith at London’s Design Museum takes a personal look at the renowned British designer’s work, life and influences.

The exhibition begins with a recreation of the very first Paul Smith shop in 1970s Nottingham, measuring a tiny 3m x 3m.  This leads on to the main hall, which features a vast collection of paintings, photographs, prints, magazine clippings and hand-writted fan letters from Paul Smith’s personal archives.

It shows Paul Smith as an avid collector, with a number of instantly recognisable images and original artworks.

Also recreated for the exhibition is Paul Smith’s personal office – a busy hub of inspiration and creativity.  The designer himself held court in the office for a morning of interviews, while his narration throughout the exhibition gives an insight into his mind.

The next room is an artistic replica of the humble beginnings of the Paul Smith label in a Paris hotel room in 1976 (even then the trademark stripes were present).  With a collection of just six shirts, two jumpers and two suits laid out on a black felt-covered bed, Paul Smith took his first client order.  His first show at a friend’s flat on Paris’ Rue Vaugirard followed and the brand grew from there.

We are also treated to an inside look at the Paul Smith design studio in Covent Garden.  This is where the ideas happen – where garments are designed, colours are paired and fabrics are chosen.  Sketches and mood boards show the design process behind the collections.

Also on display are campaigns that Paul Smith has shot himself over the years, alongside those by David Bailey, Mario Testino and Sandro Sodano.

The exhibition also touches on Paul Smith’s successful collaborations with brands such as Evian, Thomas Goode, Mini Cooper, Roberts Radio and even HP Sauce.  His love of cycling is also referenced with his collection of Rapha cycling jerseys.

Another room features behind-the-scenes footage of Paul Smith at work and his SS14 catwalk show in Paris, filmed by Sony and shown on Sony 4K TVs with impressive picture and sound quality.

Of course, the exhibition wouldn’t be complete without pieces from Paul Smith collections over the years, showing his signature exquisite tailoring, vivid colours and stunning digital prints.

Hello, My Name is Paul Smith is a dedicated, imaginative and personal view of the world of Paul Smith.  The tributes to his wife Pauline Denyer Smith are touching and it’s easy to lose a few hours examining the wall of photographs and paintings.

Hello, My Name is Paul Smith runs until 9th March 2014 at Design Museum.  For more information, visit: www.designmuseum.org

All photos by Chérie City