Paul Smith

As the new season gets underway, Paul Smith presents the new spring/summer ’16 mainline campaign for men and women – coming soon to a billboard or fashion magazine near you.

The current of independence runs strongly through Paul Smith’s spring/summer ’16 collections.

Highlighting the fact that Paul Smith remains an independently owned company – plus Paul’s fondness for independent thinkers in the art, music and design worlds – the new collections are defined by their sense of freedom and individuality.

For men, the spring/summer collection has no fixed silhouette, reflecting the way real men dress. On the runway the varied cast of characters were united by the common themes of tailoring and colour – two Paul Smith signatures.
New prints for the season included a colony of ants. The insects appeared in magnified prints on T-shirts and knitwear, then in smaller repeating patterns on bags and shoes.

Colours are influenced by David Hockney’s unparalleled eye for colour. As a result, bright swimming-pool blues sit beside vibrant oranges and reds. These bold colours are carried over into shoes and accessories, transforming classic styles into standout pieces.

Taking cues from the men’s collection, while adding its own distinctive twist, spring/summer ’16 womenswear is also an eruption of confident colour.
Offering a gentle rebellion against tradition, tailoring is subverted by sleeveless jackets and bias cut skirts while couture fabrics are balanced with naïve screen-printing techniques.

As ever, print is fundamental with loose silk-screen prints referencing the methods used by Paul at the beginning of his career. This mood is heightened by brush-stroke prints and stripes of every scale, which hint at an artistic, handmade aesthetic.

The unexpected and bold use of colour is continued in the accessories department. One particular star is the Concertina bag – a new style hiding flashes of colour that was inspired by the Argentine tango.

Paul Smith
16, The Royal Arcade,
28 Old Bond Street
London W1S 4SR
Tel: 0203 205 1135
www.paulsmith.co.uk