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Paul Smith

Basic information

Country
United Kingdom
Founded
1970

Overview

Paul Smith is a brand founded by designer Paul Smith in Nottingham, England, in 1970. Starting with menswear, it now offers collections for men, women, and children, as well as shoes, accessories, fragrances, and home furnishings. The brand cites “curiosity, quality and authenticity” as its core values.

Concept

curiosity, quality and authenticity

Sub-brands

  • Paul Smith COLLECTION 1990

    The “Paul Smith COLLECTION” line is developed independently for the Japanese market. In an interview with Business of Fashion, Paul Smith himself referred to it as a Japan-specific line and explained that it is a high-caliber men’s collection made in Japan, with a retail presence as well. It is positioned separately from the global main line and occupies the upper tier of the lineup in Japan.

    A Japan-exclusive, high-caliber men’s line

  • Paul Smith for Children 1990

    A derived label used in Paul Smith's children's wear segment. The Guardian notes that Paul Smith introduced “Paul Smith for Children” in 1990 and that the label was included when the children's wear range was divided into several labels for Autumn/Winter 2000. It served as a core name for organizing children's wear before the later Paul Smith Junior.

    A core children's wear label of the 1990s

  • Paul Smith Women 1993

    A womenswear-only line derived from Paul Smith, which began with menswear. The Design Museum timeline records that the first collection of “Paul Smith Women” (SS1994) was launched in 1993. Since then, the name has been used for the womenswear division within the brand, and in 2016 the men’s and women’s shows were also integrated.

    A womenswear-only derivative collection

  • Paul Smith Blue Label 2000

    One of the derivative labels established when Paul Smith’s children’s clothing range was divided into three labels for Autumn/Winter 2000. The Guardian specifically lists the three labels as “Paul Smith Sport / Paul Smith for Children / Paul Smith Blue Label.” Within Paul Smith’s children’s wear, the name served to distinguish the range at the time.

    Blue label for children’s clothing in Autumn/Winter 2000

  • Paul Smith Red Ear 2000

    The “Red Ear (Red Ear Jeans)” line within Paul Smith. An introduction to architect Sophie Hicks’s project explicitly describes Red Ear Jeans as “a Paul Smith line inspired by classic workwear,” and also indicates that a shop in Tokyo carrying jeans from the line existed (opened in 2001). It is positioned as a distinct edit within the brand with a stronger focus on workwear and denim.

    A distinct line inspired by workwear.

  • Paul Smith Sport 2000

    A derivative label mentioned as one of several labels created when Paul Smith divided its childrenswear range in autumn/winter 2000. The Guardian reported that the childrenswear line was split into three labels: “Paul Smith Sport,” “Paul Smith for Children,” and “Paul Smith Blue Label.” It was positioned as the label responsible for sports-oriented offerings within the kidswear range.

    A sports-oriented derivative label within childrenswear

  • Paul Smith Black Label 2005

    The “Paul Smith Black” line (Black Label), operated as a derivative line on the womenswear side of Paul Smith. Vintage Fashion Guild notes that Black label launched in summer 2005 and that Black was positioned as a womenswear diffusion line. As of 2015, it was still reported as one of the womenswear lines (Paul Smith / Black Label / Paul by Paul Smith).

    A womenswear derivative line called Black

  • Paul by Paul Smith 2008

    One of the derivative lines operated on the women's side of Paul Smith. FashionNetwork listed “Paul Smith / Black Label / Paul by Paul Smith” as the women's line structure at the time in 2015. A separate report states that Paul by Paul Smith was announced in 2007 and rolled out from Spring/Summer 2008, forming part of a structure in which Paul Smith's womenswear was divided among multiple lines.

    Separate women's line launched for SS 2008

  • Paul Smith Junior 2010

    A dedicated line for children launched by Paul Smith for Autumn/Winter 2010 (AW2010-11). British Vogue reported the launch of “Paul Smith Junior,” noting that it covered ages 0 to 14 and comprised items that referenced elements of the men’s and women’s collections. It was positioned as a distinct line that clarified the brand’s junior segment.

    A dedicated children’s line for ages 0–14

  • PS Paul Smith 2017

    A derivative line in the “PS by Paul Smith/PS” family, launched by Paul Smith in 2016 as a new diffusion line. It was designed as a core part of the strategy to consolidate multiple subsets within the brand into two lines, “Paul Smith” and “PS,” and to offer more accessible products. While drawing on the main line’s colors, patterns, and tailoring elements, it offers menswear and womenswear geared more toward everyday use.

    The PS line responsible for broadening accessibility within the two-line structure

  • Paul Smith Jeans

    A derivative line positioned as the most casual collection, with jeans at its core, within Paul Smith’s line structure. It was developed as one part of the brand’s multi-collection offering (PS, London, etc.), with its denim-centered approach differentiating its entry points from the main line in terms of use and style.

    A casual derivative line centered on denim

  • Paul Smith London

    A collection under the Paul Smith London name, developed as one of Paul Smith’s derivative lines alongside the main Paul Smith line. Retailers have also referred to it as a “diffusion line” alongside the mainline and the PS family of lines. Within the brand’s operation of multiple lines, it has been positioned as expanding the range in the menswear segment.

    A separate diffusion line focused on menswear