Paul Smith’s introduction into fashion was completely accidental. It involved a cycling mishap, a chance meeting in the hospital and an introduction to Mondrian, Warhol, David Bailey, Kokoshka, the Rolling Stones and Miles Davis. A few years later, in 1970, Smith opened his first shop and showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label in 1976.

Since then, Smith has established himself as the pre-eminent British designer, lauded for his ability to anticipate and spark off trends, in not only fashion but also the wider context of popular culture. He mixes his love of tradition and the classics with a genuine sense of humour and mischief.

Today there are 12 Paul Smith collections that are distributed globally.