Paul Smith's S/S 2022 menswear collection has a nostalgic nod. Here, the London-based designer has riffed on the sun-drenched tones he associates with his holiday home in Lucca, Tuscany - which in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, he was desirous to visit. And the collection also alludes to Smith's life-long love of cycling – which remains, despite the crash that famously shifted his focus from pro riding to fashion – pairing relaxed tailoring with lightweight vests in ebullient stripes and floral prints.
Paul Smith and Porter: the right stripes
Smith's early career, and the connections he made expanding his global label, had particular focus. The designer – who has a huge presence in Japan – and has visited the country countless times, looked back to one of his earliest trips to Tokyo, where he made longtime connections with the family behind iconic accessories label Porter, which launched in 1962. ‘The son of the Porter Yoshida family was one my best friends and one of the reasons why I did well in Japan in the early days,’ Smith told Wallpaper* on a call regarding his S/S 2022 collection.
Now, Smith has translated his affection for Porter into fabric form, with an uplifting capsule collection of bags and accessories, that unite Smith's signature stripes with Porter's idiosyncratic nylon twill fabric. ‘It was lovely making the decision to put our mixed up stripes onto the brand’s bags,’ Smith says of the irregular patterns that swathe duffel bags, roomy multi-pocket shoppers and wallets, that draw on the tones of vintage tent fabrics, including khaki, mauve and navy blue.
The collection celebrates Smith's long time love of Japanese manufacturing: each piece is created with the highest rigour in the label's home country, using nylon twill that is ultra durable. Each design will ensure you can carry the stripe-infused spirit of the country, wherever you choose to travel.
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