Paul Smith dress Manchester United Football Club

Paul Smith has teamed up with Manchester United Football Club to design and supply the team players with formal wear and accessories for the next three years. This is the first time that Manchester United has entered into such a partnership.

“It is exciting to be involved with Manchester United, they have such an international fan base and I know that our customers in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, in fact all South East Asia, Europe and the U.S. will be interested in this partnership. And hopefully it might help me get a ticket to a match now!’ Paul Smith

"The outfits are outstanding. This is a Club with a rich heritage and one that has a clear sense of identity. Sir Paul has recognised that, while providing clothing that will be the envy of every other Club." Sir Alex Ferguson

Paul Smith will supply Manchester United playing staff and officials for all domestic matches, European Cup campaign and pre-season tours. The first designs will be worn to the 2008 Champions League Final in Moscow.

“On the 7th May I travelled to Manchester for the final fittings we had made for the Team, management and staff of Manchester United. The suits will be used for the 2008/2009 season for travelling to and from the games. We were very privileged to be asked to make them; the suit is 2 button slim navy 100% wool with specially designed lining with red panels and striped piping. The team crest has been made from gold and silver thread and is sewn to the top pocket to give a club blazer feel. As we are famous for stripes we decided the tie should be diagonal stripe in optimistic colours and was designed exclusively for the team. It is worn with a white shirt and we have made a special belt which has the crest printed inside on the tip. Finally the shoes are the very dark brown brogue with a burnished finish. We have also made a simple black raincoat for the team and luggage in a striped fabric which looks like very English suiting.” Paul Smith

By the time the project was coming to fruition the team had qualified for the Champions League Final and we were asked to make another special suit for their trip to Moscow. It is a lightweight grey wool/mohair suit to be worn with a pale blue shirt and striped tie. The suit also has the special red panelled lining with the striped piping which is the same stripe as the tie.

The Players, Coaching Staff and Board Directors will be travelling to and from Moscow in the Grey Champions League Final suits whilst all other staff will be wearing the new official Navy suits.

For more information regarding this partnership please visit www.manutd.com

Lets Get Lost

Thursday 5 June 2008

To celebrate the re-release of Bruce Weber's film LET’S GET LOST, Paul Smith, a partner to the film, will be holding an exclusive screening at the Broadway cinema in Nottingham on June 9th and has designed a limited edition tee shirt with Bruce Weber.

Internationally renowned photographer/filmmaker Bruce Weber has created a second stunning feature with LET’S GET LOST, his Academy Award nominated film about the late jazz great Chet Baker.

LET’S GET LOST, also the name of a long out-of-print Baker tune, aptly describes the driving force of this man and his music. His James Dean looks and cool sound set Baker apart from the other musicians of his time but his ongoing issues with a narcotic addiction also gave a generation of jazz fans a Doomed Youth of their very own. Chet Baker’s life plays out like a Kerouac creation, as did his death (he fell out of an Amsterdam hotel window on Friday the 13th 1988, age 58), but out of his life came some of the most lyrical trumpet playing and jazz vocals ever heard.

Following the elusive and digressive nature of their star, Weber, cinematographer Jeff Preiss, and crew went on the road with Baker from the West Coast to the East Coast to continental Europe, during what turned out to be the last year of the musician’s life. Weber captures some of Baker’s last recording sessions; weaves in excerpts from Italian B movies starring the handsome young Chet, as well as rare performance footage; pauses for candid interviews with Baker, musicians, friends, battling ex-wives and children; and adds an extra visual dimension that is becoming the filmmaker’s personal stamp.

LET’S GET LOST was a sensation at several international film festivals, including the 1989 “New Directors/New Films” series at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Critics’ Prize.

To buy a limited edition Lets Get Lost T-shirt Click Here

To view the trailer Click Here

PAUL SMITH’S DESIGNS ON NURTURING FASHION TALENT

Monday 2 June 2008

Emerging fashion designers at Nottingham Trent University will be given the chance to hone their talents through a unique scholarship agreement with Paul Smith Ltd. The international link-up will see top calibre students from the university’s School of Art and Design, and the Bunka Women’s University and Musashino Art University in Tokyo, being funded to take part in an exclusive study exchange programme.

The Paul Smith Japan/UK Scholarship Scheme, which is set to run for five years initially, will see two scholarships awarded to Japanese students to study on the one year MA Fashion Futures programme at Nottingham Trent University. Four Nottingham Trent University students, meanwhile, will go to the Bunka Women’s University for ten weeks to gain a firsthand insight into the Japanese fashion industry.

Paul Smith has strong links with Nottingham Trent University and in 2006 officially reopened the multimillion pound Bonington Building – the School of Art and Design’s purpose-built centre for creativity.

“These unique scholarships further develop both our tradition of strong relationships with industry and our excellent international links, while opening up opportunities for the brightest and most innovative students from the UK and Japan,” said Ann Priest, Dean of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Art and Design.

She said: “They will benefit hugely from experiencing the different design practices, methods and theories of another culture; it will allow them to develop their talents in ways that may otherwise have not been possible. Paul Smith has always been keen to help young fashion designers and potential future entrepreneurs, particularly when it means supporting creative talent from the two countries which have really helped to establish his brand as a global success story.”

Nottingham-born Paul Smith, opened his first boutique in the city in 1970, now has 14 shops throughout England and more than 200 in Japan where his label outsells every other European designer. He remains fully involved in the Japanese business, designing the clothes, choosing the fabrics, approving the shop locations and overseeing the development within the company.

"I am very pleased to be in a position where I can give what is hopefully an exciting opportunity to students. I think one of the most important experiences in life is travel, and the way this can open your eyes to the world. It certainly has been one of mine." Paul Smith

'A Thousand Things' by Paul Weller.

Tuesday 3 June 2008

Last night, Paul Smith hosted a book launch for Paul Weller's new book 'A Thousand Things'.

The book is the visual history of one of Britain’s greatest and most-loved songwriters and a true British icon. Written and signed by Paul himself, A Thousand Things features rare photographs from the Weller family archive, fliers, posters, badges and the work of Paul’s favourite photographers. Many of these images have never been published before.

Paul Smith is also showcasing a Epiphone Casino Gibson guitar in the Floral Street shop. This guitar has been signed by both Paul Weller and Paul Smith and will be auctioned off for charity on Paul Weller’s website.

Visit www.paulweller.com for more information on the auction and charity.

"A Thousand Things is published by Genesis Publications costing £250. Copies of this limited edition book and vinyl boxed set are available at Paul Smith, presented in a uniquely finished drawstring bag."