Paul Smith

When 16, Paul Smith was a storekeeper for a department store in Nottingham. At this time he wanted to be a professional cyclist, but an accident at 17 shattered his dream. During 6 months of hospitalization he met new friends, and became immersed in a new culture and the Rolling Stones. He opened his first boutique in 1970 whilst attending evening classes in tailoring. Then 1976 saw the launch of his first runway collection in Paris. Extravagant, a taste for kitsch, he bargain-hunts objects everywhere around the world, and gets inspiration for his designs.