Paul Smith
A monograph celebrating 50 years of Paul Smith.
To mark the 50th anniversary of one of Britain’s most beloved fashion designers, Paul Smith set out to tell a unique kind of story through the objects that shaped his life.
TC & Friends was invited to shape and oversee the creation of the brand’s definitive monograph — a project that would distill five decades of creativity into a format that was both intimate and iconic.
Client
Phaidon
Services
Concept
Editorial Direction
Creative Direction
Content Strategy
Photography
Matthew Donaldson
Book Design
Julia Hasting
Our idea was to build a portrait of Paul through fifty of his personal objects, drawn from his private collection. Each item — whether a handwritten note, a bicycle, or a favourite photograph — became a lens into the ideas, friendships, and irreverent humour that have defines Paul Smith.
Paul in his first shop on Byard Lane
Paul’s crashed bicycle
Paul in Nottingham, 1970
Paul’s matchbox collection
The book unfolds across over sixty personal contributions from the worlds of fashion, design, sport and culture — including Manolo Blahnik, James Dyson, Martin Parr, John Pawson, and Alice Rawsthorn. Letters, sketches, and photographs form a chorus of perspectives, each offering a different story on the man behind the brand.
Each contribution was included as a tip-in section
TC & Friends guided the editorial structure and visual flow of the book, ensuring each element — from the typography to narrative rhythm — reflected Paul’s enduring ability to combine classic craft with unexpected charm.
What emerged is celebration. It’s a study in curiosity, generosity, and the lasting power of personal style.
A young Paul with his Paramount bicycle
Jacques Anquetil on Paris Match magazine, 1964
Yarn windings
Composite image of a young Paul flying over the Brighton Pavillion, taken by his father
The monograph opens with a foreword by former Apple Chief Design Officer, Sir Jonathan Ive, and an introduction by Tony Chambers (above)
First edition cover, based on the yarn windings
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IN’EI