www.mypaulsmith.com

Who had have though saddle shoes would make a comeback? Sure, people liked them in that picture of Robert Redford on the beach, but no one seriously thought about wearing them. But, due to the current love for anything old, saddle shoes now look the epitome of cool.

Trust Paul Smith to make the most modern looking pair we’ve seen. The slim last means it’ll fit with your slim (New Standard) to tight (New Cure) jeans without looking like you’ve got clown feet. (Paul Smith)

Check after that jump for detailed pictures. Just come from MyPaulSmith.com

At the age of 16, with no career plans or qualifications, Paul Smith was propelled by his father into a menial job at the local clothing warehouse in his native Nottingham. However his real passion was sport and his ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist, until aged 17 years when cycling-mad Paul was in a terrible accident.

Six months in hospital followed and during this time Paul made some new friends. After leaving hospital he arranged to meet them again and by chance the meeting place was a local pub that was popular with the students from the local art college.

They talked of Mondrian, Warhol, Kokoshka, David Bailey and listened to the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis and much more. It was then Paul knew he wanted to be a part of this colourful world of ideas and excitement.

Within two years, Paul Smith was managing his first boutique in Nottingham and with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer (now wife) and a small amount of savings, opened a tiny shop in 1970. Paul started to take evening classes for tailoring and with the help of Pauline (an RCA fashion graduate), Paul was able to create what he wanted. By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.

Within 20 years of his introduction to fashion Paul Smith had established himself as the pre-eminent British designer. Paul Smith has the ability to anticipate, and even spark off trends not only fashion but in the wider context of popular culture. He manages to transmit a genuine sense of humour and mischief mixed with his love of tradition and the classics

Today there are 8 different collections; Paul Smith, Paul Smith Women, PS by Paul Smith, Paul Smith Notebook, Paul Smith Flip Flop, Paul Smith Trainers, Paul Smith Accessories, Paul Smith Shoes. Paul Smith rugs, china, spectacles and fragrance are made under license. Designed in Nottingham and London, the Paul Smith collections are primarily produced in England and Italy while the fabrics used are mainly of Italian, French and British origin.

In 2002 Paul Smith collaborated with Cappellini to create the Mondo collection of furniture inspired by observation and travel. In 2003 Paul designed an upholstery textile in partnership with Maharam, called ‘Bespoke, which was inspired by classic pinstripe suiting.

The Paul Smith shops reflect the character of Paul and his designs, an unmistakable Englishness augmented by the unexpected. The shops house the Paul Smith collections and an extensive selection of jewellery, books, art, antiques and an array of interesting and beautiful products. Work of British designers is often showcased alongside Pauls personal collections of art or curios.

Paul Smith continues to be an integral part of the company; he is both designer and chairman. Paul Smith is continually involved in every aspect of the business and as a result, Paul Smith Limited retains a personal touch often lost in companies of a similar size.

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My main areas of interest can be divided up into three neat little groups. Science, politics and technology. I’m an astronomer and sceptic. Some of my astro-photos can be found in my gallery. Politically I’m a socialist, a member of the Yeovil Labour Party and the LRC. Technology wise I’m a Microsoft MVP for Windows Desktop Experience and am actively involved in several online computing related communities. I also co-host a PC and console game related podcast called Gamercast.



For people offering decent employment opportunities here’s my resume. The cosmos interpreted by some conscious matter of the cosmos.



If you want to get in contact with me feel free to send me an e-mail.

First holiday memory?

I always had wonderful family holidays in Dorset, but I didn’t travel abroad until I was 16. My first foreign trip was to Lake Como with the youth club. We travelled by coach and train, and I remember being overwhelmed by the beauty of the place.

Best holiday?

The “best” is always a difficult one, because so many trips have different meanings and high points. However, the first time my wife and I went to India in 1984 was incredibly memorable. We spent a few days in Delhi and then went on to Udaipur and Jaipur. Of course, the Taj Mahal was impressive, but so was the Lake Palace Hotel, where we stayed. As a designer, the main impact was the beautiful colours worn by the ladies in Rajasthan. About 10 years ago, there were many places in the world that I either wanted to go to for the first time or revisit, such as the Great Wall of China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia. As I travel for many months every year, I decided that the only way to visit these places was to make a “day trip”. My first was to Delhi – I arrived at midnight and left the same time the following day. They have become quite a regular thing, and are really crazy but also very challenging and exciting.

Favourite place in the British Isles?

I love Charmouth in Dorset, because of mychildhood memories of searching for fossils on the beach.

What have you learnt from your travels?

To keep it simple – and know what you are letting yourself in for.

Ideal travelling companion?

My wife. If not her, then I love to travel alone because it allows me to be spontaneous.

Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenaline junkie?

All three, because we all have changing moods and requirements. Last year, we visited Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in one trip. We loved it, but arrived back home wanting a holiday. Last week, we just sat on a beach in the Bahamas, so now we really want to do a cultural trip, probably in Europe. For a more adventurous holiday, I would probably visit the desert in Chile or go down to Patagonia.

Greatest travel luxury?

Time, a good camera and nice toilets.

Holiday reading?

In my case, it’s more like holiday “holding”, because often I just hold the book I have taken and daydream instead.

Where has seduced you?

Italy seems to have seduced me, because I have a home there. The people are friendly, the food is great, and you get good summer sun. When I moved to London in the late Seventies, I kept my home in Nottingham, but eventually decided to sell it. Rather than letting the money disappear, my wife and I decided to buy a second home, and during that time we had supper with a close friend who told us that their friend would show us some houses for sale near the beautiful city of Lucca in Tuscany. We flew out to Pisa to meet them and bought a house. That was 20 years ago.

Worst travel experience?

Any trip that involves major airport delays – the worst one being an entire day late because of a broken plane at Olbia airport in Sardinia.

Worst hotel?

I think it was a hotel in Selkirk, on the Scottish Borders, when I was working in a knitwear factory nearby many years ago. The only heating was a one-bar electric fire, and there was nowhere to get food because the owner had gone fishing.

Best hotel?

Special to me are the Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Lake Como; the Park Hyatts in Tokyo and Milan; the Grand Hotel et de Milan; and my secret hotel in Nottinghamshire, but I’m not telling you the name.

Favourite walk/swim/ride/drive?

Swimming in the pool at the Villad’Este, which floats on Lake Como. The drama of the lake and the mountains together is breathtaking, and the mood of the lake changes so rapidly with the mist, fog, sunshine and snow. I also love cycling in Tuscany, around the walls of Lucca; it’s so relaxing because there are no cars.

Best meal abroad?

Steak and chips at Chez Georges in Paris; pork at the River Café, London; and lamb at Gianni Pedrinelli in Piccolo Pevero, Sardinia. Chez Georges is special because it is still family-owned, the interior is very traditional and the food is old-fashioned French. The River Café is still one of my all-time favourites, even though it’s not abroad. Pedrinelli is a family business, Gianni is the boss, the sister is the chef, the brother is front of house, and mum and dad are there in the background. Gianni goes to the markets at 5am every morning, hand-picking all of his ingredients. The lamb is roasted on the bone and cut at the table, and the meat literally falls off, it is so beautifully done.

First thing you do when you arrive somewhere new?

Find out where everything is, how everything works, and where the fire exit is.

Dream trip?

Anywhere with my wife. Chile would be the first choice, but revisiting Argentina and Mexico would be high on the list.

Favourite cities?

Tokyo has great energy; London and Paris have variety and culture.

Where next?

The 7.30am train to Nottingham on Wednesday. Then Paris next week, then Japan soon after, and so it goes on… I travel seven months every year.

The Paul Smith Globe shop opens at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on 27 March

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Summer Sonic, the biggest music festival in Japan, I am having an exhibition in the Paul Smith Box Gallery, Tokyo showing 10 years of the festival’s posters and t-shirts. This winter, in the shops, we have an accessories collaboration with my friend the artist Craigie Aitchinson. The exhibition starts today and will run till the 9th August.

Paul Smith Jeans have been an official sponsor of the festival since 2003.

The actual festival takes place 7th – 9th August and is split between Tokyo and Osaka. For more information visit Summer Sonic

This picture taken on Sunday 5th July is of the finishing touches being made to the structure. I love the work of these architects and have visited several buildings designed by them on my trips to Japan.

Infrared cameras have captured the pests, which have plagued the community for the past two months.

Boar Busters director Paul Smith said complaints about the pigs at Kuranda had soared from one a month to three a week.

He said his company was applying for government grants and private sponsorship to combat the swine scourge at Kuranda and East Trinity.

"We get support from the local council and State Government and the private sector in Tully and Innisfail for pig removals; I want to create something like that in Cairns," Mr Smith said.

"With an increase of incidents, Cairns needs our support and we don’t want to charge them too much for it, that’s why a similar system is needed."

Mr Smith, who has installed infrared cameras to track the animals, said the pigs spread diseases in gardens and destroyed native vegetation while contaminating soil in back yards.

Trinity Beach retiree Jim Ross said it had been 10 years since feral pigs invaded his property, but recently his garden was showing signs of the pests.

"Over the past two or three weeks, my three acres of garden has been destroyed by them," he said. "I’ve put up electric fences; hopefully they won’t come back."

Kuranda’s Patricia Chong said she sought the help of pig hunters to rid the pests from her property.

She said several attempts to contact the council for help were futile.

"The pigs are always on our driveway, in the last two months it has got a lot worse, and I’ve tried to get the council’s help, but they faxed me a make it yourself cage kit and I’m too old for that," Ms Chong said.

Barron River MP Steve Wettenhall supported Boar Busters’ efforts to deploy a feral pig management plan at Kuranda similar to the one used at Tully.