There are two key things to know about Sir Paul Smith. The first is that he is still the owner of his own Paul Smith fashion brand that began in the early seventies. He has retained control and influence over concepts and what is produced under his name, which keeps things a little more personal for his customers, and more independent in terms of business activities and how the outlets and branding are presented.

The second key thing is his emphasis on the difference between being a stylist, and a being a designer. Rather than just styling the narrower field of fashion trends and existing clothing designs, he applies the much wider field of design to clothing, or in genres other than fashion.

Smith exudes excitement when he talks about becoming aware of surroundings and developing the ability to see rather than just look. He explains how he draws on his extensive travels and the real world by exploring colour, pattern, texture, and shape, and how lateral thinking or a little imagination can result in ways of combining these elements that are different and exciting - principles that also seem to be echoed in his business practices.

Smith is not the kind of designer who closes the door to his world. Far from it. He seems more than happy to give advice and share his design and business experiences, to give valuable insights into what is really required to work within any creative industry. He seems to relish positive interaction with people, and enjoys sharing with enthusiasm and humour.

His attitude is probably a good indicator of what to expect if you entered any aspect of the fashion industry. A positive and enthusiastic attitude is likely to be preferable over being too cool or self-absorbed.

As with many seemingly glamorous industries, there are huge numbers of people trying to make their mark in the world of fashion. To succeed, aspiring stylists and designers need to balance creative skills and passion with solid knowledge and a professional and productive work ethic, a point often confirmed through the many interviews and talks given by Sir Paul Smith, which contain practical and sincere advice for anyone considering a career in fashion or design.

The Paul Smith team are active on social media with business updates and news on Twitter, with a more personal angle through the pictures posted on Instagram. More video can be found on the official YouTube channel.

Matt Sheen MMXX
mattsheen (at) webstar.tv

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