Sir Paul Smith to receive Outstanding Achievement Award

The British Fashion Council has announced that Sir Paul Smith will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s British Fashion Awards, which takes place on November 28. This special award celebrates the achievement of a designer

whose work has had an ‘exceptional impact on global fashion’, and has been chosen by a panel of leading internationally acclaimed journalists and retailers.

Sir Paul Smith commented, “What a fantastic honour to receive this award. It is really an award for not just me but for all of my fantastic team, many who have been with me for a very long time and have helped me build up a solid structure which really works. Thank you!”

Smith who is revered for his designs, which are described as ‘classics with a twist’, started his career in fashion working in a clothing warehouse in Nottingham opened his first store in 1970. By 1976, he had showcased his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith Label, and in 1998 he debut his first women’s collection at London Fashion Week.

The British designer has already received many accolades at previous British Fashion Awards including being named Menswear Designer in 1997 and 1999, as well as picking up Classic Designer in 2001 and Contemporary Designer in 2003.

The label still retains a base in Nottingham but opened an office in London in 2003. In 1998, the designer converted a town-house in Notting Hill, London which became his flagship shop; he now has 14 stores in London including Paul Smith Men, Women, Jeans, Junior and Paul Smith No. 9. The international growth of his business began and most famously in Japan, where Paul Smith has become synonymous with British design, he now has over two hundred stores in the country, other international stores can be found in Paris, Milan, New York, Far East and Middle East.

Harold Tillman, CBE, Chairman of the BFC, added, “I have known Paul for many years, he has built an incredible business, has bags of integrity and, a great sense of humour.  Paul Smith, the brand and the man contributes a great deal to our industry commercially and creatively; his signature style is recognised throughout the world. He is the perfect recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award this year.”

Images: British Fashion Council/ Paul Smith, Spring/Summer 2012