Market: The world-famous designer Sir Paul Smith recently unveiled his first cycling collection, the Paul Smith 531. For tech-savvy cycling fans, the number 531 may ring the bells immediately – for everyone else, a brief explanation: The number 531 refers to the legendary Reynolds 531 tubing, which is the basis countless winning bikes at the Tour de France and other races.
Now it is anything but coincidental that Sir Paul Smith turns to cycling in his new collection. The now 68-year-old Briton has been an avid cycling fan since his youngest childhood. At the age of 11 he got his first racing bike from his father, which immediately sparked his love for the sport. He took part in numerous youth races and devoted every free minute to training. Unfortunately, a serious accident put an abrupt end to his dreams of professional sport: After a three-month hospital stay, he hung up his cycling shoes and embarked on the path that made him the fashion design icon he is today.
The design of the Paul Smith 531 Series followed four basic principles:
- Performance on and off the bike: The products should meet the high demands of everyday racing and training as well as the wishes of a modern, urban men's collection.
- Weather resistance: The products in the 531 collection are designed to offer protection from even the most unfavorable outdoor conditions. Wind, rain and cold shouldn't be a spoilsport, either on the practice lap or on the way to the office.
- Good heat and moisture management: The use of breathable materials and cleverly placed ventilation openings ensure a consistently warm and dry climate under clothing.
- Good visibility: Reflective details, neon-colored applications and fabrics ensure good visibility on and off the bike, whether on the country road or in the urban jungle.
The product range extends from pants to shorts, hoodies, waistcoats to jackets. Each individual piece of clothing radiates simple elegance and is combined with the specific requirements of cycling clothing. For example, the 531 Merino Hoodie comes with a combination of merino wool, windproof inserts on the chest and shoulders and individual mesh inserts for ventilation. The hood is cut to fit under a bike helmet and the reflective inserts on the chest and back ensure good visibility.
Of course, such designer products always have their price - this also applies to the Paul Smith 531 collection. The previously mentioned merino hoodie costs €320, for example, and the weatherproof cycling jacket from the collection even costs €705. Detailed information about the products can be found on the official website www.paulsmith.co.uk.
Finally, we don't want to withhold the atmospheric video clip of the collection from you: