Paul Smith and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have partnered to launch a comprehensive program called “Commission for &PaulSmith.” The primary objective of this collaboration is to provide mentorship and support to emerging menswear designers in North America. Renowned British designer Sir Paul Smith will be offering his expertise in business development to the selected designers. In addition, the chosen brand will have the opportunity to co-design the next iteration of the ‘&PaulSmith’ collaboration series.
Commission, a New York-based brand founded in 2018 by Dylan Cao and Jin Kay, has been selected as the recipient of this exciting opportunity. The brand aims to redefine and deconstruct the visual language of East Asian culture by creating a modern wardrobe inspired by their parents’ working wardrobes in Vietnam and South Korea during the 1990s.
The concept of the &PaulSmith collaboration and mentorship program was introduced earlier this year when Sir Paul Smith worked closely with Priya Ahluwalia, the designer behind London-based brand Ahluwalia, to create an innovative capsule collection. Now, Smith will extend his mentorship and creative collaboration to Commission, leveraging his vast experience in expanding the Paul Smith empire, which currently operates over 130 shops in more than 60 countries.
The resulting &PaulSmith collaborative capsule collection with Commission is set to be released in the Autumn/Winter 2023 season. Customers will be able to purchase the collection on the official Paul Smith website, at Paul Smith retail locations, and exclusively through Ssense, the first global platform to launch Commission in 2020.
The realization of this initiative has been made possible through the generous donation of Paul Smith’s Foundation, which aims to support the CFDA in nurturing and promoting new talent within the North American market. The selection of Commission for this mentorship and collaboration opportunity is driven by the evident creative synergy between the two brands, as well as the potential for positive impact that can be achieved with Sir Paul Smith’s personal guidance.
With this program, Paul Smith and CFDA are making a strong commitment to empower and foster emerging menswear designers. By providing mentorship, business development support, and collaborative design opportunities, they are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the fashion industry. Through their efforts, they aim to ensure the industry’s continual growth and innovation.
Useful Links:
1. Paul Smith Official Website
2. Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Official Website
