This morning Paul Smith announced that his upcoming exhibition at the Design Museum, Hello, My Name is Paul Smith, will be a show that ‘everyone can be interested in, not just fashion students’. 

Delving into his personal archives, exploring the whole process from design to marketing of his collections, with a room dedicated to Smith’s supportive wife Pauline, another replicating his memorabilia-filled office and a section on his shop designs, the exhibition promises to be an all-encompassing journey through Paul’s career and the expansion of his brand over the past 40 years.

Head of Curatorial at the Design Museum, Donna Loveday, explained that it will celebrate and ‘chart the rise of his quintessentially English label’ from its Nottingham beginnings to today’s global scale. 

It will feature a recreation of Paul’s first 3m-x-3m shop alongside information surrounding the September opening of a new flagship store on Albemarle Street. The exhibition will highlight how Smith continues to be involved in all aspects of the company, despite having shops in 66 countries, 14 different collections for men and women and an international team. In the immersive digital room, visitors will be able to listen to thoughts narrated by Smith and watch behind-the-scenes footage from shows. The designer joked that visitors should be offered a ‘free paracetamol' before entering the room called ‘Inside Paul’s head’, which will offer an insight into his life and label.

Ever grateful for the ceaseless support from global fans Smith stated, ‘one thing I am blessed with is every day we receive post from around the world. It really is a humbling experience.’ Dedicated fanmailers include ‘origami girl’ and Margot from Berlin, now 18, who has been sending Paul post since she was 11. Much to his delight, last week he received five boxes of huge spinning tops from a follower. These accumulated gifts, which act as constant inspiration for him and his team, will be on display in the replica of his office.

Paul concluded that visitors will ‘hopefully leave on an optimistic note. The whole point of the exhibition is to encourage young people… pass the spirit onto younger generations. It’s not elitist. It’s very honest.’

Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith opens at the Design Museum on 15 November and Hello, My Name is Paul Smith: Fashion and Other Stories is out in November, published by Rizzoli