Search
At the age of 17, Paul Smith’s dream of becoming a professional racing cyclist was tragically cut short by a serious accident. Now he is one of the most respected designers in the UK and the recipient of a knighthood for services to British fashion, but Sir Paul Smith‘s passion for the sport has never subsided. This 265-page tome brings together the author’s love of cycling and design. Beautifully illustrated and curated, “Paul Smith’s Cycling Scrapbook” was made in a collaboration with the Thames & Hudson publishing house and features a foreword written by David Millar, former professional road racing cyclist and friend.
This 265-page tome brings together the author’s love of cycling and design.
Nostalgic images, iconic races, and photographs depicting several European locations appear throughout the book via memorabilia, posters, vintage illustrations, and clippings from the author’s large selection of 1950s and 1960s cycling magazines. The book is structured into six chapters: The Heroes, The Look, The Great Races, The Jerseys, Contemporary Heroes, and Paul’s Bikes.
The Heroes presents the profiles of several famous racers, including Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Jacques Anquetil, Tom Simpson, and Eddy Merckx, among many others; they are all accompanied by illustrations made by Karl Kopinski. The Look pays homage to the design of cycling memorabilia and especially to the beautiful simplicity of retro designs. The Great Races takes a look at the most important circuits across Europe, from Giro d’Italia and Tour de France to Milan-San Remo and Tour of Britain. The Jerseys chapter reveals Paul Smith’s extensive collection; some jerseys were found in small markets around Italy, while others were received as gifts from the cyclists themselves. In the Contemporary Heroes, the author highlights the accomplishments of a new generation of dedicated cyclists, while in the last section Smith presents his bike collection and favorites. The wonderfully designed book illustrates how a passion for this sport has shaped and inspired one of the most successful people in the world of fashion and design; it’s a must have for both cycling fans and design aficionados. Images courtesy of Sir Paul Smith and Thames & Hudson.
