Our Signature Stripe might have had humble beginnings but it has grown into a sort of symbolic byword for the brand. Paul tells the story best. “While I’d long included stripes in my collections since the 1970s, the Signature Stripe as you know it today was born in 1996, when we included it in our SS97 collection,” he says.
“Back then, we made them with something called windings, where you take a piece of card and a selection of yarns in different colours, then wind the yarn around the card to build up a series of stripes. Colour is three-dimensional and so by creating the stripes by hand you can see the colours at their most vivid.”
It was an instant hit. “When we released the next collection and didn’t include it, people were disappointed. We brought it back and it’s been going ever since – with many variations on the original,” Paul explains. “I’m incredibly honoured that when people think of stripes nowadays, they often think of Paul Smith.”
And because of that impact, we wanted to create a tribute that was suitably fitting. Hence, Stripe, Unfolded – our new immersive exhibition in Harajuku, Tokyo that traces the origins and story of the Signature Stripe like never before. Now open, the exhibit takes you on a journey that delves into the Paul Smith archive, explaining the history behind key Paul Smith pieces taken from our Nottingham stores.
Continuing on up through the floors, visitors will also have the opportunity to watch an exclusive video of Paul explaining how the Signature Stripe came to be and its recent history presented on an assortment of easels. There, you’ll learn more about our Melrose, Unwrapped trompe-l’œil mural on our iconic hot pink LA shop as well as our iconic Signature Stripe balloon flights.
Speaking of which, the balloon itself will also be on display, so visitors can truly appreciate the sheer scale and size of its envelope and will be able to immerse themselves in footage of its flight near Mount Fuji, which offers incredible views of the Japanese countryside.
But we won’t give everything away. There’s also plenty of surprises around each corner. you can even treat yourself to an ice cream from the Signature Stripe van or take a 360-degree selfie with the Signature Stripe. And, of course, there’s a shop, stocking a selection of Signature Stripe pieces from the current collection.
“The culmination of what started as a simple winding, Stripe, Unfolded is a true celebration of the symbol, delving into its past, present and future,” Paul says. “I very much hope you enjoy it.”
The Stripe, Unfolded exhibition is open now at the Harajuku Bank Gallery in Tokyo until 15 October 2023.
