PAUL SMITH CAMPAIGN
Triumph and Paul Smith, the fashion designer, have agreed a
two-year, worldwide collaboration on a range of co-branded products.
The initial collection, which forms part of Paul Smith’s Autumn/Winter
2005 range, will be launched to the public in July 2005.
The Triumph/PS co-branded products will be sold through Paul
Smith’s established network of own-brand stores, department
stores and independent retailers.
To support the collaboration Paul Smith has customised nine
T100 Bonnevilles and Bonneville Blacks with distinctive paint
schemes.
These are one-off, hand-painted bikes that Paul Smith has purchased
and they will be exhibited in their showrooms, tradeshows, design
exhibitions and retail stores in Italy, France, UK, USA and
Japan.
Japan is a particularly strong market for Paul Smith, where
they have over 200 stores. The bikes and first samples of clothing
were launched to the fashion trade in Florence at Pitti Uomo,
Europe’s biggest fashion trade show in January.
The reaction from the European press has been very encouraging,
with every high profile lifestyle magazine committed to featuring
the collaboration.
In the UK GQ magazine has secured the exclusive unveiling of
the collection in their August edition.
Following the nine one-off designs, Triumph will produce, for
sale, two Paul Smith customised Bonneville T100's. These two
models have been inspired by the original designs but are slightly
different. The models developed are called "Live Fast"
and "Multi Union" and will be produced in strictly
limited numbers.
The bikes will be sold only in Japan, USA and selective European
markets, and there will
be a maximum of 100 bikes produced.
The two limited edition bike designs were presented for the
first time at Tenjikai, a trade fashion show in Tokyo at the
beginning of April. The bikes will carry branding on the tank
noting that they are limited edition 001/050, etc.
They will be accompanied by a certificate stating their provenance,
signed by Paul Smith and John Bloor, which will be presented
in a leather folio. The folio will also include a printed
image of the bike. The bikes will be available for purchase
in the relevant markets from September '05. Launch for this
has yet to be defined.
|
