Paul Smith + Factor Bikes
For years, Paul’s famous love of cycling has manifested in many specially designed products: helmets, jerseys, lights, locks, tools, and – on the odd occasion – bikes. Our latest collaboration speeds thrillingly into that latter category: our very first pro-grade racing bike.
The walls of Paul Smith’s London HQ are densely packed with all manner of art and ephemera from Paul’s personal collection. So much so that even the longest serving members of staff would be hard pressed to tell you what colour the walls are. Framed photos of iconic musicians wearing Paul Smith sit cheek by jowl with archival design sketches, handwritten notes from fans and customers, paintings of dogs, reproductions of classical Japanese landscapes. Suffice it to say, it’s an eclectic hang. In our first-floor stairwell is a small, easy to miss piece of text art, which – in block capitals – offers this sage mantra:
“I used to be a cyclist as a young man, and I’ve stayed close to the whole world of cycling,” says Paul. “Factor is a company whose technological approach to their bike making has been really impressive, and so it’s with great pleasure that I’ve customised one of their new bikes. I hope you like it."
The visual design of the bike was inspired by a similarity between the way carbon fibre sheets are cut, and the way clothes are made. When a bike such as this is manufactured, dozens and dozens of carbon fibre sheets are cut into highly specific shapes before being pieced together into the final form. In this way, bike making is akin to pattern cutting, wherein the various parts of a garment are cut separately, then sewn together to create a wearable item. A pleasingly coincidental link between Paul’s two great passions.
