MILAN – No stranger to the world of furniture, fashion designer Sir Paul Smith‘s whimsical vision has lit up everything from Boffi|DePadova sofas to Gufram cactuses and screens with Finnish firm Artek.
DWR (Design Within Reach) told WWD that it will launch The Paul Smith Collection on Monday. The new collection includes a selection of classics from American furniture brands Herman Miller and Knoll. Among them aree the Molded Plastic Side chair originally designed by American designers Charles and Ray Eames and the Womb Chair designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. Parent company Herman Miller acquired DWR in 2015, before merging with Knoll in 2021 to become MillerKnoll.
The exclusive new line is an homage to the British designer’s long-standing collaboration with textiles maker Maharam, and is also an opportunity to incorporate its fabrics into a collection of indoor and outdoor furniture from DWR.
Smith told WWD it was an honor to work on iconic designs that define midcentury modern.
“With the Womb and Cube Chair specifically, I appreciate the complexity of upholstering the pattern around its organic form. Of course, it’s a huge privilege to see our fabrics on such iconic pieces,” he said.
Paul Smith’s textile designs on the Womb Chair (left) which was originally designed by Eero Saarinen and envisaged as a basket full of pillows.
Courtesy of DWR
Whether it’s furniture or fashion, Smith’s focus remains the same.
“Quality and practicality are two things I value highly when designing, whether it be in fashion, furniture or something else entirely,” he added.
The Paul Smith Collection first debuted at the Miles C. Bates Wave House in Palm Desert, California. The experiential installation marked the first time DWR has collaborated with vacation home firm Boutique. A marvel of midcentury modern design, the Wave House is distinguished by its curved roof and was built in 1955 for Bates, a prominent artist.
“DWR is continuing to evolve, and this rental home is a great example of how we are expanding both our product portfolio and the ways in which our collections are experienced,” said MillerKnoll’s president of global retail Debbie Propst.
The Eames Molded Plastic Side chair with Paul Smith’s fabric designs.
Smith became a household name in menswear in the 1970s. The brand is known for its quirky wardrobe stables, stripes, bold color, pattern and textures that catapulted the brand to cult status in the 1980s and ’90s.
Smith marked 50 years in the business in 2020 and made his debut with BoffiIDe Padova at Salone del Mobile.Milano trade show in 2022. The concept behind that collection, named Everyday Life, extended to furnishing sofas, armchairs and poufs.
All products are available on dwr.com
As reported, after showing at Pitti Uomo in Florence last summer, Smith for the first time will be part of the official Milan menswear calendar and has scheduled his namesake brand’s fashion show on June 21.