Paul Smith launches its inaugural collaboration and mentorship program with an innovative capsule collection in partnership with the celebrated London-based menswear brand Ahluwalia, founded by Priya Ahluwalia.

Supported by the Paul Smith Foundation,  Paul Smith offers a fresh and authentic approach to creative partnerships, concentrating on connecting with emerging and untapped talent in a collaborative mentorship program to nurture the next generation of designers.

Building on the friendship that Priya and Paul have fostered over many seasons, the Ahluwalia & Paul Smith collection was a natural next step for the designers. Spurred by a shared passion for creativity, innovation and sustainability, the 11-piece limited-edition collection represents a meeting of two distinct creative minds.

Paul says: “I had the pleasure of being introduced to Priya through a mutual friend and our shared approach to design was obvious from our first meeting. Her maverick spirit reminded me of myself when I was just starting out. While our styles may appear different at first glance, we’re coming at it from the same place: a real conviction that clothes should be a source of joy. This collaborative collection is proof of that.”

Combining distinctive codes and signatures from each designer, from Paul Smith’s distinctive check fabrics and Ahluwalia’s seaming and paneling techniques, the results are a creating a rich collage-like effect. The vibrant color palette takes its cue from Priya’s personal archive of photographs taken in Nigeria and India, while Paul’s love of sport is represented by references to vintage cycling paraphernalia.

Priya says: “This collaboration is so special to me as it was born out of friendship and curiosity. A while back, Paul so kindly invited me to come and meet him and learn about how he works, and I was blown away by him and his treasure trove of an office. The collaboration conversation happened naturally, and it has been such a pleasure to work with Paul and the Paul Smith team. They have been so supportive, and I have learned a great deal from them. The collection is a perfect mix of Paul Smith and Ahluwalia codes and I look forward to it being released.“

The duo found inspiration in references far and wide, from Paul’s collection of cycling jerseys to album cover art from Studio One Records, as well as the work of graphic designer Ikko Tanaka and multidisciplinary artist Ernesto Cánovas.

Ahluwalia & Paul Smith will be available online at paulsmith.com, in selected Paul Smith shops, at ahluwalia.world and exclusively at SSENSE.