Within the Paul Smith archive in Nottingham, Dylan and Jin found a sense of familiarity. The collaboration dives into the Paul Smith archive, extracting inspiration from the 1997/98 and 2002/03 seasons. A 22-piece collection pays homage to vintage Paul Smith classics while infusing a contemporary spin, reflective of Commission’s punk and minimalist sensibility.
From elongated wool-cashmere overcoats to structured double-breasted suits, each piece narrates a story from the past, reimagined for the modern wardrobe. The color palette, dominated by rich browns, yellows, and blacks, is punctuated with vibrant reds, blues, and greens. “There’s a richness to Paul’s archive during the late 90s that resonates with us, where its masculinity felt like a fusion of preppy, sex, and post-punk, yet highly functional and romantic,” reflect Dylan and Jin on the parallels.
“Our approach to products and storytelling was similar in that it’s an eclectic mix of various narratives and undercurrents.” The collection unfolds as a narrative through clothing, a compilation of moments, akin to the “light, witty juxtapositions” and “caught moment” compositions in Paul’s photographic book.