Last week I attended the launch with Mr Porter of a new cycle range by Paul Smith. The collection is named 531 after the Reynolds-made steel alloy that has formed the heart of the machines of millions of cyclists, from racing champions to shoppers. Sir Paul Smith is, of course, well-known for his love of cycling, as can be seen in this video.
At the heart of the collection is the beautiful, black, minimalist, limited-edition (two only, according to the video) fixed gear bike, hand-made by Mercian from steel in their Derby-based workshop. The bike, accessories and clothes are aimed at the commuter/weekend cyclist, rather than the carbon fibre and Lycra crowd. The shirts and jackets are made from Ventile, a water-resistant cotton fabric with an interesting history, which I've documented here on the blog before.
I had a close look at the collection. The bike (see detail image below), clothes and accessories are all beautifully-designed and made; as you'd expect. The orange and black colour scheme is superb. The presence of a watch in a cycling collection is a novel idea, but why not? It's a chronometer, so you can time your daily commute or ride to the cafe.
Prices range from £60 for the socks pack to £4995 for the bike. See Mr Porter.
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| As you'd expect from a leading frame builder, the lugwork and construction are immaculate |