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You know the suits. now you can see how it all began. Part of the Glasgow lntemational Festival Of Design. Paul Smith: True Brit is an exhibition charting the life and designs of the man who has launched thousands of stylishly suited men. An advocate of the philosophy ‘It‘s not what you wear but the way that you wear it'. Smith says anything goes with a Paul Smith suit. ‘Today I am wearing a jean shirt, purple socks and black suede shoes. but you could wear your dad‘s old shin and shoes.‘ Out to demystify the world of fashion. Smith‘s show takes us back to his native Nottingham. where he opened his first store in I970. Today he heads a global fashion and accessories empire that includes a line in toothbrushes — 490.000 sold to date — and I62 outlets in Japan. But Smith has undoubtably done more for fashion than meets the eye. It was thanks to his role in the boxer shorts renaissance of the 80s. that women. if not men. began to say no to Y-fronts. As Smith says, True Brit is an honest, down to earth insight into the fashion business: ‘I hope people will get goose bumps when they see it.‘
Paul Smith: True Brit is at the Old Post Office. George Square until Sat 28 Sept. Tlte Paul Smitlt Business Masterclass is on Tue 1 7 Sept at 2pm at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Peel Smith “it
Helen Teague
For ten years Helen Teague was an architect who side- lined in the clothing business. All that changed in l99l when she got matey with one her customers. comedian Dawn French. Joining forces and taking inspiration from the statistic that 47 per cent of British women are size sixteen or over. Teague and French launched their clothing company Sixteen 47 Ltd. specialising in clothes for big women. Now a full-time fashion designer. Teague condemns the thin woman ideal promoted by glossy mags and the high street shop window. ‘Marilyn Monroe was size sixteen,‘ she says. ‘People should free up their attitudes.‘ Having developed a new design discipline that says style doesn’t finish when your waist refuses to squeeze into a pillowslip-sized skirt, Teague and French are making big beautiful. ‘Outsize is not acceptable - we use the word big, that‘s perfectly adequate.‘ says Teague.
Helen Teague ‘3 Student Masterclass is on Wed 25 Sept at [0am at the Post Office Building and her Business Masterclass at 2pm at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Suit by Sixteen 41 ltd
Kenneth Grange
His name might not be renowned in British households. but his designs are. In the 50s Kenneth Grange designed the Kenwood Chef and has up-dated the handy gadget ever since. In the 705 British Rail launched his Intercity I25 train and in I992 he designed the Wilkinson Sword Protector. In short. Grange is one of Britain‘s most influential designers. A founder partner of Pentagram Design agency, launched in I972, Grange believes: ‘Good design defies simple explanation because it is often something that hasn’t been done before.‘ Currently working on remodelling bathroom cisterns in Japan. Grange will be in Glasgow to talk about design that is user-friendly to all ages.
The Glasgow International Festival Of Design is until Sun 29 Sept.
Kenneth Greene’s Kenwood chet
mmmmwmmwmmmmmmmm mmmmmwmm
DESIGN FESTIVAL FEATURE
/ The new face\ of Glasgow
the planned Millennium Tower tor Pacific Quay
Someone working in Easterhouse once proposed that it should have a slogan. Everyone else has a slogan. why not Eastcrhouse? That was until one wag proposed ‘Easterhouse is shooting up‘ as a positive slant on the area‘s drug problem.
The sense of pushing upwards is very real in Glasgow as the city begins to capitalise on the optimism of the late 80s and early 90s. The land reclaimed for the Glasgow lntemational Garden Festival will finally be developed and cranes are towering over the city as other major projects get under way. including:
I The Armadillo Building Taking shape on the north bank of the Clyde is this futuristic armadillo-shaped conference centre. an extension of the SECC. leaving the older buildings to house fairs. shows and music.
I The Buchanan Galleries Much heralded for the
arrival of John Lewis‘s first west-coast branch. the anchor for a major shopping centre being built in a gap site beside the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at the top of Buchanan Street.
I The Gallery Of Scottish Art And Design The transition from pensions to paintings has already begun in the building better known as the old post office in George Square. The opening ofthe lntemational Festival Of Design will give Glaswegians a sneak preview of what will be. according to festival director Deyan Sudjic: ‘A Scottish version of the Musée d‘Orsay in Paris.‘
I llamptlen Park The run-down national football stadium has already had a facelift. but thanks to £23m from the Millennium Fund it will be transformed into a museum of football. a national media centre and a centre for sports research and rehabilitation. Oh. and the west stand will get a fresh lick of paint.
I Pacific Quay The Millennium Fund has asked for proposals for a £70m Scottish National Science Park to be reworked. but the Glasgow Development Agency is confident of winning eventual acceptance. As well as the park the site will include the Millennium Tower. an impressive addition to the city‘s skyline. I Glasgow Green Sports Arena On hold, waiting for lottery funding. are plans to convert old cricket itches into a major sports venue and a venue for
P kstadium rock concerts. (Stephen Naysmith)
The List 6-19 Sept 199613