A love for traditional workwear and denim sits at the heart of Paul Smith Red Ear, the name a reference to ‘Akamimi’, the Japanese term for selvedge, which translates to ‘Red Ear’ in English.
With this admiration comes a design and manufacturing process that pays deep reverence to traditional techniques. Cotton is sourced from around the world before being spun, Hank dyed (a process that is repeated 10 times in order to achieve the deepest indigo blue) and woven on wooden shuttle looms in Japan that date back to the 1920’s. Production is slow and the weave irregular, but the result speaks for itself.
Similar attention to detail goes into design. Eclectic pieces inspired by traditional work clothing from Paul Smith’s own archive are created in such a way to give each piece unique character and history.
