Paul Smith's London Fashion Week Invitation

For Paul Smith’s Autumn/Winter 2013 show at The Tate Britain, we crafted a strikingly modern invitation that played with light and transparency. With a focus on light, transparency and material innovation, the invitation was designed to be interactive, encouraging recipients to hold it up and see the colour glow through, creating a captivating moment of intrigue and anticipation. This dynamic interplay of illumination and texture perfectly mirrored the energy and exclusivity of London Fashion week where design is not only seen but felt.

The Brief 

With a tight production schedule of just 10 days to produce 1,200 invitations and envelopes, precision and craftsmanship were paramount. The fashion week invitation needed to reflect Paul Smith’s signature aesthetic, a balance of bold, modern elegance with meticulous refinement. 

To achieve this, we selected Perspex, a sleek, glass-like material, as the foundation of the design. The choice added a sense of luxury and modernity, ensuring the invitation stood out among traditional paper-based ones. The surface was screen-printed with a deep, solid blue background, contrasted by crisp white text for maximum impact. The edges were meticulously rounded and polished, ensuring a smooth, tactile finish that reinforced the high-end feel of the event. 

The Process 

At the time, Perspex was a popular material in luxury invitation design, admired for its modern, almost luminous appearance. However, as sustainability has become an increasingly important focus in the industry, its use has become rare, making this invitation a unique reflection of its era. 

Over the course of two weeks, we worked with expert craftsmen to bring this vision to life, ensuring every aspect of production met the highest standards. The process included several key stages. First, traditional screen-printing techniques were employed to achieve rich, uniform colour saturation. Next, each invitation was carefully cut and polished to create smooth, tactile edges. Finally, precise alignment of the typography guaranteed a flawless result. 

The Result 

The final invitations were exactly as envisioned: a translucent blue design that played with light, revealing a new dimension when held up for viewing. The combination of clean white typography and vibrant colour created a stunning effect, while the accompanying envelopes added an extra layer of sophistication. 

More than just an invitation, this piece became an experience, one that embodied Paul Smith’s timeless, yet innovative approach to fashion. It set the perfect tone for an unforgettable show, proving that great design is both seen and felt.