Two of our favourite British icons — MINI and Paul Smith — paired up for a collab that’s been so long in the making we began to think it might never land in Canada. But, we’re happy to report the MINI Paul Smith Edition is finally here.
Simons at Yorkdale in Toronto hosted the launch party, which was overflowing with British candy, cocktails, portrait artists and personal shoppers to guide invited guests through the store’s extensive Paul Smith collection. (The Italian-made wool and mohair suit was a standout, as was a tidy blue chore coat.)
As for the car, there’s not just one but three distinct MINI Paul Smith Editions. Take your pick of three body styles: the Cooper S 3-door, the Cooper S 5-door and the Cooper S Convertible.
“I think it’s got a good chance of being collectible, sought after in many years. It’s going to have that kind of exclusivity,” said Patrick Clancy, director of MINI Canada. It’s not a limited edition; it’ll be available into 2027, but availability is limited by production capacity. In other words, it’ll be rare. “I think it’s going to be an ‘if you know you know’ car when people see them on the road,” he said.
The Paul Smith Edition commands a $5,000 premium over the standard Cooper S, which actually feels quite reasonable given what you’re getting.
In trademark Paul Smith fashion, the designer puts an eccentric twist on convention and delivers it in a perfectly subdued, understated way. His colourful “Signature Stripe” motif can be found at the base of the steering wheel, above a subtle Paul Smith logo. The stripes are mirrored on the dashboard in rich, textured fabric, as well as on the Nightshade Blue upholstery of the seats. The design extends into the digital realm too, with three exclusive Paul Smith backgrounds for the circular display.
Our favourite details, however, are the hand-drawn ones: the “Hello” projection when opening the door, the “Every day is a new beginning” inscription on the door sill, both in Smith’s own handwriting, as well as the hand-drawn rabbit graphic on the floor mat.
“You’re looking at something special, but it doesn’t seem immature, and it’s not something I think you’ll get tired of,” Clancy added. (The same could probably not be said if MINI had created a modern reincarnation of the 1999 Paul Smith “Signature Stripe” MINI, even though that would have been cool.)
Buyers do have choices here. The roof, for example, is available in two colours: Nottingham Green with a Signature Stripe on the driver’s side, or Jet Black with tone-on-tone striping along the length of the roof. For the body, buyers can opt for Statement Grey, Inspired White or Midnight Black. We’re partial to the grey, which is more of a pale blue, pulled from the 1959 Austin Seven catalogue. Paired with the green roof, it makes for a distinctly fashionable combo.
As it is, the Paul Smith Edition is playful, funky and still somehow entirely tasteful. It’s a fine line to walk, but Paul Smith has been walking that line since he started his eponymous label in 1970. The fact his is one of the few remaining independent labels from that era speaks to the strength of Smith’s vision and his enthusiasm for going his own way.
This is merely the latest in a string of collaborations between Paul Smith and MINI. The 1998 “Paul Smith Blue” Mini is a bona fide collectible, with only 1,800 produced worldwide. (The colour came from one of Smith’s favourite shirts.) Next came a two-off 1999 Mini covered in hand-painted stripes. One can be seen in MINI’s archive, while the other is owned by Smith himself. More recently, and perhaps best of all, was the 2021 MINI STRIP. It’s a one-off concept that deconstructs the automobile back to basics. The result is a very honest, refreshing and utterly original take on the automobile; it’s one we’d still love to have in our garage. (Are you listening MINI?) While we are disappointed the new Paul Smith Edition doesn’t draw more from the ingenious STRIP concept, we have no doubt the new car will find plenty of fans.
“I think MINI’s always been a brand that appealed to designers, creative class people, and so does Paul Smith, also a British icon, a knighted British designer,” said Clancy. “The brand fit is real,” he added. Early indications are that he’s right on the money. In Canada, there’s already a long order book for the MINI Paul Smith Edition, with strong demand surpassing even the company’s expectations. So if you want one, don’t delay.
