Although well-established in Japan for many years, Paul Smith lacked a notable presence in Osaka, the country’s second largest city. Well, that was yesterday. Finding a premium location smack on Mido-suji dori, a bustling tree-lined artery in the heart of the city, the British luxury brand rubs shoulders with peers from the industry, such as Hermès, Commes des Garçons and Louis Vuitton. The Paul Smith flagship store occupies a 213 sqm. (2,293 sq.ft.) on the ground floor of a 12-storey office building and the façade has been especially modified and now features faux glazed blue bricks and both a doorway and windows framed by shiny green metal. The store has a backdrop of whitewashed walls and ceiling, and polished concrete flooring, and is divided into three sections by screens made of stacked wood. Furnishings comprise of one-off pieces which designer Paul Smith has collected around the planet, and here in Osaka, the collection includes a 1960s stool designed by Bruno Rei, an Italian sofa and slipper chair set from the 1950s, and a Danish coffee table. The fitting room features a 1960s German slipper chair upholstered with Maharam interior fabric designed by Smith himself. At the back of the store, an art wall can be found covered in works by some of the designer’s favourite artists, such as George Black, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró and Derrick Latimer Sayer. The front section presents Paul Smith‘s men’s apparel, shoes and accessories, and the middle of the store sees a space where various events are to be held, such as collab product presentations and in-store exhibitions. The back area is home to tailoring and formal accessories. Here, the newest tailored collection is presented and it serves as a dedicated fitting and consultation space for made-to-measure services. Shoppers can choose from around 100 different high-quality sourced from renowned European manufacturers, in addition a wide range of custom options such as lining, lapel styles, buttons, and stitches.