Paul Smith Junior
Paul Smith · United Kingdom
Paul Smith Junior is the childrenswear line of the British designer brand Paul Smith, which began with a one-off boys' collection in 1990 and became a seasonal line in 2010. Paul Smith is privately held, with Sir Paul Smith as majority owner and Itochu holding 40 per cent since 2006. It is a premium children's line often featuring child-sized versions of adult pieces.
| Junior line began | 1990 (one-off), seasonal since 2010 |
|---|---|
| Parent | Paul Smith |
| Parent founded | 1970, Nottingham |
| Founder | Sir Paul Smith |
| Itochu stake | 40 per cent since 2006 |
| Website | paulsmith.com |
What is Paul Smith Junior?
Paul Smith Junior is the children's collection of Paul Smith, the British fashion house founded in 1970 in Nottingham by Sir Paul Smith. According to Wikipedia, childrenswear began with a one-off boys' collection in 1990 and became a seasonal line in 2010, often including child-sized versions of adult pieces.
About the parent company
Paul Smith opened his first shop, Paul Smith Vetements Pour Homme, at 6 Byard Lane, Nottingham, in 1970. The company is privately held. Smith owns the majority, and the Japanese trading house Itochu bought a 40 per cent stake in 2006. The brand launched its e-commerce site in 2004 and, as of November 2025, had 130 stores in more than 60 countries. The sources consulted do not name a current chief executive.
Products and positioning
The junior line sits at premium level. Its defining approach is to translate the house's adult menswear and womenswear codes into children's sizes, an approach that keeps the line closely tied to the main brand's design identity.
Business model and distribution
Paul Smith sells through its own stores, e-commerce, department stores and independent retailers worldwide, and uses licensing partners in some product categories. The sources fetched did not detail how the junior line is distributed or licensed, so this profile does not make specific claims about it.
Why it matters
Paul Smith Junior shows how an independent British designer house extends its identity to children without a separate brand name. The parent company's long-standing partnership with Itochu and its continued private ownership make it an unusual example among European designer labels.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Paul Smith Junior?
It belongs to Paul Smith, which is privately held. Sir Paul Smith owns the majority and Itochu bought a 40 per cent stake in 2006, according to Wikipedia.
Where is Paul Smith from?
Paul Smith is a British brand founded in 1970 in Nottingham, England, by Sir Paul Smith.