Talking Heads and Paul Smith Collaborate on Shirt Line
The Talking Heads have teamed up with designer Paul Smith for a limited-edition line that celebrates the band’s history. The four-piece t-shirt capsule collection features archival material provided by the group’s lead singer, David Byrne, including his original sketches, unpublished backstage photographs and album artwork.
“Music is a big part of my life and I have always enjoyed collaborating with musicians,” says Smith. “I’m a big fan of Talking Heads, so to be given access to their archive was a real privilege for me.” The t-shirts bring the intriguing elements that Byrne had so clearly depicted in his music and style to life.
One design features Byrne’s famous sketch of a big, boxy suit that was influenced by the Kabuki theater kimonos he saw while touring Japan; the garment was worn in the band’s concert film Stop Making Sense. Another design presents backstage passes from various shows around the world. Each t-shirt will have a swing ticket with a personalized note from the designer about the inspiration behind the look.
David Byrne and the Paul Smith team will unveil the collection today at the designer’s flagship store in New York. Three t-shirts are currently available at Paul Smith stores and online, and a fourth will make its debut in December; it features the painted red masks that adorned each band member on the cover art for Remain in Light.
The Paul Smith and Talking Heads capsule collection is available for purchase online