Smythson’s Agenda

The British leather goods and stationary maker Smythson collaborated with mixed-media artist and filmmaker Quentin Jones when she was commissioned last fall to make a series of collages for its London Fashion week presentation. Now the project is to continue with a Spring 2014 capsule collection of leather goods and accessories featuring her illustrations full of winking cats and graphic eyes. The second chapter of Panama Legacy is now available at Colette in Paris and at Smythson.com beginning March 31. Featuring pouches, bags and notebooks from the brand’s signature collection, designed by Rory O’Hanlon, these pieces bear whimsical surrealist illustrations and calligraphy that the 30-year old it girl Jones has become renowned for in the worlds of art and fashion.

Smythson’s classic Soho notebook has been rebelliously tagged in gold with phrases Soho Saint and Soho Sinner; a winking cat adorns a zippered pouch and cross-body bag; and a sharp white leather tote bears a cluster of floating eyes. Once her artworks are finalized in her New York studio, each illustration is sent to print on the curated selection of classic Panama handbags and accessories. Panama’s cross-grain leather surface absorbs and reacts to dyes in unpredictable ways and the technique used is highly innovative, thereby resulting in a truly wearable piece of art. Jones finds it quite a thrill to work in 3-D and to make things she wants to own and wear herself…that will no doubt become the Jones legacy. www.smythson.com