Having previously premiered an exclusive in-conversation between Stefan Cooke and Walter Van Deirendonck as part of MATCHESFASHION’s Innovators programme, we now return with another exclusive discussion between two of the UK’s most fascinating talents: Charles Jeffrey and Paul Smith. While from different points in the timeline, these two talents share a lot in common; mainly channelling the transgressive nature of British subcultural through their designs and championing creative expression.

Both able to not only tap into the zeitgeist but also tune it, while Jeffery’s career began by creating outfits for his queer Dalston club night LOVERBOY, Smith’s rise saw him partying in the nightclub, New York’s Studio 54. Meeting in Smith’s London studio for this video, the pioneering designer recalls his days alongside the legends that Jeffery hails as his idols, David Bowie and Andy Warhol to name a few. United by a feverish commitment to push boundaries, it’s fair to say that Smith paved the way for the likes of Jeffery to truly run with their creative visions.

Hit play on the video below to watch Smith and Jeffery in full flow, discussing creativity, business and adaptation.

“I was one of the pioneers of putting a man in a flower shirt, which was outrageous!” – Paul Smith