One Of London’s Most Famous Licensed Taxi Drivers Celebrates 50 Years Of His Fashion Label

 

The 74 year-old designer set up his eponymous label in 1970, but he has admitted he has also had a very different career after completing "The Knowledge", which is the thorough training drivers undertake to get their licence, and work as a London taxi driver. 

This he did for "25 years" but "only" on the weekends.

Speaking about his other jobs to Esquire Online, when asked if there was any truth in the story that he was a London Cabby?

The creative mastermind said: "Of course, I did 'The Knowledge' and I was a taxi driver for 25 years...but only at the weekend."

But before Paul became a notable figure in the fashion business he had also dreamed of being a professional racing cyclist until he suffered a major accident.

He added: "Well, I did anything that came along to earn money, which I think has given me the skill of doing lots of things. 

I was a racing cyclist from the age of 12 to 18 and you learn that you have to have a competitive spirit but you also have to learn about teamwork, which has helped me enormously. 

I don't think I'm too competitive but I do have a survival instinct, which has always helped me work things out.'"

Paul believes his label is "very solid" and has withstood a number of difficulties over time.

Speaking about his brand, the businessman said: "I had my business when there was the coal miners' strike in the Eighties and the three-day week, when you had to have a generator for the rest of the week. 

I managed to always do well through these things. So, we're not going anywhere, we're very solid, it's just you're witnessing a time which is different to what you've witnessed before."

Paul has credited himself as a "pioneer" in the industry as he introduced additional products to his company, which encouraged other brands to follow suit.

He said: "The owners of both Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan have both independently said that our way of running a shop was the influence for their shops, which was having not just clothes. 

So I suppose, without realising it, I was the absolute pioneer of all that, really."

So, to one of London’s most famous Taxi Drivers.... It’s a happy 50th birthday to your label Sir.