'Hello, my name is Paul Smith' attracts record number of visitors in Belgium

The travelling exhibition 'Hello, my name is Paul Smith,' which explores the mind and inspiration of British designer Sir Paul Smith has attracted a record number of visitors at the Fashion Museum in Hasselt, Belgium. 'Hello, my name is Paul Smith' first opened in London's Design Musuem in November 2013, but was extended due to "significant public demand."

41.449 visitors payed homage to the exposition in Hasselt, a "is a new attendance record for the Fashion Museum," commented museum director Kenneth Ramaekers. "This exhibition on the career of Sir Paul Smith broke records on all levels. Not only in the number of visitors, but also in the number of exhibition catalogues sold (602), which could have been even more because last week we had to do without because our stock was exhausted. Which is exceptional for a catalogue that first appeared 1.5 years ago. The museum shop has also reported its best turnover yet," added Ramaekers.

"Of course, this result was also thanks to the large (international) media attention that the expo has attracted, which attracted the curiosity of both local and international visitors. Dutch, Germans and French found their way to the museum. Even people from Norway, Spain, Australia and Japan, who were travelling through Europe made a detour to stop in Hasselt for the expo." This led to the exposition being extended in Hasselt as well, to August 16.

The exhibition, which leads its visitors through Sir Smith's personal archive and history, from the first pieces he sold in his tiny store in Nottingham to selected designs from his newest collections, connects visitors with the inner-workings of one of the UK's most iconic designers. "People really have gotten to know the man behind the brand," stressed Ramaekers. "He is someone with a lot of humour and an enormous 'drive.'"