Designer Paul Smith awarded top French honour

French Ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, said Paul Smith had "left an indelible mark on French fashion"

British designer Paul Smith has been awarded one of the highest honours in France in recognition of his career-long ties with the country.

Sir Paul joins the likes of Bob Dylan and Sir Paul McCartney in becoming an officer of the Légion d'honneur, or Legion of Honour.

French Ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, presented him with a medal at a ceremony in London.

The Nottingham-born designer said he was "thrilled".

Paul Smith's first shop in Nottingham measured just three metres by three metres and was recently replicated in London

He opened the shop with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer, who is now his wife

"It feels very special because I've had a strong relationship with Paris especially, but with France for about 40 years now," he said in a video on the Embassy of France in the UK YouTube channel:

"I've had 80 fashion shows in Paris and I've got five shops so to have this honour is really lovely, very special."

The designer's first shop, which opened in Nottingham in 1970, had a French name "Vêtements pour Hommes", meaning men's clothes.

Mr Smith held his first fashion show in Paris in 1976 and has shown each new collection in the capital since then.

French Ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, presented Paul Smith with a medal at a ceremony in London

Sylvie Bermann described him as a "revolutionary figure in British design" who had "left an indelible mark on French fashion".

"I am thrilled that this uniquely talented man chose to make France a focal point for his creativity and entrepreneurship," she said.

"He is an inspiration to a whole generation of young designers on both sides of the Channel."

The Legion of Honour was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and officer is the second highest of five ranks.

From cyclist to fashion designer

Paul Smith opened his first shop in Nottingham in 1970

• Paul Smith was born in Nottingham in 1946.

• He dreamed of becoming a professional racing cyclist but had a serious accident when he was 17, putting an end to this ambition.

• He opened his first shop in Nottingham in 1970 with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer, who is now his wife.

• By 1976 he showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.

• The Paul Smith collections are designed in Nottingham and London, and primarily produced in England and Italy.