PUPILS at Beeston Fields Primary School are now designer kids after Sir Paul Smith made their school tie.
The stripy "rainbow" tie was sketched by 11-year-old Margaret Metcalfe, after which Sir Paul added the finishing designer touches.
Margaret, a pupil in Year 6, said: "I did it because there are lots of different colours in school and people that come from different countries."
Margaret and her whole class went down to Paul Smith's offices in Covent Garden, London, to be personally presented with the tie by the fashion designer.
Sir Paul said: "Some of them had never left Nottingham before, let alone visited London, so we rented a coach for them and they came down to the studio."
Margaret said: "I was happy and speechless. I felt proud of myself. My mum was telling the whole street."
The Year 6 class decided they wanted a new tie last November and wrote to former pupil Sir Paul, who went to the school in Boundary Road in the 1950s and early 60s when it was a secondary modern for boys.
To the pupils' surprise, the globally renowned designer visited the school to help with the design process in March.
He chose four designs by Margaret Metcalfe, Cedrine Vashti, Jake Wakefield and Ruhana Thareen, all aged 11.
Teacher Caroline Milner explained: "He sent us eight designs with two mock-ups in different colourways for each design.
"We had a class debate and a vote to decide which one we wanted."
It turned out the chosen rainbow design was also Sir Paul's favourite. He said: "They thought a rainbow was appropriate as it touches on different people from different countries."
The winner is a vibrant orange, blue, red, yellow and purple stripy number.
Mrs Milner said: "It's the Paul Smith stripe but done in a childlike way. The children say it's the rainbow tie because our children are a rainbow of colour. They come from all around the world and 35 languages are spoken in the school."
The ties have been made by Stephen Walters & Sons, based in Suffolk, who make Sir Paul's designer ties.
He paid for the whole Year 6 class to visit his offices in London and also took them to nearby Somerset House.
Mrs Milner said: "Paul arranged for us to go up on to a balcony where the public aren't allowed."
Margaret, who now wants to be a fashion designer or a chef when she grows up, said: "He is really kind, giving and polite."
Fellow pupil Leah Haworth, 11, said: "Going to London was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"I feel lucky to have my tie designed by him."
Mrs Milner believes that the tie project has taught the kids so much more than just how to make a tie.
She said: "It's now a relationship between the school and Paul. He sends pupils postcards from wherever he goes, they send him letters.
"They've been inspired and it's taught them that they can succeed. Paul has succeeded beyond wildest expectations and for the children to see him makes them realise what is possible in life."
To see all our photos from the day click here.