Kanye and Jay Z; Salvador Dali and Walt Disney; Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - whatever the discipline, there’s something uniquely thrilling about a great collaboration. We love it when creative people come together, joining forces to produce something special that bears the hallmarks of its creators, yet feels new and distinct all at once.

Now in its 4th edition, the collaboration between Caran d’Ache and designer Paul Smith is yet another example of how great minds coming together results in exciting new work that is more than the sum of its parts.

Paul Smith - a long time fan of Caran d’Ache writing tools - has been a titan of the fashion world since the 1970s, beginning with a humble 3x3m boutique in Nottingham, before expanding to over 130 shops in 60 different countries. Though first and foremost a menswear designer, Smith has turned his hand to many different projects in his 50 year career, including a homeware collection, a Lasonic boombox, and - on two occasions - a range of Minis. The man is nothing if not versatile!

For the new collaboration, Paul Smith has once again redesigned a range of Caran d’Ache’s esteemed 849 ballpoint pens, loved for their versatility, hexagonal barrel and lightweight aluminium construction. Previous iterations of the collaboration have focused on colour - unsurprising for anyone with a little knowledge of Paul Smith’s oeuvre. Editions one and two gave buyers a choice from a range of signature colours, from soft pastel blues to bright oranges and pinks; while edition three featured eight colours together in Paul Smith’s iconic ‘Artist Stripe’ pattern. So what does the newest iteration of this partnership do differently?

The new 849 ballpoint pens are the designer’s most striking collection yet. A reinterpretation of the famous Paul Smith stripes, they come in six different two-tone colour combinations that both complement and contrast. A tribute to unusual combinations, these pens are redolent of the detailed suit linings and top stitchings seen on Paul Smith shirts, and will immediately catch the eye of anyone who loves colour and delights in the unexpected.