If you thought your ‘90s Beanie Babies collection was excessive, you clearly haven’t met Alan Smith-Allison. The 37-year-old Scotsman is a Spice Girls superfan, and he’s been taking “extra” to a whole new level ever since Mel B uttered the words zigazig ah. “It started at Wannabe,” he remembers. “I heard this catchy, cheesy pop song and I bought into it straight away.” In the 22 years since then, Smith-Allison has spent “hundreds of thousands of pounds” on girl power merchandise, from limited edition Walker’s crisps packets to one-of-a-kind costumes to an array of terrifying figurines, which apparently resemble the Spice Girls. And now, he’s the curator of a touring exhibition that promises to inject some long-lost spice into our lives.
While the thought of a 3300-piece-strong memorabilia collection no doubt rings some serious alarm bells, Smith-Allison is actually quite normal, and lives with his partner and two pet beagles. When we manage to catch him for a quick chat between back-to-back guided tours of the exhibition, the collector-cum-creator transports us back to the time we spent singing into hair brushes and choreographing dance routines in our Spice World PJs.
Why the Spice Girls? Why did they speak to you so much?
I was 15 when Wannabe came out. I was an impressionable teenager with a few angst issues and they just injected a massive amount of fun into my life. They were coming out with these really empowering messages — like if you work hard, or try hard enough you can achieve anything you want to — that really resonated with me.
When did you first start collecting merch?
I used to buy the CDs, and all the different versions of the CDs, the limited editions — things like that. But it developed into something more in about 2005. In 2007, I bought my first costume and then after that I just kept going and going and adding to it.
What’s the most expensive thing that you’ve bought?
I’ve just had Mel C’s Spice Force Five delivered today and it cost me about two and a half or three thousand pounds. So that’s going on show next weekend for the first time — it’s not been since publicly since the movie.
How much do you think you’ve spent all together?
Oh god, I don’t know. Hundreds of thousands of pounds. I wouldn’t ever actually know the figure. I still buy stuff online now, and things are always turning up at the house. I have records of all the major buys and costume pieces, but when it comes to merchandise there’s no record of how much it’s cost me.
What’s the rarest piece?
Well most of them are one-offs, designed specifically for each Spice Girl, so they’re all really collectable and they’ve been worn to really prominent events.
What’s your favourite?
(Laughs) I have a full line-up of silver suits from the Istanbul tour. I’m actually the first collector in the world that owns a full five line-up, and they’re pretty cool. They’re really reflective and pretty futuristic even for now.
And why do you keep buying?
Because I want to finish the collection! But actually I don’t think it can ever be finished — I’m not sure it’s measurable because there’s so much stuff out there.
Have you ever met a Spice Girl?
I’ve met both Melanies and Geri, but I’ve not met Emma or Victoria yet, unfortunately.
What’s your favourite Spice Girls song?
Probably, Stop.
Who’s your favourite Spice Girl?
I just can’t choose — I can’t choose between them. They all offer up something different I think. I maybe had a little bit of a schoolboy crush on Emma, but they all mean a lot to me.
What made you want to curate the exhibition?
Just the passion for it. It’s a shame that all these iconic costumes are normally hanging up in suit hangers, not on show. They’re such an iconic part of pop music history. I think they need to be seen. I love it: all of the lights spotlighting everything, sparkling away. It’s been four years in the making, and I’m so excited to see it in action.
What’s the reaction been like?
Do you know what, it’s been a little bit crazy. We are having so much fun with it — it’s beyond incredible. Thousands and thousands of people have come to see it, and everyone’s coming out happy and full of fun, which is an amazing reaction.
And finally, if you joined the band and had to take on a ‘spice’ persona what spice would you be?
(Gasps) Uh! Wouldn’t that be nice! Probably nonsense, or silly spice, something like that.
Spice Up London is on show in London until August 20 at The Business Design Centre, Angel, before going on tour. More information and tickets available here.