A frame which folds away provides the perfect balance of style on the move and convenience. Folding frames have been around for decades (above, vintage design at Specstacular, Shoreditch, London), and several brands like Persol have continued, through the years, to reproduce their classic folding designs, including the PO0714 “Steve McQueen” sunglasses – in updated designs with new technology.
Others are rekindling designs from their archives – a delightful example was shown at Lunor during the Munich eyewear fair – or coming up with completely new concepts for tidying frames away.
Gotti Switzerland launched their “Spin & Stow” concept in 2011. Rather than folding at the bridge or along the temple, these frames have a “rotating” mechanism at the temple so that the arms lay flat across the frame front when not in use. A special flat case has been designed to accommodate the glasses when not in use, very handy for many situations. The Götti Spin & Stow innovation is patented and has been distinguished with multiple awards (GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2014, IF Product Design Award, red dot Design Award and V. AWARD Technology HK). Further details at www.gotti.ch
Other noteworthy examples? A new entry from Italy, Movitra Living Spectacles proposes a cool round eye shape with a patented design system, developed by experts in micromechanical components production, and created to protect the Carl Zeiss lenses from damage. The temples of the design fold away on both sides of the lenses, protecting them on either side when not being worn. www.movitraspectacles.com CN