Eyestylist

| Eyestylist 24th September 2026

Freedom by Nina Mûr: seeing “beauty in emptiness”

NINA MÛR presents Freedom, a collection inspired by the Japanese concept of Ma, where space ceases to be an absence and becomes an essential part of the design – the collection will debut at SILMO Paris from Friday

In the Freedom Collection by NINA MÛR, four silhouettes have been created through an exploration of a new way of understanding the frame: a continuous line that deliberately chooses not to close, creating an open space between the structure and the lens. That space doesn’t respond to a technical need. It’s a design decision.

The design concept comes from understanding the principle of Ma, a fundamental concept of Japanese aesthetics and an artistic interpretation of empty space. In music, Ma refers to the silence between notes that gives the music its rhythm and depth, while in design it could be described as an artistic interpretation of the empty space. For NINA MÛR, the concept provided the inspiration for a complete set of modern frame designs, described as four interpretations of freedom. Each one is named after a Japanese concept related to space, movement or nature – Yohaku, Nagare, Kaze and Sora. Above: FREEDOM by NINA MÛR will launch at SILMO Paris – model Sora, pictured in ‘pistachio ice cream and navy’

Model Nagare by NINA MÛR
Model Kaze by NINA MÛR
NINA MÛR – the Freedom Collection – model Kaze – “discovering what is no longer necessary”

At a time when we tend to fill every space, the Spanish eyewear label proposes a head-turning collection which champions the value of pause, balance, and conscious emptiness: “it’s an invitation to make space. Because, sometimes freedom begins precisely there.” All the frames in the Freedom collection are produced in the label’s signature wood, and feature in a colour palette that includes bright tones and chic pastels in combination.

NINA MÛR launches the Freedom Collection at SILMO PARIS this weekend. Their latest collaboration  – https://www.eyestylist.com/2026/06/artist-collaboration-okuda-x-nina-mur/ – will also be on show at the stand. Find out more: www.ninamur.com

| Eyestylist 23rd September 2026

Eyewear extremes: SILMO Paris 2026

The Paris optical event promises a remarkable variety of frame designs, where the avantgarde spirit of the eyewear world will find bold expression – a dedication to manufacturing excellence, state-of-the-art technology and craftsmanship define some of  the most striking, innovative and individual designs…

SILMO returns to Parc-des-Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte this Friday for its international 4-day “rendez-vous”, where organisers expect close to 900 exhibitors and 1500 plus brands – from over 40 countries. All segments of the industry will be represented—from frames to lenses, smart eyewear to retail equipment, as well as services dedicated to opticians—making SILMO Paris a unique and ever popular destination for business opportunities, networking and education – as well as inspiration.

The event also presents talks, educational programmes, a Tech Village – SILMO NEXT  as well as the Silmo d’Or industry awards which recognise the most remarkable innovations and creations in the optics and eyewear sectors. These awards celebrate excellence, creativity, and boldness among companies and designers, while revealing key market trends. Beyond recognition, the SILMO d’Or Awards play a structuring role for the profession, spotlighting those who are shaping the future of the sector and reinforcing SILMO Paris as a global stage for innovation.

This year is the 33rd edition of the Silmo D’Or awards ceremony – the awards will be presented  in 13 categories including smart eyewear, optical frame – craftsmanship and know-how, sport, kid’s eyewear and technological innovation in eyewear.

Here, Eyestylist is delighted to preview a taste of some of the collections and products which will be unveiled at Silmo Paris 2026 for the new season, all of which point to a new feeling in shape, colour, architecture, materiality and technical achievement thanks to the work and passion of so many creative individuals in the industry. Above: HOET will introduce the H8 and the F8 – two designs with pronounced, architectural 3D-printed titanium mesh structures – Photo by MITSLEEN – www.hoet.be

PORTRAIT Eyewear: NUMAN’s acetate structure and its temples engraved in metallic wave motifs ‘transforms the frame into a visual memo of the late 1970s’

At SILMO, PORTRAIT Eyewear will reveal the Numan Collection and a frame which resonates with details inspired by the era of synth-pop. The characteristic sharp edges and refined curves of the frame create a dazzling look in acetate colours of crystal nude and gradient green. The brand will also show a collaboration edition created with the Venetian artist, Emiliano Donaggio featuring multiple materials in the design including Murano glass. www.portraiteyewear.com

NIL-TECH 75400 : a new balance between aesthetics and technology at LOOK

Italian eyewear brand LOOK presents NIL-TECH 75400 at Silmo this year, the latest series in its Premium segment, where design is expressed through subtraction, precision and functionality. The result is a collection with a bold personality and clean visual presence, comprising four frames that weigh just 7 grams.

At the heart of the series is the combination of a NIL front and titanium temples, joined by an innovative connection system that requires no screws, adhesives or chemical bonding agents. The NIL and titanium engage through a precisely calibrated system of interlocking elements and friction, engineered to provide stability and fluid movement. Tested through 16,000 opening and closing cycles, the mechanism ensures lasting hinge performance while minimizing the need for subsequent adjustments. Find out more: https://www.lookocchiali.it

J.F. REY – model JF 3161 – a beautiful combination design that plays with shape, space and colour combinations

Model JF 3161 is part of the new mainline collection by the French brand, J.F. REY.  Through new combinations of lines, proportions, materials, details and construction techniques, the label continues to evolve the design and style of its concepts while preserving distinctive signature codes and individual identities. The Sledge line now opens up to a feminine interpretation in titanium with new style JF3173, while the new JF3161 reimagines the iconic metal lining of the Double Combi in a lighter, more streamlined silhouette. A brand new collection concept will also be revealed on the J.F. REY stand  at the weekend! www.jfrey.fr

Leto by Veronika Wildgruber – a feature of the new collection by the Berlin-based designer

Model Leto, a nominated frame in the Silmo d’Or awards, is a bold aviator silhouette with a futuristic, mask-like design by Veronika Wildgruber. The outline of the shape is interrupted at the bridge, creating a graphic, eye-catching gap. The custom-made acetate is layered and features an impressive colour palette with four different zones. The varying milling depths of the surface bring out different colours and degrees of transparency. Find out more about the brand at www.veronikawildgruber.com.

POP kHORN’s model Alpha is playful and striking

Another of the Silmo d’Or nominations, the Alpha frame is by POP kHORN, an artisanal brand using distinctive eyewear materials. The frame features an acetate front with elliptical lines of epoxy resin which intersect around each rim, evoking the orbitals of an electron around its nucleus. The vivid colour contrasts with the depth of the dark acetate. This model has unusual sinusoidal titanium temples and a visible through-hinge with coloured components. https://popkhorn.fr

See more new launches on Eyestylist: https://www.eyestylist.com/2026/09/silmo-2026-preview-international-distinction-future-trends/

SILMO Paris takes place from Friday 25th September to Monday 28th September at the Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte – Halls 6 + 7. This is a trade-only event. For more information visit www.silmoparis.com

| Eyestylist 22nd September 2026

New eyewear event announced for London

A brand-new trade event is scheduled for September 2027, designed to showcase independent brands and emerging designers

Taking place on 17th September 2027, First Look London “will present a tightly curated group of brands in a clean, gallery-style environment designed to give buyers meaningful time with designers, founders and makers” say the organisers. The event will take place at the Inner Space at Town Hall in King’s Cross – designed by Tom Dixon. With St Pancras and King’s Cross stations on its doorstep, the event is described as being conveniently located for buyers and brands travelling from across the UK and Europe.

According to the organisers, early adopters include the following brands + distributors: Bird Eyewear, Caroline Abram, Einstoffen, Eyewear Ltd, Feb31st, House of Spectacles, JF Rey, Kirk & Kirk, Linda Farrow, M2M Eyewear, Ransome + Jenkin, Talla Eyewear, Traders & Makers and Vasuma; the official lens sponsor is Nikon Lenswear UK. New designers will also be “a key focus for First Look London, from the UK and around the world”. A select number of places will be reserved for new designers to present themselves for the first time in the UK. https://www.firstlooklondon.com

Photography of the venue provided by First Look London

| Eyestylist 21st September 2026

Stone eyewear: Superbird by ROLF

Previewing this week for the Paris show, the optical style Superbird represents a new achievement in the use of genuine slate in eyewear to create one-off designs with real technical precision. The frame is nominated for a Silmo d’Or in the category “Optical frames – craftsmanship and know-how”

The new Superbird frame features a razor-thin layer of genuine slate meticulously bent around the edges and curves of the structure in the label’s Tyrolean HQ, with every style becoming as a result a truly unique piece thanks to the multilayered texture of the natural stone material. Rolf has developed special technologies to work with materials like stone and wood because they cannot be thermoformed like conventional frame materials. These includes two proprietary, patented technologies: one for the lenses, which is a glazing system designed with a fine thread guided through two small bores…the design keeps the frame front structurally intact while providing stability. The label also has its own hinge system called the FlexLock, a rubber-elastic, spring-element join. This is screwless and designed for multi-axial movement. When deflected the hinge automatically returns to a defined neutral position combining properties of flexibility, durability and reliability. Above: Superbird by ROLF

Superbird by ROLF – fine natural materials and working with them in innovative ways  are ROLF’s  specialism

About ROLF / ROLF produces one-of-a-kind, design-driven handmade eyewear in natural materials: they include wood, stone and castor beans.  Behind every frame is a family-run company and a team of innovators and artisans in Weißenbach am Lech, Austria. (Also known as #planetrolf). Since 2009, the company has developed its own production techniques and innovative technical solutions such as the patented screwless hinge. Every design is conceived, developed and handcrafted in the Tyrolean HQ – respecting its responsible production philosophy. Find out more at www.rolf-spectacles.com

Close-up of a Person Wearing Oversized Sunglasses in a Fashion Promo Image with 'ahlem' Branding and 'fall Winter 2026 Collection' Text Overlay  | Eyestylist 18th September 2026

Silmo Preview: AHLEM’s Echoes of Love

AHLEM introduces 17 new frames in its latest collection which features both metal and acetate designs, united by the considered approach to proportion and restraint that has defined the Parisian eyewear label for more than a decade. Bronze is used in the metal frames in the collection for the first time

“This collection follows the same instinct that guides everything we make: A frame shouldn’t compete with the person wearing it, it should reveal them,” says AHLEM founder and designer, Ahlem Manai-Platt. Accompanying the releases is a campaign tracing the arc of intimacy two lovers travel over the course of a day. The dynamic emotional register of the imagery finds a parallel in the collection itself, where carefully judged proportions and detailed silhouettes are designed to complement, rather than dominate, the wearer.

The frames – which will be exhibited at SILMO next week, are described as having been “distilled to their essence” through a rigorous process of editing, whilst upholding core design vocabulary—architectural metals, refined opticals, everyday icons, bold geometrics—rendered with confident new lines, signature details and subtle innovations.

“In design, removing something is often much harder than adding something,” says Manai-Platt. “When I draw a frame, I keep removing until nothing else can disappear. What remains has to feel completely natural, almost obvious, even though it rarely is.”

Close-up of brown tortoiseshell sunglasses with dark lenses, cropped at the bottom edge of the frame
Carpentier sunglasses by AHLEM: the acetate styles are substantial – with an air of old-school elegance – whilst also feeling lightweight and comfortable

The collection’s acetate frames are crafted from premium cuts derived from cotton flower, selected for depth of colour, durability and lightness. This season’s shades— ranging from striking jewel tones to translucent neutrals—were tested on human faces (as opposed to sample cards), and judged against changing light before approval. The result is a series of naturally radiant acetate frames that feel substantial in the hand but are lightweight on the face.

Clear-framed eyeglasses with light brown temples resting on a white background, close-up view used for product feature.
Houdon by AHLEM – pictured in “November light”

The optical frames include the square shape, Houdon, with its distinctive architectural structure, visible wire core in the temples and pared-down artistic colours, ranging from the greyish crystal “November Light” to the soft bluish “Petrol Light”.

Cadet sunglasses by AHLEM featuring a metal front and bronze temple base

Metal styles are electroplated with palladium and finished in 22k-gold, balancing palladium’s cool, strong structure with the warmth of gold illuminating the surface. This season AHLEM announces the introduction of  a new material to its metal roster: a temple crafted from a nickel-free bronze, more than a year in development. Most eyewear makers avoid bronze due to its cost and the complexities faced when working with it.. AHLEM pursued it because, once mastered, bronze offers a stability that holds its shape, a gentleness against the skin and a lightness that contradicts its sturdy feel.

“You won’t notice it on the first day,” says Manai-Platt. “You’ll notice it six months in, when you’ve completely forgotten you’re wearing glasses at all. That’s the only kind of improvement I’ve ever really cared about—invisible at a glance, but enjoyed every time the frame is worn.”

Find out more about the new collection showing at SILMO Paris 2026 at www.ahlem-eyewear.com