Eyestylist

Eyewear extremes: SILMO Paris 2026

23rd September 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.

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

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

Design + Inspiration

New eyewear event announced for London

22nd September 2026

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

Sustainable design

Stone eyewear: Superbird by ROLF

21st September 2026

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

Design + Inspiration

Silmo Preview: AHLEM’s Echoes of Love

18th September 2026

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

Woman with Short Blonde Hair Wearing a White Textured Top and Brown Trousers, Hands in Pockets, Studio Backdrop. | Eyestylist 15th September 2026

Creative spirits

Jutta Kahlbetzer, Hoffmann Natural Eyewear

15th September 2026

Jutta Kahlbetzer is one of the world’s buffalo horn experts, as Co-founder/CEO/Creative Director of IVKO, Hoffmann Natural Eyewear’s parent company. Her passion for the brand’s history and heritage is matched by a desire to explore what is still possible with this luxurious natural material, combining time-honoured skills with contemporary design and technology. Eyestylist spoke to her about Hoffmann’s specialist craftsmanship, the enduring appeal of natural horn and why individuality and time remain, in her words, “the rarest forms of luxury”.

Jutta, thank you for agreeing to speak to Eyestylist. For those who don’t know you, can you introduce Hoffmann and describe your role? Since 1978, Hoffmann Natural Eyewear has been creating glasses in the Volcanic Eifel region made from natural materials – especially natural horn. With this experience and a passion for perfection, each frame is created by hand in around 280 individual steps. Every pair of Hoffmann glasses is a unique masterpiece and of the highest quality.

For more than three decades, I have been working in the international eyewear industry. In 2000, Wolfgang Thelen and I took over Hoffmann, making the brand a very personal part of our journey. I am the creative mind with a passion for subtle communication, technology and planning. I am particularly fascinated by the possibilities of natural horn and constantly strive to push the boundaries of this unique material. As Co-founder and CEO and Creative Director of IVKO, the daily tasks are quite extensive, but on the days I can dedicate myself to creative work, I almost feel a little guilty – it feels more like pleasure than work (laughs). Above: Jutta Kahlbetzer, Hoffmann Natural Eyewear

Tortoiseshell round eyeglasses with thick frames shown from the side against a black background. — Hoffmann Natural Eyewear: 2308 in the S-Line Collection

Hoffmann Natural Eyewear is one the world’s eyewear companies that preserves traditions and craftsmanship in the production of fine buffalo horn eyewear. Why do you think the material has enduring appeal in the modern era and has technology played a role in achieving new standards of production in horn eyewear design? Natural horn has an enduring appeal because it stands for individuality, authenticity and time. Especially in the modern area, time is a true luxury. Every horn frame is unique, and our customers appreciate the craftsmanship, attention to detail and time invested in creating it. At Hoffmann, traditional craftsmanship and modern technology go hand in hand. CNC technology enables precise and efficient production, while every frame is perfected by hand through the experience and skill of our passionate artisan crafts. As the raw horn comes from renewable resources and is collected in harmony with the natural circle of life, for me, there is no doubt, that this material will remain a valuable and future- oriented choice.

Hoffmann Natural Eyewear: 2242 in the S-Line Collection

Do you find there is still some reticence about working with natural horn or has this situation now changed? In the past, opticians were sometimes hesitant to work with natural horn, as it was considered a sensitive material. And while natural materials do require experience and a delicate touch, there is no need for opticians to be afraid of working with natural horn. Respecting some really basic rules, everyone will discover the magic and durability of this great material and its numerous benefits.

At the Hoffmann booth at SILMO, opticians can also visit our manufacturing station and ask questions to an experienced colleague from our Hoffmann atelier. Hoffmann also gives masterclasses to partner opticians who are new or unfamiliar with the natural material horn. Additionally, we provide glazing instructions and videos to support our optician partners.

Handcrafting at Hoffmann Natural Eyewear

What do you personally appreciate about creating fine eyewear at an historic company, and how does the company history continue to play a part in the success of the collections worldwide? What I appreciate most is the combination of heritage and innovation. Since 1978, Hoffmann has built up a unique wealth of knowledge and craftsmanship, which is passed on from one generation to the next while continuously evolving. Our history gives us a strong foundation, but our openness to new ideas and contemporary design keeps the collections relevant worldwide. Every frame carries a piece of this heritage while still feeling modern and individual.

Hoffmann Natural Eyewear x Thierry Lasry – model Enemy

Hoffmann launched a luxury collaboration with Thierry Lasry in 2025. What has been positive about this experience and do you hope to carry the edition forward? Above all, the combination of two distinct areas of expertise. Thierry Lasry embodies a distinctive vision of modernity and artistic expression in the world of eyewear, which meets Hoffmann’s decades of craftsmanship and expertise in working with natural horn. The result is a unique dialogue between bold design and traditional craftsmanship.

The result is a collection that successfully combines creativity, individuality, material excellence and authentic craftsmanship. Never change a running system — stay tuned…

What do you personally love about the collection? I could actually list a lot of points which I love about the collection. What is really outstanding to me is the time invested and the individuality of each frame! As well as the natural grain, which is different on every single horn, there is the handcrafting aspect, which of course gives every frame that unmistakable aura of uniqueness. We believe that individuality is the greatest option we can offer our customers. After all individuality and time are the rarest forms of luxury!“ But my real heartfelt aspect about it is and will stay the strong bond to nature that a horn frame represents.

Hoffmann Natural Eyewear: the new packaging will be on show at SILMO

I note there is some new packaging for the collection. Please feel free to tell us more! We have recently introduced new packaging for Hoffmann. From the outer packaging and case to the cleaning cloth, every element has been redesigned to reflect the quality and premium character of our eyewear. It is a new home for our Hoffmann masterpieces – designed to protect what is truly unique and to create a refined stage for our handcrafted frames. With every frame, customers will also receive a small piece of craftsmanship as a special addition to the packaging, celebrating the natural material and the handmade character of each piece.

Find out more about Hoffmann Natural Eyewear at www.hoffmann-eyewear.com

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Eyestylist

Eyewear extremes: SILMO Paris 2026

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Stone eyewear: Superbird by ROLF

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