30th January 2013 ‘opti’ – the German trade show, where I have been this weekend, searching out new trends – has highlighted again that the independent eyewear designers are setting the bar very high when it comes to quality, comfort and achievements in design and fashion styling. There is an extraordinary attention to minutiae – for comfort and aesthetics – and respect for time-honoured techniques in many of the leading creative collections. Here is a first taste of what is coming…our observations on the individual trends and directions will follow in the weeks ahead.
Above, Pierre Eyewear’s collection for 2013 combines French old-school glamour re-imagined in exciting colours and inventive shapes. Catch a glimpse, if you can, of Pierre’s new campaign images which are a discovery in themselves. www.pierre-eyewear.com
Italian wood label FEB31st launched a collaborative project with Riva 1920 this weekend in Munich. The frames in the edition are made from ancient kauri wood from New Zealand which has been preserved underground for 48000 years. Stefano Cipriani explained to me that the company has developed their own techniques to be able to create the frames in this exceptional natural material which has a unique texture, colour and smell. www.feb31st.it
Luca Gnecci Ruscone, Founder of L.G.R. showed us their elegant optical collection at the Munich show, and their growing sunglasses collection which featured this handsome patterned piece. He also gave me a sneak peak of a wonderful new L.G.R. Limited Edition – more on that coming up. www.lgr-sunglasses.com
Photography above by Eyestylist.com.
For details on opti, the Munich trade show, visit www.opti-munich.com CN