1st February 2013 As we are celebrating men’s eyewear this month, we have asked several designers to share with Eyestylist their ideas and concepts about designing for men. The series begins with Luca Gnecchi at L.G.R. in Italy.
Do you have a particular male role model in mind when you design men’s eyewear? “When I create eyewear and especially sunglasses, I think about my friends. I try to please them and fit into their lifestyle that we often share.”
What is your philosophy on colour, materials and eyewear shapes for men? “Men’s colours have to be more simple; typically darker and classic. I think that keeping the shape to the essential is important. But also offering technically superior lenses for different masculine uses such as sailing, driving and just knowing that you have a super good polarized mineral glass lens, I think makes a man happier. While a woman, yes, she likes it too, but she is more concerned about an original coloured frame, a gradient lens that makes her eyes seen – but not seen – the game of seduction……”
Do you think that men are becoming more experimental with their eyewear choices? “Yes, they are, they like to play with colour too, but keeping the combinations very separated and strong, with contrast. Like our sanded yellow frames with mirrored green lenses, or our Raw Limited edition in black opaque and mirrored deep blue lenses. Men also like to be noticed, but in a different way, not in the seductive, playful way of women, but in a strong precise taste for something unusual.”
“I am about to present a new Limited Edition for travelling. You will be able to choose your sunglasses especially to fit your light conditions on that particular trip. It’s something that takes into consideration adventure, heat, Africa, wlidlife, unstable light conditions, romance, beauty, escape and freedom.” www. lgr-sunglasses.com JG