Silmo Paris
The Paris show Silmo yielded a vast array of exciting styles and trends, an opportunity for buyers to select high quality, high-tech, creative and unusual, individual designs – which are clearly seeing greater desirability for a wider audience.
Above: A new sleek limited edition aviator, handsome, minimal, and typically luxurious. Designed by Jesse Stevens. www.finestseven.com
RVS by V Handmade Eyewear had an eclectic mix of eye-popping acetates (model Fame and Flatliner), asymmetric ideas (Annette) and very clean minimal round shapes, including the new Avner, a stainless steel/Mazzucchelli acetate combination design – for sun or optical lens fittings. www.rvseyewear.com
Regular attendees showed a tremendous attention to design details – the most prevalent trend of them all – and a plethora of new colour, shape and design trends – very fine frame structures in metal and acetate, new interpretations in metal (Metalloid at Rigards was striking) and true finesse in finishings and material combinations. The flat-effect of the Base 2 lens popped up time and again and will lead in SS16. Sunglass shapes were classically inspired and included versions of the aviator, circular shapes, cat eyes and the P3 – but look our for more eccentric directions here too.
ic! berlin launched an exceptional collection produced with new Design Director, Werner Aisslinger. The line is made up of frames linked with members of the ic! berlin team, inspired by them, named after them and created by them, each with a unique story. The debut collection by Aisslinger with ic! Berlin, the products are designed according to shapes from different historical periods, reimagined with new technologies like the new superfine 4 mm hinge. Find out more at www.ic-berlin.de
Layering effects, in the same vein as fabric layering on the catwalks, were a popular way to explore a fresh design story. Kyme Sunglasses had some interesting pieces including floral decorations in a luxury collaboration with Rada and minimal layering effects on frame fronts, illustrated in model Sabry. www.kymesunglasses.com
Handmade artisan techniques were strongly represented as was the new avant-garde trend and ongoing development in 3d technology with excellent results at Cabrio Belgium (Cabriolet CC) and Tom Stevens. Mykita launched their digitally tailored eyewear concept, MY VERY OWN, MVO. Noteworthy independent brands exhibiting for the first time included specialist international creators Alfred Kerbs from Barcelona, Jacques Marie Mage from LA and Dabrach from Italy – www.dabrach.com, all showing commitment to eyewear quality, precision and creative design.
More information about Silmo Paris can be found at www.silmoparis.com. The next Silmo Paris fair takes place on 23rd to 26th September 2016. CN