December 2017

Korea: introducing Stealer Eyewear

Korea’s youngest eyewear brands are turning heads. One of the most popular rising names is the stainless steel specialist Stealer from Seoul, a brand that already has an impressive following at home, among them Korean influencers – such as actors Kim Moo Yul and Lee Hanee, who wear their frames on and off camera. The designs themselves are already in some of the finest boutiques in the South Korean capital (https://www.eyestylist.com/2017/06/haute-eye-seoul/). Opened in 2015, their retail HQ is in trendy Sinsa-Dong, Seoul. Lightweight and minimal in thickness and style, the collection plays with thin steel and fine steel wire to create interesting volumes with an industrial yet refined feel.

“As a brand we aim to re-interpret the material with an in-depth and unconstrained point of view….” Stealer Eyewear

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Following launches in Europe at Silmo (www.silmoparis.com), the Paris trade fair for optics and eyewear, the Stealer collection is now available in a select number of European opticians and fashion stores including La Vue Parisienne (Paris), Optics Angelos (Athens), Mert Optik (Turkey) and Joseph Haver (Tel Aviv) and continues to grow its European following with a street fashion project in Milan, highlighted on Instagram. Stealer Eyewear will exhibit at MIDO 2018 (Milan). Find out more: www.stealereyewear.com CN

Celebration of Vision: RCA x 100% Optical

100% Optical’s “Celebration of Vision” Design Competition runs in partnership with London’s Royal College of Art to celebrate the show’s landmark 5th Anniversary.

Students were asked to respond to the theme of “celebration” using the medium of eyewear. The 14 entries were narrowed down by a judging panel of designers, lecturers and eyewear enthusiasts. The six RCA finalists announced this week are: Clara Chu, Womenswear – Accessories, Year 1; Andrew Bell, Womenswear – Fashion, Year 1; Julia-Kirstin Hauss, Womenswear – Fashion, Year 1; Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle, Womenswear – Accessories, Year 1; Becky Hong, Womenswear – Fashion, Year 2; Ely Cao, Womenswear – Accessories, Year 1. (Image above: Project by Clara Chu.)

Julia Hauss

The competition has historically been a platform for creative study in eyewear, with students going on to develop their own eyewear lines and experiencing invaluable internships.

As part of the brief, students worked with Mazzuchelli and Laes, who provided acetate for the construction of frames, while Tom Broughton from Cubitts ran a masterclass in frame-making. Students were expected to scrutinise the process of creating eyewear, be it protective or to enhance vision. Students were also required to investigate and respond to systems, forms and scientific optical instruments, as well as advanced lens technology.

Carol Oyekunle

The shortlisted designs will be exhibited at 100% Optical and the competition winner will be announced during the event for the UK’s optical sector which takes place between 27-29th January 2018. For more information about the competition, read about last year’s entries: https://www.eyestylist.com/2016/12/rca-x-100-optical/ – and find further details on visiting 100% in London, UK at www.100percentoptical.com CN

Shoreditch: Not Just Another Store

New experiential retail space, Not Just Another Store is curated by UTTER and MARR, two independent companies, who, through creative collaborations with artists, illustrators, photographers and more, seek to break the norm of a traditional fashion store – in London.

Opened in Shoreditch in December (’17), opposite the Ace Hotel – their offering includes over 30 emerging brands across womenswear and menswear, literature, art and interiors – with eyewear launches planned for 2018.

London: Not Just Another Store, Shoreditch

With collaborations at the heart and core of the concept, Not Just Another Store will also be partnering up with various creatives and designers to curate innovative events, installations and exhibitions. The shop also includes an open plan mini kitchen offering brunch, lunch, juice and smoothies served by local independent chefs and barristas.

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London: Not Just Another Store, Shoreditch

Asked about eyewear, Buying Director Dami Akinnaike told Eyestylist that the store will stock specialist Asian brands –  Rosemanclub – the Japanese eyewear label launched in 2014 – and Gentlemonster – the much hyped Korean brand – coming soon in Spring 2018. Not Just Another Store, 189 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU www.notjustanotherstore.com  CN

Luxury, style and innovation at OPTI

The Munich eyewear show offers an exciting platform for international designers and brands to present their luxury collections. Anticipation is mounting for the 2018 event, as a start-studded roster of creators will present their latest collections. The beautiful designs of African inspired, Italian crafted frames from L.G.R includes the elegant CECILE (Top image). Finest quality acetate is silhouetted into superb, modern and feminine sunglasses with tempered mineral lenses that offer 100%UV protection, plus they are anti-scrach and impact resistant. The complete L.G.R collection of optical and sunglass designs will be shown at OPTI. www.lgrworld.com

Greige Nubuck Sun Cover by Any Di

Eyeglass cases that are stylish, chic and easy to pop into a handbag are the speciality of ANY DI, the Munich based designer of unusually sleek cases and bags. The Sun Covers are made from genuine leather, and the interiors are lined in a Microfiber material that is soft and pliant. Case interiors are padded as well, so lenses are protected from dust and scratches. Greige Nubuck is especially smart lined with bright orange. The efficient Sun Covers also have a strap that can be linked to your handbag or belt-loop. Discover more of ANY DI’s super Sun Covers in solid and print leathers at www.any-di.com and at OPTI-Munich.

Milano Centrale by theo Belgium from the Train Stations Collection

Train Stations elicit romantic aspirations – particularly with the new interest in the splendid Venice Simplon-Orient Express. Right on cue, theo in Belgium has launched the Train Stations Collection. Curvaceous, streamlined and cosmopolitan, MILANO CENTRALE in black and apple green exudes adventure and wanderlust. At OPTI, theo will present the full range of their adventureous collections. www.theo.be

Brooklyn by Lafont Paris

Lafont sunglasses are plentiful in character, design definition, imagination and colours. BROOKLYN from their latest collection reflects the diversity of the New York borough and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Acetate and metal meet in a perfectly round shape in sophisticated tortoiseshell, with a distinctive double-bridge. www.lafont.com

Marais by KBL Eyewear

What could be more Parisian than an aromatic French coffee in the historic and aristocratic Marais district? The pre-revolutionary streets are bustling with art galleries, tempting “boulangerie” (bread and bakery shops) hotels, museums and trendy shops. MARAIS by KBL Eyewear in sleek burgundy acetate with a double-bridge is artistic, relaxed, and fun – just like the Marais neighbourhood! KBL launches a new website  at www.kbleyewear.eu in conjunction with the opening date of OPTI. Details for OPTI-Munich 12th-14th January 2018 at www.opti.de JG

 

Adaptive lenses: Transitions Fashion Chrome

Light-adaptive lenses have taken a new stylish direction thanks to Transitions Optical, who continue to innovate in this specialist area.

The Fashion Chrome collection – just launched ready for SS18 – has a striking mirrored effect combined with Transitions’ XTRActive lens technology – which protects the eyes from the brightest sun and harsh artificial light. It also allows the lenses to darken behind the windscreen of a car.

The lenses have an adaptive tint that reacts to UV and visible light, intensifying when the wearer moves outside. When indoors, the lens has a chic light mirrored tint, which turns into a full mirrored sunglass outdoors, allowing the wearer to have the right tint at the right time. Available in six fashion-forward colour options from Red Sunrise to Sea Green, the new Fashion Chrome lenses provide a tonal range that is striking, unique and fresh – representing an outstanding new opportunity to complement stylish designer eyewear.

Transitions Optical was founded in 1990. In 1991, it became the first company to commercialize and manufacture plastic photochromic lenses.

Transitions lenses are also called adaptive lenses. They are clear indoors and at night and automatically darken outdoors as light conditions change. They block 100% of UV rays and help to enhance contrast and reduce glare. Top image: the new Fashion Chrome lenses fitted in Woow Eyewear’s Super Star 1 – www.wooweyewear.com For more on Transitions on Eyestylisthttps://www.eyestylist.com/2017/06/transitions-style-colours-new-experience/  For more information: www.transitions.com CN