This week’s event in Munich is a chance to catch up on design, tech and colour innovation in the independent eyewear collections
Munich awaits the 2024 Edition of the opti fair – taking place this week from Friday through Sunday, with a full programme of events, activities and seminars for optical specialists attending the 3-day trade show. In independent eyewear news, a wide selection of new and innovative frame collections will be on show for the first time, including a strong showing of sustainable eyewear collections, luxury sun and optical ranges as well as iconic Austrian and German eyewear brands that have long been of special interest in this region of Europe.
opti’s organisers recommend a variety of activities for the event, from browsing in the opti BOXES (in Hall C2), to visiting the opti OPTICS START-UP area in Hall C3, and enjoying a stroll through halls C1 to C4. They have arranged an opportunity to book a curated tour of the show in advance – either focusing on ophthalmic optics with eptitop GmbH or independent eyewear brands, with Karin Stehr (www.opti.de/en/messe/highlights/opti-guided-tours). Above: the independent brand from Italy, RES/REI’s recently launched men’s eyewear collection is among their headlining ranges for the show; the styles have a contemporary feel, yet their quality and finish is beautifully rooted in tradition and classical, iconic craftsmanship – www.resrei.com
The sustainable eyewear company Rolf Spectacles is a long-time exhibitor at opti. Since it’s first exhibitions in Munich, the brand has won numerous awards for their innovative product lines in sustainable materials, most recently the MATERIALICA Award 2023 for their 3D printed Wire collection – produced from rapidly renewable castor beans. www.rolfspectacles.com
Junk Plastic Rehab are working with repurposed waste and the result is creative, bold and original. The label will be one of the highlighted brands in the Opti Boxes (C2 / BOX8) this year : https://junkplasticrehab.com
New this month, and part of their Spring/Summer 2024 collection, model Haori is introduced in the Japan Now! collection. The FACE A FACE designers continue their artistic journey to the heart of contemporary Japanese design – inspired by Shiro Kuramata, Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, and others. “They are all designers whose work combines delicacy with a disruptive aesthetic – a fascinating contrast that permeates the vision of the JAPAN NOW collection”. The Haori is a delightful creative two-tone acetate, available in two shapes and exciting multiple colours. www.faceaface-paris.com
Henau Eyewear’s imaginative frames, designed by Marc Delagrange, are like pieces of architecture in minute size. The collection includes distinctive striped pieces (above, M2103), quirky round styles like Lunaforte and extraordinary couture pieces like Vega, Callas and Jadim. www.henau-eyewear.com
opti takes place from 12th to 14th January 2024 at the Fairground Munich. For further details visit http://www.opti.de