Joan

Kalvin & Kaan Dimension by Götti

29th January 2019

Five new designs reflecting exceptional quality with superior manufacturing specifications, highlight Götti frames with unique lightness and sleek minimalism. This beautiful collection embodies and personifies the extraordinary production innovation of 3D printing, construction, style and resource conservation. Kalvin and Kaan exude harmony, comfort, and subtle dynamism in soft spring colorations – sand and berry. Götti’s Dimension Collection is professionally crafted by remarkably talented artisans in their own factory in Zurich. www.gotti.ch JG

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

Design + Inspiration

Eyewear essentials for warm & sunny climes

28th January 2019

Dreary, cold, damp winter days bring thoughts of warm, tropical environments; a sunny ambience: rest, relaxation, and fun! Fashion designers salute and celebrate the Resort/Cruise season with stunning outfits, and eyewear creators ensure ensembles are memorably complete with glamorous sunglasses. Treat yourself to new and ravishing sun specs with exceptional quality; tech-savvy materials; sleek styling; and glorious colours. American designer Zac Posen launches new sun styles that include Dolly (top image), a charming and appealing acetate cat eye with trendy narrow proportions in Peach fade – a colour that harmonises with a glowing suntan. www.kenmarkeyewear.com

Charismatic sunnies by Sol Sol Ito Switzerland

Resort holidays and clothing have a distinct and notable glamour – so do sunglasses! Express your inner diva in this charismatic design – style 039 C1 – by Sol Sol Ito in Switzerland. The voluminous square shape in two-tone acetate with surgical stainless steel sides is bold, adventurous, and irresistible. www.solsolito.com

Cloud from the Signature Collection by Fleye Copenhagen

FLEYE Copenhagen’s Flowers of Denmark campaign enlivens sunglass designs that are expertly crafted in stunning new acetate patterns and colourations. The multiple-award winning Danish label endorses graphic elements, as seen in Cloud (above). The sun style is among seventeen new designs from FLEYE’s Signature collection. www.fleyecopenhagen.dk

Seductive sunglasses by Anna-Karin Karlsson are expressive and dramatic. Voluminous and finely sculpted in acetate, Bang Bang Baby makes an alluring impression in subtle colourations and 24-caret gold plating with twinkling crystals on the sides. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Indian Water Buffalo Horn by Delirious Eyewear

One of the most elegant and classical materials in eyewear is Indian Water Buffalo Horn. Delirious Eyewear, luxuriously crafted in Italy under the watchful eyes of founder Marco Lanero, utilises ethically sourced Buffalo Horn. Their sunglasses manifest generous proportions and uncluttered lines. Quality Zeiss lenses with reflective coatings ensure beauty as well as sun protection. www.deliriouseyewear.com

For Resort and Cruise – and visions of a glorious, sun-drenched summer – JF Rey in Marseille presents a beautiful alloy frame with stylistic details and aesthetics of refined metal craftsmanship, plus gold engravings that distinguish this silhouette. www.jfrey.com JG

Reviews

Lovers Key by Blackfin

21st January 2019

With many parts of the hemisphere engulfed in cold and grey days, there is nothing like chic and dramatically designed sun specs – infused with energetic colours – to inspire immediate cheer. Perhaps a hop and a leap to a warm, tropical island is paramount. Blackfin has the ideal sunglasses to accompany you to sun-kissed beaches and exotic destinations. Lovers Key BF852 has a unique personality with a distinctive frame structure created through a precise bas-relief process. Playful colours enhance a balanced and generous top rim. Lovers Key BF852 skilfully combines tech, style and creative innovation. Blackfin is a family-owned brand with beautiful frames envisioned and constructed totally in Italy by renowned artisans. Visit Blackfin this weekend at opti Munich in Hall C1 Stand 330. www.blackfin.eu JG

Design + Inspiration

opti19 Munich is arriving!

20th January 2019

Countdown to the opening of opti19 in Munich is only a few days away. Eager visitors are able to view imaginative, innovative, and stylish eyewear at the three-day event that takes place 25th-27th January, at the Munich Fairground. The exhibitors this year are irresistible and exuberant as designers and companies from around the globe showcase their creativity and ingenuity with fascinating eyewear. Inspiration and imagination for sleek and sophisticated eyewear spring from many sources.

Birgitte Falvin at Falvin Eyewear is captivated and enamoured with the streamlined beauty of The Crystal Building in Denmark. The elegant structure derived from its light, crystalline form rests only on a single point and single line – with commanding views of the Kalvebod Bygge waterfront. She has integrated this vision into her new collection of cutting-edge designs, including Zodiac (top image) combined with artisan components, and Japanese craftsmanship. Schmidt Hammer Lassen, an international architectural firm acknowledged for their distinctive buildings, libraries and art galleries, designed the environmentally-friendly structure. Discover FALVIN at opti in Hall C1 Stand 516. www.falvineyewear.com

BOLD 07 and BOLD 12 by Götti Switzerland

An innovative application of 3D printing united with the airiness of rimless, creates a sophisticated interplay of finesse and elegance in Perspective BOLD from Götti Switzerland. The designs have unique character with the silky-matte 3D trim combined with lens transparency. The frame is constructed without soldering and screws. Gorgeous colours too! Learn more about Perspective BOLD in Hall C1 Stand 126. www.gotti.ch

Karmoie interprets the Japanese art of Origami with its decorative shapely contours. The artisan independent Norwegian label crafts fine acetate into a sleek silhouette that is particularly effective for small faces. Shown in Nimbus, Origami is also available in four additional colours that reflect the beauty of Norwegian waters and forests. Karmoie is in Hall C1 Stand 632 www.karmoie.com

Vinylize Eyewear in Budapest presents their latest innovation in frames with a Special Edition crafted from AC/DC’s 2009 Black Ice album. The specs feature a layered interior lamination visible only when viewed from certain angles. Visit Vinylize at opti in Hall C2 Stand 629, and see their complete collection of creative eyewear crafted with vinyl records. www.vinylize.com

Soft, spring green is elegantly infused onto Monoqool’s chic design – Tattoo. Advanced technology with innovative 3D printing and high fashion, creatively unite with Monoqool’s launch of twelve sleek optical styles they are presenting at opti. The frames are featherweight, crafted without screws for the ultimate in comfort and durability. The Danish brand offers a unique selection of shapes and colours – discover them all in Hall C2 Stand 635. www.monoqool.com

Hints of champagne – little bubbles reminiscent of the effervescent sparkling drink – cheerfully accent Mille + 64 from theo in Belgium. Eight different and dynamic colours highlight the panto shape in stainless steel. See the entire Mille +64 collection and other ingenious and visionary theo designs in Hall C2 Stand 330. www.theo.be

Luxury metals, dramatic shapes, and comfort embrace the finely crafted designs by Jesse Stevens and Ainjali Fine at Finest Seven. The glamorous designs were photographed in the cult bar “Bananas” in Barcelona (above) including Zero 17: distinguished and impressive aviator with gold mirrored lenses, and on-trend double bridge. Visit Finest Seven at opti Munich in Hall C1 Stand 125. www.finestseven.com

Robinson with sun clip by Claire Goldsmith

Tortoiseshell frames in fabulous new colourations encapsulate the appeal of a material that is treasured in eyewear designs. Claire Goldsmith’s optical collection includes three new striking tortoiseshell variations with Robinson – Green, Blue, and Black. The contemporary, sleek shape is also ideal for sunny conditions with the addition of a polarised sun clip, to enjoy the mystique of a commanding design statement. Both Claire Goldsmith and Oliver Goldsmith optical and sun creations can be discovered in Hall C1 Stand 222. www.clairegoldsmith.com

The beautiful “Flowers in Denmark” campaign by FLEYE Copenhagen, unveils the summer version with stunning styles, lovely flower-related engravings and subtle colourations. Among the new optical designs is Himmel, with its intriguing, flattering angles. The entire FLEYE collection will be on display at opti in Hall 1 Stand 619. www.fleyecopenhagen.com

For a spirited display of eyewear, opti Munich is the place to be – and to be seen – this weekend – 25th-27th January. More details at www.opti.de JG

Boutiques

Lunetier Ludovic Brussels Belgium

13th January 2019

An energetic hub embraces Brussels. It is a hive of remarkable activity for culture, cuisine, fashion, and international politics. The city boasts vast green spaces and lovely parks; numerous museums; architectural landmarks; and it is the capital of the European Union. Belgian fashion designers have captivated the global style stage, and include Dries Van Noten; Raf Simons; Ann Demeulemeester, and Martin Mangela. Chocolate, chips, waffles and beer are known to dominate cuisine; however, elegant gastronomy is alive, well and flourishing in Brussels, and beyond the city centre.

Brussels includes nineteen municipalities, and a stroll of the historic Sablon area enchants the visitor with tempting antique shops; vintage clothing; designer labels; charming cafés; and speciality food shops. For distinctive and original custom-made eyewear – set your sights on the remarkable and influential Lunetier Ludovic Boutique. “My wife Vinciane and I opened the boutique in 2015,” recollects optician and owner Ludovic Elens when we met in Brussels, “and we specialise in bespoke glasses. We do feature some brands, but I am an eyewear crafter…that is my passion. We offer the finest quality and personalisation.”

Lunetier Ludovic is a bright and airy space over three levels; the street level displays frames where customers try on the designs; the lower level is Elens craft shop; and the upper level houses the office. “It was very hard to find a location; every week we went to a different area. We chose the Sablon as it has many interesting shops – art; jewellery; chocolate; antiques; and luxury products,’ says Elens.

The frames crafted at Lunetier Ludovic are truly luxurious works of art. Clients chose their materials from the intriguing collection that Elens has acquired – including sheep and deer horns that he works in layers. “We never throw anything out”, declares Elens, “as you never know when a particular piece of acetate or horn might be useful.”

Bespoke Ludovic design in acetate with Knot and Lemon Tree Wood

Each design takes approximately two weeks to create – and then two to three months for the actual crafting of the frame. “I want to design the frame that the wearer wants to wear,” Elens emphasises, “as we have many clients who are unable to wear a regular frame from a designer or manufacturer – perhaps due to an abnormal facial issue. However, that can be overcome with the correct design and bespoke fitting. There are details in the designs that you may not see, but the wearer can feel.”

Lunetier Ludovic has an amazingly diverse international clientele that range in age from two-and-one-half-years old – to eighty-one years old. They all wear Ludovic designs, which are individually personalised. Some clients are very specific about what they want. “We had a client who was a Roy Orbison fan, and he wanted frames exactly like what Orbison wore, so that is what we created.” Discover more about Lunetier Ludovic and the boutique’s unique, and beautifully handcrafted eyewear at www.lunetierludovic.be JG