Arts & travel

The Lens of Time, Venice

A new exhibition in Venice, produced and sponsored by ANFAO, explores the history of Italian eyewear

Celebrating the story of eyewear, through art, design and innovation, the new exhibition, ‘The Lens of Time’ explores the history of spectacles and sunglasses in Italy, from the Middle Ages to the present day, with more than 150 original pieces and related materials on display. Curated by Fondazione Museo dell’Occhiale, in collaboration with Fondazione di Venezia and Fondazione M9 – Museo del ’900, the eyewear displayed has been sourced from three distinguished Italian collections – the Eyewear Museum of Pieve di Cadore, that of the Vascellari Family, and the Arte del Vedere Collection by Lucio Stramare. Above: ‘The Lens of Time’ at Palazzo Flangini in Venice

The Lens of Time: archive materials from iconic campaigns by Safilo, Persol, LOZZA and other heritage brands

The exhibition also features a virtual tour of the famous eyewear museum in Pieve di Cadore and an interactive kiosk entitled “Timeless Frames” which allows visitors to experience a virtual try-on of some of the historic spectacles and sunglasses on display and share the images. Among art works featured are two contemporary works by the artist, Maurizio Paccagnella. The first, Trasparenze, is a sculptural piece that draws inspiration from the Cadore mountains – the heart of Italy’s eyewear production – and from the beauty of Murano and Venetian glass, in tribute to the lenses of the earliest spectacles. This installation was crafted using recycled acetate. The second, Sguardo nel Tempo, is described as “capturing the essence of looking through time”. Its undulating surface is a a nod to the Venetian lagoon – “reflecting the countless gazes of those who have worn glasses throughout history, weaving together the story of humanity with that of eyewear”. Below: The iconic Peggy sunglasses – Safilo, Italy – 1990 – Peggy Guggenheim originally commissioned her friend Edward Melcarth to design the oversized butterfly shape, https://www.eyestylist.com/2014/09/eyewear-and-an-avant-garde-art-collector/

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Zero sunglasses, Zagato, Cadore, Italy / 1978 – a piece of fashion history

Curated by architect Daniela Zambelli, Director of Fondazione Museo dell’Occhiale, and art historian Alessandra Cusinato, ‘The Lens of Time’ is part of the official programme for the National Made in Italy Day, sponsored by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and is also included on the calendar of the 2025 Venezia Architecture Biennale.

‘The Lens of Time’ is open to the public (11am to 5pm) until 30th July 2025 at Palazzo Flangini – Cannaregio, Calle Flangini 252 – Venice. For more information: www.anfao.it

Latest news: Loft Eyewear Shows announce “New York Eyewear Design Week”

The first edition is to be held in New York City from March 13th to 15th 2025

Loft Eyewear Shows has announced a new show concept for NYC in 2025: “New York Eyewear Design Week”, with the first edition to be held in New York City from March 13th to 15th 2025.

This initiative is being created “to foster a seamless, curated experience that brings together a diverse array of eyewear brands and industry stakeholders”. For the first edition, Loft confirms that Kering Eyewear and Thélios are participating with independently hosted showroom events to present their Summer 2025 collections while the independent eyewear showcase by Loft will present a stunning variety of independent labels. The organisers want the events to be designed to benefit eyewear boutiques, industry buyers, optometrists, opticians, and their staff, offering them a rich, immersive experience in a city they know and love.

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The event promises not only to highlight the latest trends and innovations in eyewear but also to provide a stimulating environment where business and creativity intersect. There will be a full complement of Optometry and Optician Continuing Education as well as a space dedicated to machinery, software and optometric needs.

LOFT Eyewear Events has been hosting an off-site event space since 2000 and will be celebrating 25 years since their first event in NYC. Featuring brands such as Mykita, Bevel, Anne et Valentin, Theo, Blake Kuwahara, and la Eyeworks, the LOFT event has become a staple in the eyewear event calendar. The LOFT organisers have confirmed they will be adding a second space to showcase additional independent brands close to the location at Chelsea Industrial. Find out more at www.eyeweardesignweek.com

Hall of Frames 2024, Lucerne, Switzerland

An eyewear event that always has a fresh and informal buzz, Hall of Frames took place in September in Lucerne – over 50 brands exhibited, welcoming a professional audience at the elegant venue, the Swiss Museum of Transport

Hall of Frames (HOF), the Swiss eyewear event which took place in September for the third year in a row, welcomed interested opticians to see an impressive array of eyewear from different countries in Europe and beyond, showcasing the latest trends and innovations by designers and leading manufacturers. The event highlighted a continued focus on eyewear trends, bold colour and the quality of refined natural materials. Above: Hall of Frames eyewear shoot, Lucerne – September 2024 – photography by Studio Kronsbjerg – frame, Gigi Barcelona

Stone glasses by eyewear innovators, ROLF – the model comes from the Evolved collection – natural materials continue to be extremely desirable in Switzerland and other countries in Europe such as Austria and Germany

The organisers of the event have made a statement that revealed that the majority of participants are positive about the Swiss Museum of Transport Lucerne as the venue and wish to return there in future. They said: – “Hall of Frames 2024 has once again shown that Lucerne is not only a popular venue, but also a successful one – a meeting place for creative minds, innovations and sustainable design that inspires
the industry and provides forward-looking impetus…”

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Hall of Frames (HOF) 2024 – a showcase for independents

Hall of Frames (HOF) has been promoting independent opticians and eyewear designers for the past 15 years. HOF offers a comprehensive insight into the latest trends and innovations in the industry and represents an important meeting place for professionals in the Swiss eyewear market. New dates for 2025 will be announced on Eyestylist.com. Find out more about the event at www.hallofframes.ch

Photography by kind permission: Studio Krosnbjerg. 

Loft San Francisco, USA

The 2024 edition is confirmed for 5th to 6th October  – offering an opportunity to encounter a world of independent eyewear in an intimate setting on the spectacular West Coast

LOFT will return to San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture at Gallery 308 this autumn. This historic venue is set in the Northern Marina District of the city by Fishermans Wharf and features expansive views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by parkland, the Fort Mason Center is a vibrant cultural hub located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

We really love coming back to San Francisco, said Richard Mewha, founder of LOFT Eyewear Shows. “Fort Mason is always a spectacular venue. The views alone make this a very special event. We encourage vendors new and old to make this a must-see event on the eyewear show calendar. Change is in the air and intimate events like this are becoming much more preferable for many of our clients.

LOFT Eyewear Shows are the premier independent luxury eyewear events held annually in New York City and San Francisco. Since 2000, the LOFT events have showcased exclusive and cutting edge designers from around the world.

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Pioneering this event in San Francisco has always been a pleasure. There is a growing appetite for independent eyewear shows and this event is steadily growing in popularity, said LOFT Marketing Director, Louis Fullagar. On the back of the major announcement of our plans to remain in New York, we acknowledge our vendors and their customers are keen for shows like this that have a completely different and relaxed vibe to major conference-type traditional events of the past.

This years San Francisco event will take place over the weekend of 5th to 6th October and will be open from 11.00am – 8.00pm on Saturday, and 9.00am – 6.00 pm on Sunday. There is parking available at the venue and in the surrounding area. As usual there will be a barista, wine tasting, catering and afternoon beverages each day. Find out more about Loft San Francisco at www.lofteyewearshow.com / Eyestylist.com is a media partner for LOFT Eyewear Shows.

Art inspiration: Corridoio by Nathalie Du Pasquier

Milan Design Week artist preview: MoscaPartners will present Corridoio by Nathalie Du Pasquier – art and design join forces in a site-specific installation for the entrance of Design Variations 2024 

From 15th to 21st April 2024 MoscaPartners will welcome visitors to Design Variations 2024 with the site-specific installation Corridoio by the French, naturalized Italian, artist Nathalie Du Pasquier at the entrance to the 2,500m2space of the ex-garage in Viale Gorizia 14 at the heart of Milan’s Darsena area.

The artist has created a work especially for the entrance corridor made up of twelve large, decorative panels printed on MEG. This versatile material produced by Abet Laminati is resistant to light and harsh weather conditions making it perfect for outdoor use and the building sector. The installation, which was designed specifically for this location, will create a boldly graphic tunnel with vivid colour contrasts that will guide the visitor into an imaginary world. Above: Corridoio by Nathalie Du Pasquier – one of 12 large panels created for the space

Corridoio – Nathalie Du Pasquier

Like previous editions, the artwork will not be limited to Milan Design Week but will be given a second life to ensure the continuity and dissemination of art through sustainable projects.

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About Nathalie Du Pasquier – Nathalie Du Pasquier was born in Bordeaux (France) in 1957 and she has lived in Milan since 1979. Until 1986 she worked as a designer and was a founder member of Memphis. She designed numerous “decorated surfaces”: textiles, carpets, plastic laminates, and some furniture and objects. In 1987, painting became her main activity. Find out more about the artist: https://nathaliedupasquier.com

Images provided courtesy of MoscaPartners and the artist.