Boutiques

Thomas Hommerberg has opened a new optical boutique in the German city, with furniture sourced from old night clubs and modern design elements including a floating counter

After 14 years as store manager, master optician Thomas Hommerberg has achieved his dream in the hardest of climates. His new store in Stuttgart specialises in independent eyewear brands and design labels.

“The concept is to bring to Stuttgart real independent eyewear in a unique shop which is far removed from the mass market”, he told Eyestylist. “This is definitely missing here and this is the concept of my store. Individuality, quality, mixed with great independent styles in a modular shop system for individual people. We created a modular system with our architects and urban shop system, with some neon lights, palms and a touch of palm springs style. We are not conservative, so it was clear that we needed a name with more style than “Optik…” like everybody else. The name was found by my UX-Designer and it comes from the movie “Dirty Dancing”. For us it is an artificial word with a positive vibe. We have lots of customers coming to the store and singing softly “Hungry Eyes”!” – Above: Hungry Eyes – photo by Julia Ochs

Despite opening in November 2020 during the pandemic, without any possibility for a launch party, the new collections are well received in the neighbourhood which is in the heart of the city of Stuttgart. Brands include Blackfin, Gigi Studios, Coblens, FOLC, ROLF Spectacles, TVR and Nirvan Javan.  “We are trying to give our customers a very good shopping experience even in this hard times,” Thomas said. “Beside the frame brands we have some accessories from Frame Chain and from some local dealers, to support our neighbours.”

“We love good design, but we always keep the most important thing in focus: our products and our customers” Thomas Hommerberg, Stuttgart

The interior works with a modular system, with grey tones, natural surfaces and green plants. The furniture was sourced from old nightclubs in Munich (Thomas describes them as “Freddy Mercury” era pieces from the 1980s-90s) creating an interesting eye-catching contrast to the stone wall of glasses. The palms and cacti have been added to bring the atmosphere to life. “With the neon lights we have an exciting mixture of palm springs, 80s and very modern elements,” he tells us. “And the floating counter makes the store interior complete.”

Rosenbergstrasse 76, Stuttgart, Germany

www.hungry-eyes.de

An expression of the inspirations and references imbued in their designs and collections, Brazil’s no 1 artisan label for spectacles and sunglasses LAPIMA opens its first in-person store in São Paulo, Brazil. Located in the heart of the city, at CJShops, co-founder Gisela Assis describes the new store as “an extrapolation of LAPIMA’s essence, with a bold minimalist architecture.”

The spirit of Brazil’s Atlantic rain forest permeates the elegant interior. The inclusion of green peace granite is complimented by details in a warm copper hue inspired by the country’s rich terrain.  Central to the interior, the Domino bench by the Brazilian designer Claudia Moreira Salles, gives a distinctive focal point while referencing the iconic shapes of Brazilian architectural landmarks.

LAPIMA is a luxury artisan label, created by husband and wife, Gustavo and Gisela Assis. The collection is made in the couples own factory in Campinas, outside São Paulo, by skilled artisans. Adhering to traditional spectacle-making tradition with technical precision and an avantgarde perspective,  the designs focus on beautiful fine materials such as acetate and buffalo horn in a contemporary palette of natural and nature-inspired “Brazilian infused” colours. LAPIMA Shop, Rua Haddock Lobo, 1626, Sao Paulo, SP – BRAZIL www.lapima.com

Traditional Italian stores, Ottica Rossi and sister store Ottica Talluto, dedicated to professionalism and an offer of unique eyewear, have an established authentic history of serving their community. The owner Luca Rossi told us he has added his own limited sunglasses line to his selection of eyewear – a project he has dedicated to the local people and the beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan region.

In the dreamy seaside towns of Orbetello and Maremma (Tuscany), Luca Rossi’s traditional optical boutiques  – Ottica Rossi and Ottica Talluto – offer a combination of traditional eyecare services with a wide choice of frames and sunglasses – selected for the local community and, in normal seasons, a stream of tourists and visitors who come to the area for sun and relaxation. The eyewear collections in the stores currently include famous fashion collections and independent brands Barton Perreira, Seeoo and Maui Jim, as well as the Italian classic, Persol.

Rossi’s dedication and passion for his work has culminated in a new project in 2020. The optician has created his own collection of  10 sunglass models, produced locally in Italy and inspired by the location of the stores. Featuring classic colours of ochre, tortoise and black and retro-inspired shapes popularised by the stars of the Italian cinema of the 1950s and 60s the line is designed as a connection to the local Italian region, with a nostalgic and classical style, a nod to “la dolce vita”.

About – In the heart of Porto Santo Stefano, overlooking the sea, Talluto Ottica first opened in 1987, to serve the local community and tourists visiting the town. Ottica Rossi is located in Porto Santo Stefano, close to the sea front. Today both stores are run by optician, optometrist and contactologist Luca Rossi. www.otticarossi.it Written by Clodagh Norton – all rights reserved

Continuing its roll-out of new stores with a focus on cities closer to home, MYKITA has opened their first Hamburg store at Neuer Wall 88.

Located between the city’s canals and shopping boulevards, the shop brings the distinctively modern design aesthetic of the Berlin brand to the heritage-listed Stadthöfe, a recently restored architectural ensemble steeped in baroque and neo-renaissance style.

The fourth shop to open in Germany, it offers MYKITA’s comprehensive range of optical services using state-of-the-art instruments from optical partner, Zeiss. The full MYKITA product portfolio is available – the ultra-light stainless steel eyewear designs, mixed material models, and award-winning MYKITA MYLON collection made with 3D printing technology – as well as the design collaborations with Maison Margiela, Helmut Lang, and Leica.

Neon signage marks the street-level shop location in the ‘Palaishaus’ built in 1881. Once inside the six-metre high doorway, visitors are welcomed into a modern, warm atmosphere with a seated consultation area, providing an unrushed and comfortable space to receive a personal and professional optical service. Eyes are immediately drawn to the open mezzanine level and the view of the optical lab and workshop used for in-store frame adjustments and lens fittings. Construction details and furnishings in a deep orange shade break up the reigning warm, neutral tones of wood and stone.

In addition to the MYKITA Shop Hamburg, the brand now has 14 shops worldwide, including locations in Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Cartagena, Los Angeles, Monterrey, Munich, New York, Paris, Taipei, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich. For more information visit www.mykita.com

A new Erker’s flagship store has opened in St. Louis, Missouri in 2020, the latest and most luxurious in a long line of optical stores run by the Erker family through their extraordinary 141 year history.

“The Saint Louis Galleria is the premier shopping destination in Saint Louis where the top stores are located,”  Jack Erker III told Eyestylist. “The customers are from many demographics and come from all over to shop with us. Our focus is the hard-to-get-quality boutique brands including two of our own, Erker’s 1879 and NW77th.”

Alongside an eclectic range of collections by Barton Perreira, Dita, Cazal, Tom Ford and Jacques Marie Mage, the Erker’s 1879 collection represents an exclusive reference to the local legacy of a company that has served its community through generations. “Since the brand has deep roots, it resonates very well within the local market,” says Erker. “Many customers travel all over and see our brand in other markets as well and this lends to deep credibility within our local market. The focus of the store is primarily our brands, and are supplemented with other niches of brands that go well with our own.”

The decoration and design of the interior is classical with a luxurious orientation in line with the high-end feel of the St Louis Galleria, with clear, eye-catching branding.

“Our brand is well known in our market and our customers still yearn for a brick and mortar store to give the service to the customers that they are used to receiving from us,” says Jack Erker when we asked about the key benefits of the store, even in the current climate. “The traffic in the mall allows us to have a larger reach to continue to grow the brand within the region. The local community is thrilled for us to be growing and it adds momentum internally within our family (employees).”

About Erker’s: Describing itself as the first optical laboratory west of the Mississippi River, Erker’s was founded in 1879 by A.P. Erker and brother, August. Today the company is led by the great-grandson Jack Jr. with his two sons, Jack III and Tony. Erker’s is one of the oldest eyewear establishments in the US with the rare claim that it is still owned by members of founding family. The family’s own extensive eyewear collection, Erker’s 1879 can be viewed directly at  www.erkers1879.com. For additional information visit www.studiooptyx.com