Dubai’s impressive luxury eyewear store – EYE BOUTIQUE – is a haven for the eyewear enthusiast, offering a mix of some of the world’s greatest luxury design labels and experimental designs, an exceptional and comprehensive vision care service, and a staggeringly impressive choice of vintage frames.
Part of the historical Hassan’s Optician Company in Kuwait, the first optician store officially approved by the Kuwaiti Department of Health in 1960, the innovative world-class EYE BOUTIQUE was founded by Sanaz Saadat, the wife of Dr Kian Saadat, the son of the founder and current CEO of Hassan’s Optician Co., Dr Hassan Saadat Yazdi.
The success of the EYE BOUTIQUE in Kuwait and Dubai is such that expansion plans are underway to open two additional stores in the UAE.
Today, the boutique in the Dubai Mall which EYESTYLIST visited in October 2016, has a comprehensive selection of luxury and experimental frames. They include some of the finest designs by leading innovators Anna-Karin Karlsson, LGR, Linda Farrow, Gentle Monster, Oliver Goldsmith and LINDBERG, as well as ic! berlin – some of their rare pieces such as Splash! dating back to 2012 and their more recent collectible “glasses display” (pictured above).
The vintage collection is unprecedented and comes from Hassan’s Kuwait archives. Key early pieces from brands like Persol are available, as are labels such as the Italian classic Casanova by TAXI, Paloma Picasso, DIOR and Cazal.
Dubai Mall, Ground Level, Dubai and 360 Shopping Mall, Sixth Ring Road, Kuwait. New stores coming soon! For more details visit www.eyeboutiqueme.com CN
Anna-Karin Karlsson at Bergdorf Goodman
Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson presented her luxurious eyewear collection at Bergdorf Goodman, New York City’s illustrious fashion emporium. Karlsson’s individualistic, charismatic frames were among the highlights of the Fashion Week experience.
“I love Bergdorf Goodman and I am thrilled that their team is so very adventurous and fashion forward to carry my work. Such a joy to do my in-store visits and events a couple of times a year and meet the lovely staff, and the folks that have enough confidence to wear my work.” Anna-Karin is photographed (above right) with Linda Fargo – the dynamic senior vice-president fashion and store presentation. www.annakarinkarlsson.com www.bergdorfgoodman.com JG
Ottica Urbani, Venice
“Ottica Urbani started to produce eyewear in 1953, with a collection in cellulose acetate by Mazzucchelli 1849, handmade in Cadore,” explains Fosca Urbani, one of three siblings who run the eyewear business today.
“Today we have two shops in Venice – one at the Lido, by the Des Bains Hotel and one just steps away from Piazza San Marco. We are stocking brands like Kuboraum, JF Rey and BOZ as well as our own collection of handmade designs.” The business has a simple yet precise philosophy when it comes to its own line: to bring inspiration from the lively artistic and cultural context of Venice and the city’s magical beauty. The Urbani frames are made from water buffalo horn, wood, stainless steel and high-quality acetate with inserts made of fabric and – incredibly – Venetian glass. “This eyewear,” explains Fosca, “is the result of our creative experimentation; it is designed to “dress” the face, a symbol for a lively, colourful and optimistic personality.”
During our visit to the store, we saw the Pantos style worn by Sir Elton John, frames decorated with small animals, as well us some “limited edition” designs with a special connection to Venice.”Tondo Murano is the classic round dedicated to Le Corbusier inset with unique embedded Murano glass “millefiori” beads produced the famous Ercole Moretti company.”
Model Ice, on the other hand, is a statement design produced by hand with an uneven outer rim that is elegant, expressive and perfectly Venetian in spirit.
For further information about Ottica Urbani or to purchase their Venetian frames online, visit www.otticaurbani.com CN
Club Tropicana, Holiday Pop-Up, London
Print designer Lisa King and Zanzan Eyewear have opened a stunning one stop summer shop in London’s Soho today, just in time for the soaring temperatures in the capital. The selection of specialist independent brands includes exclusive brightly coloured swimwear by Lisa King, handmade sunglasses from Zanzan, jewellery by Jiya, and a selection of travel items and vintage books and magazines. A capsule collection by iconic 80s label Bodymap includes beach separates, tees and totes.
Featured accessory labels: Lisa King Swimwear, Zanzan, Bodymap, July Stars, Conservatory Archives, Alighieri, Jiya, Cosmos by Petra Borner
Club Tropicana Popup takes place from 5th to 15th May at 4 Upper James Street, Soho, W1F 9DG – www.zanzan.co.uk / www.lisakinglondon.com CN
The German Collective
Five optical store owners from Germany, including featured boutiques on Eyestylist, Klar in Darmstadt and Leidmann, Munich, are teaming up together to launch limited eyewear models in their unique stores across the country – in an initiative inspired by a mutual love of great design and good friendship. Their first edition? A Limited Edition acetate sunglass design with Californian eyewear designer, Garrett Leight, produced in a run of just 150 for the five participating stores.
Available through the five stores from this weekend, priced at 335 euros, the Collective told Eyestylist a 2nd Limited Edition collaborative edition is on the way for Autumn/Winter 2016 – this will be created with a different international eyewear designer popular with the group.
The German Collective includes optical stores 6MillionGlasses in Hamburg, Specs, Berlin – https://specs-berlin.de, Steingasse 14, Heidelberg http://steingasse14.de, Leidmann, Munich www.leidmann.de, and Klar, Darmstadt – www.klar-augenoptik.de. CN