Design + Inspiration

Bolder. More unusual. Statement-making tones and eccentric combinations. In colour, the direction for 2018 offers an ever widening choice of looks and colour combinations in frame design, tied to the fashion collections, as well as a general desire for self-expression, unique choices and an upbeat, fun and positive focus on exploring and experimenting with new ideas.

Lens colours are particularly playful. ic! berlin’s capsule collection TWOTWO comprises layer upon layer of colour and texture in shapes inspired by the mod movement of 1960s London. The limited edition frame froufrou features oversized circular lenses capped with contrasting sheetmetal inlays. Above: Claudia wears Froufrou in black with orange lens, by ic! berlin – www.ic-berlin.de

Blackfin, the Italian brand of titanium eyewear has added new colours for model ARC in a limited edition. This sunglass has been presented in a special limited edition of just 499 pieces in each of the three colour combinations. With its front in pure titanium and patented Swordfish beta-titanium temples, ARC is available in opaque black/metallic grey with silver mirrored lenses, metallic tropical blue with blue mirrored graduated-tint lenses and metallic red with bright red mirrored lenses (above). The arch, a structural support element, lends an original connotation to the frame, as the name implies. But the arch can also be seen as the span of a bridge, in this case embracing the lenses and enclosing them in the single piece of metal. www.blackfin.eu

Colours that have traditionally been popular in eyewear are appearing in combination with less common choices. Independent designers are particularly creative in this area, proposing, with specialist materials, the classical appeal of a tortoise or Havana acetate with a bright pop of acidic colour, in one single frame. Model Vidice is an artisan design from Stephane Vranjes, an artist and optical store owner living in the South of France. His handmade designs are linked with the medium of photography, and play with colour and individual material mixes. http://eyewear-stephane-vranjes.tumblr.com

At Fleye Copenhagen, new releases focus on summery colours with inspiration coming from traditional Danish smørrebrød featuring foods such as butternut squash, lobster and tangerine. Model Ulrikke offers refined lines and subtle colour schemes, pictured here with the finest golden temples. Find out more about this trendsetting Danish brand at www.fleye.dk CN

Among the glamorous collaborations at London Fashion Week was Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson, and New York born, London based, Michael Halpern. Both designers are noted for the luxurious tone of their respective eyewear and fashion models. Karlsson adorns her exotic frames with diamantes, enamelled flowers, and fresh water pearls; while Halpern enjoys working in sultry velvet and satin, adding sequin and feathers for movie-star status. Indeed, Marion Cotillad wears his exclusive designs.

“I am thrilled to work with super-talented Halpern,” said Anna-Karin, “as we both share a love for over-the-top glamour juxtaposed with classic shapes. For this collaboration I have created designs that intensify Halpern’s sense of hyper femininity and flow, and eyewear with strong, sharp, asymmetrical lines.”

The sunglasses featured in the catwalk show are handcrafted in titanium by Japanese eyewear artisans, who carved each piece of garniture by hand, with the lenses hand tinted and hand cut. The lavish avant-garde designs are executed only through handcrafted and exclusive materials, and represent the Anna-Karin Karlsson trademark for amazingly individual eyewear expressions. www.annakarinkarlsson.com JG

Spring is on the horizon – a time of renewal, hope and awareness. For fashion enthusiasts it’s also time to update wardrobes and awaken to the prospect of emerging trends in clothing, accessories, and of course, eyewear! This coming weekend all eyes will be focused on Milan, which includes the unveiling of glamorous, refreshing eyewear. Here are stunning, dynamic designs that warrant inclusion in your spring outlook. Oliver Goldsmith presents The Decades Collection – a beautiful, contemporary rendition of influential styles that symbolise the history of Oliver Goldsmith during the past ninety years. www.olivergoldsmith.com (Top image: 1970 from The Decades Collection)

Buoyant colour is on display at l.a. Eyeworks as the California brand debuts their Spring 2018 collection, which includes Corgi in aluminium and titanium in burnt orange and brown velvet. www.laeyeworks.com

The stunning SPECTRUM collection by Kirk & Kirk features shapes with a touch of retro influence in smashing colours – including Polly – in the British brands statement material – acrylic. www.kirkandkirk.com

Sol Sol Ito photographed their latest campaign in Japan – a city loved by Sol Sol Ito designers Sandra Kaufmann and Monika Fink – with designs in layered acetate in ravishing shapes. www.solsolito.com

If adventure is on your spring/summer wish list, don’t leave home without Luca Gnecchi Ruscone’s Tobruk military-inspired design, reminiscent of the Cyrenaican port on Libya’s eastern Mediterranean coast. www.lgrworld.com

The sophisticated Philosophers Collection by Oliviero Zanon at Res/Rei presents new styles that include the beautifully transparent Bacone in luminous tones of grey and milky white acetates, with a slender double bridge, and owl-shaped lenses – ideal for Philosophers! www.resrei.com

Part two of FLEYE Copenhagen’s Smorrebrod campaign unfolds with imaginative shapes in colourations and layering that reflects the delicious Danish food culture. Roca is from the distinguished FLEYE Signature Collection. www.fleye.dk

RIGARDS has launched fabulous new creations in Copper, a splendid addition to the variety of unusual materials that RIGARDS incorporate into frames. RG0100CU is inimitably cool in a sleek sunglass silhouette. www.rigards.com

The new WOOW frames are…Wow! A stylishly different interpretation of the Windsor rim in thin metal is highlighted in Watch Out! in vivid colours. www.wooweyewear.com JG

Frames with a double-bridge are long time favourites for spectacle wearers – bonafide classics.  What is new however, is the diverse double-bridge designs enjoying even more recognition with chic interpretations in a variety of materials, and they are crafted into sleek shapes with double-bridges that make a difference. Götti’s new Perspective designs (above) with sculptural shapes are aesthetically beautiful; minimalist creations in superb quality Sandvik stainless steel, elegantly lightweight, and produced in Götti’s own premises in Switzerland.www.gotti.ch

Miamai Eyewear in Germany has expanded their collection with new designs in stainless steel.The collection is made with exacting German precision, as seen in style 5006-003, which is immaculately streamlined with two-tone colourations for a stylish statement.www.miamai-eyewear.de

Sunglasses with a double-bridge possess a special glamour in stainless steel with a silky rose matte finish and a generous round shape. Manu by Neubau fuses retro and contemporary elements for a luxurious look. www.neubau-eyewear.com

L.a. Eyeworks highlight a flirtatious double-bridge in matt black titanium, crafted in Japan. The purity in Calvino is embellished with a unique take on the double-bridge concept – connecting timeless characteristics with trendy charm. www.laeyeworks.com

The SoHo Collection is the latest frame excitement from Jean-François Rey, with a “double-double-bridge” as the lens shape also sports a “double-bridge” in style SH2005. Made in France in stainless steel, the rich colouration with the brushed finish is a special JF Rey process. www.jfrey.fr

Anna-Karin Karlsson takes an unusual view of the double-bridge with a mini-version on her splendid cat-eye design in metal, with a smooth, pearly finish on the frame front. The Cross is from the sumptuous optical collection by the Swedish designer. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Industrial flair and vintage touches unite in SALT. Optics frame Resin. The intriguing grooved lines are achieved with layering and are customised, resulting in a fresh, clean detail on the Brushed Honey Gold titanium design. www.saltoptics.com  JG

Improving lives with better vision

Geographically, Norway and Fiji would seem to have nothing in common, yet they are intricately linked with eye care projects. When Kirsten and Lars Iversen started their eyewear company – Karmoie – in 2010, their goal was to create a brand that was also committed to sustainability and social issues. This visionary perspective connected Karmoie to Eyejusters, and now the Norwegian brand donates corrective glasses to people around the world. The project had great appeal to Kirsten and Lars, with the realisation that there are approximately 700 million people who live without the glasses that they truly need. These circumstances can result in poorer education; restricted work; lost opportunities; and an estimated global economic loss of over £200 billion per year. (Top image: Lars and Kirsten Iversen)

The association with Eyejusters has enabled Kirsten and Lars to work on projects in Morocco and Uganda, plus travelling to South Sudan and Fiji to see first hand how the clinics work. They have discovered the experience to be inspirational; invigorating; heart-warming; and emotionally rewarding as well. “We have interesting stories,” related Kirsten, “like when we were on one of the smallest islands in Fiji, and met a woman who had broken her glasses irreparably a few years ago. She hadn’t been able to see an optometrist and get new glasses, so she tried to manage without. To see the emotion on her face when she could see again with glasses was really moving.

“On Cicia in Fiji, we worked with teenagers, and one girl wanted glasses, but didn’t need them. She tried to fool us during the eye test! She was hanging around the compound, so we asked her to help us out as an interpreter. She was smart, kind and graceful, and the patients responded really well to having one of their own be such an active part of the eye care team. We were able to shift her desire for her own pair of glasses, into an interest for eye care and performing vision tests.” Kirsten and Lars noted that in South Sudan and Fiji, the logistics, infrastructure and access are the main challenges. The Eyejusters system is easy to teach, and that has motivated local aid workers to pursue more eye care training.

“To Lars and I, gratitude and giving back go together. Honestly, knowing how blessed you are without wanting to show generosity in return feels shallow. We wanted giving back to be an intrinsic part of our product, rather than dependent on our financial success. We donate one pair of corrective glasses for every pair of Karmoie frames or sunglasses we sell. Creating your own company and starting up can at times, be quite exhausting. The fact that we can feel good about what we do, and how we give back is invaluable when it comes to motivating us to push through when it gets tough.”

Karmoie designs are created in Norway – in an Oslo atelier – inspired by beautiful, crisp, Nordic nature and Scandinavian minimalism. Karmoie was awarded the Butterfly Mark, a prestigious acknowledgement powered by Positive Luxury, for their commitment to protect the planet’s resources. www.karmoie.com  JG