Design & Inspiration

A splendid interpretation of original style in eyewear, Drop Drop Drop by Cleto Munari Eyewear launched in Paris in September and was presented at Punto Ottica Humaneyes at an event attended by the designer in Italy in November. The collection explores the consistency of cellulose acetate: using bi-layer plates, Munari creates a contrast between the hard-edged and the very soft to the point of making it seem liquid. Above: Drop Drop Drop is a striking and colourful collection in fine acetate

“The technical challenge involves the achievement of sharp-edged surfaces alongside surfaces that are so smoothed and rounded as to apparently give the acetate the characteristics of a highly deformable material,” Cleto Munari’s design team explains. “The spectrum between sharp-edged and very soft is manifested in the chromatic contrasts: once again, colour is fundamental in Cleto Munari’s composition.”

This new collection from the Italian designer is composed of seven shapes: five optical frames in five colour variations, and two sunglasses in five colour variations. It is produced in Montecchio Maggiore, Vicenza, Italy by skilled artisans trained as goldsmiths. Each frame is the result of fine manufacture and a process that gives value to traditional craftsmanship and individual expression through quality, colour and style. Find out more : www.cletomunarieyewear.com

Burgundy pieces are trending in fashion this month, ahead of the festive period – the hue (and many iterations of it!) has also made its way into the eyewear collections this season with success, given its flattering warm overtones that are enlivening for skin tones in the colder, winter months – Pantone has already identified the colour “Windsor wine” as a key tone into 2025

The trending deeper shades of burgundy and bordeaux are a dream for the autumn/winter season in eyewear, a complement for winter apparel and the darkest shades of brown and black, cold weather staples that can feel drab without a dash of brightness or intense deep hues. From full-bodied wine tones of bordeaux and burgundy to a dark berry infused palette with a hint of deep rouge and pink for gradients, these deep delicious colours are attractive and flattering, and commonly associated with this moment in the season evoking elegance and natural good taste. Above: complementary tones of burgundy and amber feature in the two-tone ophthalmic model Intagli 151, from the Lamarca eyewear collection, www.lamarcaeyewear.com

Model Totes from l.a.Eyeworks perfectly expresses the wine-inspired colour direction with this elegant ‘Malbec’ colour way, informed by the purple grape variety used in making red wine. This frame combines a chunky acetate front and sleek stainless steel temples and comes in other striking colours such as Nebula and Yam – www.laeyeworks.com

The new collection at Bayria Eyewear – inspired by Bauhaus – features Tres Moles, a striking, irregular “wavy” silhouette in Italian acetate, which comes in several elegant colours including the gradient bordeaux to light crystal featured above. www.bayriaeyewear.com

The Stratos is by the French artisan label, Struktur and features in their Equilibrio collection. The wine berry tone shows how this colour palette can work easily for men as well as for women. The acetate is polished and meticulously carved to create the subtle bevels, creating a luminous dimension around the frame, enhancing the hue with refinement and natural style.  www.struktur-eyewear.fr

At Kaleos, a series of frames have been produced in deep tones of bordeaux including sunglass styles. For the woman’s optical frame, model Cotton, the brownish bordeaux front pictured above is matched with a translucent pink acetate for temples. www.kaleoscollection.com

{rewind} proposes a mottled effect with burgundy and pink flecks –  in this handmade design with eye-catching bevelled edges. While on trend, these colours will remain timeless and perfectly in tune with wintery moments of the year. See more colours at www.rewindeyewear.com