Design & Inspiration

Silmo Paris

The Paris show Silmo yielded a vast array of exciting styles and trends, an opportunity for buyers to select high quality, high-tech, creative and unusual, individual designs – which are clearly seeing greater desirability for a wider audience.

Above: A new sleek limited edition aviator, handsome, minimal, and typically luxurious. Designed by Jesse Stevens.  www.finestseven.com

RVS by V Handmade Eyewear had an eclectic mix of eye-popping acetates (model Fame and Flatliner), asymmetric ideas (Annette) and very clean minimal round shapes, including the new Avner, a stainless steel/Mazzucchelli acetate combination design – for sun or optical lens fittings. www.rvseyewear.com

Regular attendees showed a tremendous attention to design details – the most prevalent trend of them all – and a plethora of new colour, shape and design trends – very fine frame structures in metal and acetate, new interpretations in metal (Metalloid at Rigards was striking) and true finesse in finishings and material combinations. The flat-effect of the Base 2 lens popped up time and again and will lead in SS16. Sunglass shapes were classically inspired and included versions of the aviator, circular shapes, cat eyes and the P3 – but look our for more eccentric directions here too.

ic! berlin launched an exceptional collection produced with new Design Director, Werner Aisslinger. The line is made up of frames linked with members of the ic! berlin team, inspired by them, named after them and created by them, each with a unique story. The debut collection by Aisslinger with ic! Berlin, the products are designed according to shapes from different historical periods, reimagined with new technologies like the new superfine 4 mm hinge. Find out more at www.ic-berlin.de

Layering effects, in the same vein as fabric layering on the catwalks, were a popular way to explore a fresh design story. Kyme Sunglasses had some interesting pieces including floral decorations in a luxury collaboration with Rada and minimal layering effects on frame fronts, illustrated in model Sabry. www.kymesunglasses.com

Handmade artisan techniques were strongly represented as was the new avant-garde trend and ongoing development in 3d technology with excellent results at Cabrio Belgium (Cabriolet CC) and Tom Stevens. Mykita launched their digitally tailored eyewear concept, MY VERY OWN, MVO. Noteworthy independent brands exhibiting for the first time included specialist international creators Alfred Kerbs from Barcelona, Jacques Marie Mage from LA and Dabrach from Italy – www.dabrach.com, all showing commitment to eyewear quality, precision and creative design.

More information about Silmo Paris can be found at www.silmoparis.com. The next Silmo Paris fair takes place on 23rd to 26th September 2016. CN

 

 

 

The cat is back

Small and charismatic or oversized and edgy, today’s cat’s eyes have come a long way since they first emerged in the 1950s and boomed as a decorative fashion accessory thanks to Elsa Schiaparelli. Interpretations in Paris this week were excitingly eclectic for SS16, and confirmed the classic shape will continue to impress.

Following the success of the limited edition Paris II, a creation with a-morir, RVS by V releases their own dual colour, hand finished statement metal cat eye design named Michelle (above), in thrilling colours, and in RVS by V tradition, with the added benefit of a standout mirror lens. www.rvseyewear.com

At la Eyeworks, the playful mood was enhanced by dynamic colour equations. Spectacle style Noisette presents an acetate overlay on beta titanium, in a gorgeous array of tones, such as ‘smoky iris split on deep eggplant’. “Daring and elegant” it is! www.laeyeworks.com

Barcelona’s newcomer Alfred Kerbs, exhibiting at Silmo for the first time this year, update a classic well-fitting cat eye form with a minimal full-screen lens by Divel, attached to the front of the frame. The Mazzucchelli material and its graduated colouring turn the retro shape into an elegant modern proposal. ‘Le Chat’ comes in three distinctive colour choices. www.alfredkerbs.com  CN