Design + Inspiration

Scene Stealers

25th September 2014

Frames That Command Attention

25th September 2014 What is going to be in optical boutiques in the coming months? Some of the most original, beautiful and innovative eyewear that we have the pleasure to see in Paris starting today. International eyewear designers bring their personal inner “vision” and creativity to frames, and the results are stunning. Netherlands based Susanne Klemm at Suzy Glam has created “Goes Bananas” – Limited Edition sunglasses with slick edginess and flat lenses. Handcrafted in Italy, Suzy Glam frames express chic individuality, with amazing attention to detail. www.suzyglam.com

Theo in Belgium loves red – it’s a favourite colour featured in the collections. Mille+13 is a great example in thick acetate with sharp, defined edges, and lots of beautiful hand polishing. The frame front has two different finishes – the upper part is shiny, and the bottom has a wooden look. Bigger and bolder is the message at Theo! www.theo.be

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

The ghostly beauty of the sea and its myriad of morphological characteristics influenced the new RIGARDS signature finish: Plastron. Designer Ti Kwa and his team improved traditional horn equipment and developed their own prototype hand tools, which enabled the creation of a crude, alien texture on the horn. The result is a unique design that symbolizes protecting the eyes from elements of the outside world. www.rigards.com

Tilman Sun by Shane Baum - Leisure Society — Tilman Sun by Shane Baum – Leisure Society

Leisure Society’s new campaign – The Deep Serene – continues designer Shane Baum’s dedication to escapism as the ultimate form of leisure. To celebrate there are elegant new designs including Tilman Sun, named after the English Mountaineer Bill Tilman, who is known as the greatest explorer of the 20th century. The ultra-light design is made of pure gold-plated titanium on the front and temples. www.leisure-society.com www.silmoparis.com JG

Design + Inspiration

Hapter: The Origin Video

5th September 2014

Eyewear Meditation on the Mountains

Mountains are majestic and echo centuries of mystery. The Italian design house launched eighteen months ago by Eric Balzan and Mirko Forti – Hapter – has created their first video that is a tribute to the region and the frames they found within the Dolomites that inspired their business. The visually compelling scenes illustrate the relationship between man and nature, with sequences that express the symbolic universe of an explorer, and the practical work of creating by hand.

Hapter: Top Style A03M Bottom MO1M part os the Icons family — Hapter: Style A03M (top); Below, MO1M, part of the Icons family

Two magnificent locations are featured – 5 Torri, Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Location, and the Valle Imperina Mining Centre, which dates back to the 15th century. The video is stunning and captures the spirit of adventure whether mountain climbing or creating handmade eyewear. Take your own tour by clicking on the link on the left hand side of the Eyestylist Homepage. www.hapter.it JG Top photo: Actor on Cortina mountain landscape and concept model MG-Miltary Goggle, replica of the inspirational glasses

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Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Awards

29th August 2014

Handcrafted Excellence in Original Designs

29th August 2014 European influences from Italy, Switzerland and France are among the short-listed entires for the Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Awards. Oliviero Zanon at Res/Rei in Italy expresses artisan expertise and heritage in his beautiful collection of optical and sunglass designs. Zanon likes to explore unique eyewear possibilities, and an excellent example is Caravaggio (above) in acetate and metal, handcrafted with distinction. www.resrei.com

As a trained carpenter Dominik Gasser brings a different dimension to his frame designs. Influenced by his beautiful Swiss surroundings, his love of nature, fishing and craftsmanship, Gasser personally creates handmade natural wood frames in his atelier high in the mountains.

www.dominikgasser.ch

Gouv/Au frames are made in the oldest active eyewear company in France, founded in 1878. The subtly styled frames are classics with a contemporary twist. Quiet elegance is reflected in style 101, a perfect round shape in shiny Tokyo tortoiseshell lacquer with satin gold. www.gouvau.com. The winners of the 2014 Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Award will be announced at Stuttgart Hall of Frames in October. www.hallofframes.ch JG

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Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Awards

29th July 2014

Ingenuity and Originality Highlight Designs

29th July 2014 Entries are arriving daily for the 2014 edition of The Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Awards, and Eyestylist is delighted to partner again with HOF for this event. Independent designers who have started their collections within the past five years are eligible for entry. The range of designs is imaginative, and it’s gratifying to see the enthusiasm, energy and individuality that goes into the collections. Here we present three of the eyewear creators who have entered the 2014 Newcomer Awards. The winners will be announced at Hall of Frames in Stuttgart in October.

Paris-based Jérémy Tarian has worn glasses from a very young age, and eyewear is one of his passions. Each line, curve and detail of the frames is hand drawn by Jérémy. He is open and vibrantly aware of his surroundings, and finds inspiration on the streets of his beloved Paris, his many travels to stimulating lands, people’s expressions, museums, and nature – and these experiences are reflected in his beautiful creations, handmade in France. Above: Madeleine in acetate and metal. www.jeremytarian.com

Adrian Marwitz upholds a name that has been synonymous with German eyewear since 1918, when his grandfather created Marwitz. Now Adrian is at the helm, creating handcrafted Titanium designs, with the entire manufacturing process made in Germany. The contrasting stripes on the hinges and inner temples of the frames is a defining Marwitz look. Adrian’s inspiration is daily living, meeting people, and keeping an “eye” on what they are wearing, plus the fashion world, and another favourite accessory – shoes. www.adrianmarwitz.com

Gill in Buffalo Horn by Laura Nicholson Larke Optics

Like Jérémy Tarian, wearing glasses since childhood was the foundation for Laura Nicholson to have a natural obsession with eyewear. She created her own collection in 2013, which is entirely handmade in England in the last remaining acetate spectacle production workshop. Each frame is intricately carved from the finest blocks of Italian acetate. Laura frequently draws on rare and obsolete materials to ensure a degree of individuality for the wearer. www.larkeoptics.com www.hallofframes.ch JG

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Bruno Chaussignand

28th June 2014

returns to Showroom Next Door, PFW

28th June 2014 Bruno Chaussignand is a trained optician, owner of O Mil’Yeux – www.omilyeux.com, an independent optical store in Montpellier, France and designer of the eponymous eyewear collection, produced in France in the traditional spectacle making region of the Jura. Already available in NYC, L.A. (Gogosha Optique / www.gogosha.com) Japan and across Europe, at leading optical stores and concept stores, Chaussignand says his label is growing fast – he has a team of reps in France and an agent in New York – but he is clear about his personal desires when it comes to style and design, and his love for well crafted hand finished frames.

“The collection is moving forward. At first, I was more geared towards men,” he explained to Eyestylist.com this week, on the eve of PFW, “but now I am bringing in more women’s designs and we have at least 7 or 8 new styles to show in Paris in September too (www.silmo.fr). My focus is on the balance of each design, originality, so that people have something different to wear, but also the pleasure, comfort and genuine quality of the frames we make in the Jura.”

Details such as the density, the bold sculptural bevelling or “carving out” of the frame, created through use of deep acetate sheets, and work on the temples have become a part of Chaussignand’s signature, as have his paired down metal shapes that reinvent classic aesthetics, with touches of luxurious comfort and subtle refinement.

Bruno Chaussignand shows this week at the Showroom Next Door, Paris Fashion Week (until Thursday 3rd July 2014) and in September at Silmo, Paris. The Showroom Next Door, 108 Rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3eme / www.brunochaussignand.com CN