Design + Inspiration

Get Set for Summer!

29th May 2015

Timeless Sunglasses

Independent designers bring original ideas and concepts to sunglasses – fine materials; shapes that range from classic to cult; and a colour palate that frequently amazes. In addition to his fashion collections, Tim Van Steenbergen also creates memorable eyewear designs for theo in Belgium. In the photo above, Tim wears one of his favourites for summer 2015 – Station Charlie in luxurious thick acetate with elegant bevelling details. www.theo.be

Titanium is a material that always inspires German designer Adrian Marwitz. Pure, uncluttered shapes are his passion, and Stranger No. 20 is crafted with excellence and fine, precise details. The shimmering bronze finish on the frame is certain to look fabulous with a suntan! www.adrianmarwitz.com Photo by Max Gudczinski exclusively for Eyestylist.com

Elizabeth by Luca Gnecchi Ruscone - LGR — Elizabeth by Luca Gnecchi Ruscone – LGR

Luca Gnecchi Ruscone’s sunglass collection is always a delightful selection of beautifully designed and superbly accomplished frames. Right on trend is Elizabeth, in fashion’s favourite pink. The silky luminous acetate silhouette flows with graceful elegant contours. www.lgrworld.com

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

Frames with architectural inspiration bring new dimension to designs by Mondelliani in Rome. The Edge sunglasses are literally, “Edgy” and sleek, with an intrinsic shape in polished black acetate. Note the precisely handcrafted details of the frame front, bridge and temples. www.mondelliani.it

Children’s eyes need sun protection too, and youngsters will really enjoy wearing Oliver Goldsmith’s Glyn. This frame was created for adults in 1971 – still going strong today – and artfully interpreted for little faces. Kids will feel so grown up with the vintage styling in Black and Candy Floss acetate, with a keyhole bridge. Check out www.olivergoldsmith.com for more details. JG

Design + Inspiration

Lotho team in Soho…

10th May 2015

for launch of Glints London

Aroun Ducroux, Parisian founder of Lotho, the boutique luxury eyewear label, has created a new company, L&G Eyewear, with a new brand launch for the UK market. Glints is based in London and designed as a direct to customer brand, available exclusively to buy online. Designed by Coco Tsuji, the 16 acetate optical styles are made in Japan, have a strong style statement and a choice of colours and well crafted designs with appeal for a young, fashion-driven crowd. Pictured above: Coco Tsuji wearing Lotho spectacles (www.lotho.fr).

Coco Tsuji told Eyestylist: “Glints is a young dynamic eyewear brand, multicultural, passionate, offbeat and original. We want this new concept to appeal to a mixed audience in the UK, those who appreciate vintage shapes and a nice twist on colours and details, and the story of the making. We also look forward to getting to know the customer directly.”

Glints’ debut collection will be available in the UK by June 2015 and will be retailed online and through a showroom space in Soho, managed by an optician. For a retail price of £135, customers will receive a handmade Japanese frame complete with lenses by Hoya. The website will also offer home try-on for those who want to try out different shapes before committing. For more details pre-launch, sign up for news at www.glints.london Photography by Eyestylist.com CN

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Die Brillenmesse in Cologne

29th April 2015

Eyewear Enthusiasts Visit Independent Brand Show

29th April 2015 Two hundred and forty optical boutiques from Cologne and surrounding areas plus Bonn, Frankfurt, and shops in Austria and Switzerland, experienced the Cologne show. In an airy and friendly atmosphere, opticians were able to leisurely browse to look at the speciality collections. Independent designers on hand to present their collections included Etienne Frederiks from Suzy Glam in the Netherlands, Adrian Marwitz from Germany (Etienne and Adrian in top photo) plus Jèrèmy Tarian and Lucas de Staël from France.

“We are very happy about the show,” said organisers Nathanaël Wenger and Dirk Giessmann, “this is our first show in Cologne, and we think people were waiting for something here. We’ve had positive feedback. It’s an opportunity for opticians to see high end products in this area. The atmosphere is very relaxed and people were really interested. It’s a very good start.” www.diebrillenmesse.de www.suzyglam.com www.adrianmarwitz.com JG

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A sustainable story

27th March 2015

Monkey Glasses

27th March 2015 Sustainable fashion trends are more prevalent than ever before and that is increasingly having an influence on accessory design. For frames, recycled materials, when used creatively, can produce interesting designs that are modern, comfortable, wearable – and well-priced.

Created by husband and wife team Mai-britt and optician Morten Seaton, Monkey Glasses from Denmark make frames from a biodegradable material that consists of 90% cotton fibres and wood mass. The result is wood-look frames, with precise attention to detail – model Betty (pictured above) is one of their most accomplished sunglass shapes in 2015. Surplus materials are recycled into accessories and jewellery, and every time a set of frames leaves the shelves the company donates a percentage to the ‘Save the Orangutan’ charity – www.savetheorangutan.org.

Monkey Glasses released its first collection of sustainable glasses in 2010 and now sells worldwide to selected stores and online at www.monkeyglasses.co.uk. CN

Design + Inspiration

Hall of Frames Cologne

24th March 2015

Independent Eyewear on The River Rhine

Hall of Frames has announced a new show for their independent eyewear events – on the banks of the River Rhine in Cologne. Show organisers Nath Wenger and Dirk Geissmann said: “We are very excited to organise our first show in Cologne! The city has a rich tradition in the eyewear industry, and “Die Brillenmesse” will be held on 25th and 26th April in the Dock One Hall, next to the River Rhine.

“Over fifty of the best Eyewear designers will present their spring news in a cool and relaxed setting. The expectations are high because the opticians in and around Cologne are famous for good taste and openness towards fine Eyewear. Only the best opticians can survive and “Die Brillenmesse” is the platform for some of the most beautiful brands in the market.”

Slav Nowosad will make his first appearance at a HOF event and present what he describes as his “atypical frames” (above Sun 5055/00)) Aesthetics, technology and design without limitation are Nowosad’s approach to unusual eyewear. Nowosad Designworks are designed and handmade in Poland. www.slavnowosad.com

Suzy Glam Breaks Rules in Nude Matt Acetate

Suzy Glam – Gold winner of the Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Award in 2013 will unveil beautiful new designs in Cologne. Suzy Glam Breaks Rules features curvaceous, elegant lines in nude matt acetate. www.suzyglam.com

Sahara by L.G.R. with a unique brushed surface on the frame front

L.G.R. from Italy will attend with their latest – and fabulous – designs including Sahara, with a distinctive brushed effect on the frame front, and superbly crafted mineral glass lenses. L.G.R. frames are handmade in Italy. www.lgrworld.com

Daydream by KBL in Tortoise and Turquoise Acetate

KBL Eyewear in Germany is synonymous with youth, quality, and performance, and presenting for the first time at HOF. The initials KBL stand for Kind of Bohemian LIfestyle, and the designs reflect a “bohème” nature – expressed in Italian acetate and Japanese titanium. www.kbleyewear.com For more information on HOF Köln visit www.diebrillenmesse.de JG