Design + Inspiration

Inspired by nature

Shwood Sunglasses

22 June 2011 Shwood Sunglasses are handmade in Oregon, using a manufacturing process which merges precision technology with traditional craftsmanship. This week I have tried one of their sunglass designs on for the first time; I am much more familiar with the European brands producing wood frames so this was a fun exercise. The style I have is chunky and you get an immediate feel for the lovely natural texture and pattern of the wood from which it is made. The frames are treated with organic waxes and oils to protect them, but are unpolished so they look as unprocessed as possible. The wood used comes from sustainably harvested resources and include Cherry, East India Rosewood and Zebrawood.

If you’ve considered a wood sunglass style then this is definitely a brand to look at. Wood is a very stylist material in eyewear this year and we expect this popularity to grow. Shwood does a nice job of layering the sheets of wood (2-ply for temples and 3 for the fronts) and this gives a practical flexibility to the sunglasses. Details such as the Carl Zeiss lenses with 100% UVA/UVB protection and attractive soft pouch in tweed and leather add to the overall effect of quality and quirky creativity. More coming up soon on the best wood frames and where to buy them. www.shwoodshop.com CN

 

 

 

 

Emma by Pierre Eyewear

French magistrate and European Parliament member Eva Joly, is as well known for the distinctive red frames perched on her nose, as she is for her strong support of Europe’s ecology issues. The Norwegian born politician is a fan of the small, round frame with a horseshoe nosepiece by Pierre Cariven, designer and founder of Pierre Eyewear. His handcrafted designs are recognised for their quirky, fun approach to eyewear. Bright red acetate forms the front of Emma, and the sides are in tortoise acetate.  Pierre Eyewear is available in Paris at Optique des Entrepreneurs, 39 rue Entrepreneurs 75015, Paris. www.pierre-eyewear.com JG

Trend alert: fabric patterns

Kenzo Sunglasses

26th May 2011 As well as the colourful array of florals we have talked about, there are lots of other patterns and fabric inspired designs in eyewear this season. These range from the wonderful animal prints on offer to a variety of tartans, checks and pretty suedes (in some cases using real fabrics inside or covering the frame, I’ve seen suede at Alexander Wang and at the Vanni collection by the Italian company Nico Design, to name just two!). And here’s one more statement design by Kenzo using printed cotton in one of the great vintage shapes featuring a matching smokey blue lens. www.kenzo.com CN

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AMQ 4171S

Royal Wedding Day

29th April 2011 To celebrate the wedding, and to pay hommage to British couture brand Alexander McQueen, and Sarah Burton, the designer of Ms. Middleton’s wedding dress, a gorgeous fairy tale design, featuring elegant handmade lace…

This is one of the McQueen sunglass styles currently in the shops….it’s a clean simple design, that would make a wonderful memento of the occasion, with the classic McQueen skull head featured in miniature. www.alexandermcqueen.com CN

 

Spring has arrived, long may it last

‘Trees’ Series – Theo by Tim Van Steenbergen

24th March, 2011 Here is one my favourite new sunglass collections for Spring/Summer…the ‘Trees’ Series from Theo by Tim Van Steenbergen. The radiant colours are inspired by nature and the metal temple refers to the structure and textured patterns of a tree trunk. This concept is reflected in the names of the sunglasses…Oak, Beech, Pine, Maple Spruce and Ash.

Belgian fashion designer Tim Van Steenbergen (www.timvansteenbergen.com) has created a clothing collection which tells the story of “the lady gardener,” who loves nature and likes to be a part of it. The designer is inspired by the way flowers and plants move and grow.  The same ideas are developed in the ‘Trees’ Series. Just as in the fabrics, various natural colours reappear in the glasses – for example, green and brown. He also refers to natural materials such as horn, wood and marble. Sparkling floral colours such as red, purple and coral complete the range of colours.

To complement the luxurious design of the series, Theo has chosen Zeiss sun lenses for quality UV protection. The lenses feature a “rock-hard” 5-layer antireflection coating. A very special addition to a very creative and beautiful collection. CN

www.theo.be