Design + Inspiration

3 of the best couture designs of the year

1. Cleto Munari gold jewellery glasses

Munari’s new gold frames are produced in 14 carat solid gold and are described as a natural continuation of Cleto Munari’s artistic exploration in the field of eyewear. The frames are made by hand in Vicenza, Italy, well known for its goldsmith traditions that give life to internationally praised jewellery of exceptional beauty. Beguiling and charming, the gold frames are exciting to look at as well as to wear! Their details such as little hands for nose pads will delight the eyewear connoisseur. They can also be customised with gemstones such as rubies or diamonds.  We have viewed these styles on launch at Silmo 2024 and they are the most spectacular frame designs in gold that we have seen launch this year. www.cletomunarieyewear.com

2. Hanabi by Lafont Paris x Sekimoto

An astonishingly beautiful and romantic frame, shown at SILMO in 2024, the Hanabi design continues the story of Haute Couture eyewear at Lafont that began with Ouvrage in 2023, a frame that won the Jury’s Special Prize at SILMO. The Hanabi frame features an embroidery design with pearls and sequins created by hand through the artistry of Satoshi Sekimoto, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France in haute couture embroidery. We have loved watching Satoshi at work in Silmo 2024, and by viewing the process it instantly becomes clear that there is a very complex artisan design process behind this statement sunglass style. Find out more at www.lafont.com

3. Rigards RG1061MOP

Another masterpiece, the RG1061M0P from Rigards features a circular frame in ethically sourced genuine horn with subtle fractal geometry and Mobius strip-like helixes which are signature elements at Rigards. An inlay of delicate mother-of-pearl features tiny pieces of the luminous linings of abalone shells cut into different shapes and embedded delicately in the lacquer in the side crescents of the frame. A timeless frame with extraordinary artisanal detailing. www.rigards.com

This year, our gift guide is curated by a team of three : Elena Serrano Pelaez from Optica Rosal21, an independent boutique in Northern Spain  – Kayla Heersink of @opticali_style, independent and vintage eyewear enthusiast, from the US, and Clodagh Norton, Eyestylist.com in the UK…these are some very special gift choices with lasting appeal for anyone who loves eyewear and design… …..  

1. Xavier Derome jewellery, selected by Elena @opticarosal21

Jewellery pieces, including rings, earrings and bracelets produced in elegant pieces of unused acetate that would otherwise go to waste. The statement designs are brightly coloured and very intriguing with much individuality in the colours and combinations. Handmade in Sologne in France, Derome is a well known designer in the eyewear business in France and continues to create a line of timeless acetate glasses as well as these jewellery items, made from remaining parts.

“Unique design and commitment to sustainability: for over 15 years, Xavier Derome has been creating jewellery using acetate from his frames, a material that would otherwise go discarded…the collection includes rings, bracelets and necklaces, crafted to last a lifetime….I love that these pieces are also available in the Pompidou museum store in Paris!”

Above: Xavier Derome jewellery, made in France

For details visit www.xavierderome.com

2. The Eyeglass Case by @animalhandmade, selected by @opticali_style

A lightweight embossed leather eyewear case from a small independent label specialising in handcrafted products – made in the US. The case has a natural Alran goat lining.

“I chose this because they are handmade by a local Colorado woman whose work I constantly obsess over…the design is full of whimsy and delight, and the neon colour makes it easy to spot in your bag….”

Find out more at https://animalhandmade.com

3. Diffuser Tokyo – chains + retainers, selected by @eyestylistmagazine

Diffuser Tokyo specialises in high-quality accessories and handmade glasses chains and cords. Their beautiful silk cords are made in Kyoto in Japan using a traditional artisan method called “Kasuri-zome” – a traditional dip-dying technique involving multiple stages, all of which are done by hand to achieve the final result. For the cords, the process for the colours involves dyeing two different colours at both ends – at the centre they overlap to create the beautiful effect of graduated colour.

“This collection is our go-to at Eyestylist.com for artisan eyewear accessories. These artisan cords are completely original and the traditional technique used to create the colours is quite impressive…..of course it’s always useful to have a cord for your frame to keep it safe and close by…” Find these pieces and more at www.diffuser-tokyo.com

4. Vintage Eyewear Style by Takano Fujii – published by Schiffer Books, selected by @eyestylistmagazine

This is a beautiful new and exclusive coffee table book that all eyewear lovers should take a peek at! It would be a lovely gift for a stocking! Published by Schiffer Publishing, at $29.99 (soft cover edition), the book offers a comprehensive visual survey of currently available vintage eyewear from the 1920s to the 1990s. Find out more about how to purchase on these links –  https://a.co/d/6hjpMKo and https://schifferbooks.com/products/vintage-eyewear-style

5. A vintage frame, selected by Elena @opticarosal21

This vintage frame from theo comes from their special archive of frames from past decades, housed in the theo HQ in Antwerp…..the individuality and character of a vintage frame – and the opportunity to make good use of a design piece that has a special history makes a great idea for a sustainable gift that is totally unique for the connoisseur of eyewear  – everyone should have at least one vintage frame in their eyewear collection!

“This is all about gifting a piece of history! A piece of that legacy that every eyewear enthusiast dreams of having in their collection, whether displayed in a showcase or worn on special occasions…the original energy of Hoet and Wim, the creators at theo at the time, lives on, in every design!”

www.theo.be

6. Wujic Jo “Motor Collection”, selected by @opticali_style

Wujic Jo “Motor Collection” takes us back to the fun of building models from a kit, complete with stickers and engine nosepads. You can convert the frame back and forth from ‘naked’ to fully built with acetate ‘bikini’, depending on the look you want for the day. Designed in Belgium, the kit features a 100% titanium frame with Takiron acetate and CR-39 lens with anti-reflective coating.

“This kit evokes the childlike Christmas morning excitement of putting together a new toy and the endless hours of play that will ensure…”

Ready to assemble! Find out more here: https://wujicjo.com

For more information, about the eyewear enthusiasts behind this curated gift guide follow us all on Instagram: @opticali_style – @eyestylistmagazine – @opticarosal21

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