Design + Inspiration

The Japanese eyewear label Yuichi Toyama has collaborated with Giorgio Armani for a luxurious capsule collection – made in Fukui Prefecture, Japan

A new collaboration has been launched between the Japanese eyewear brand YUICHI TOYAMA and fashion brand Giorgio Armani, offering a capsule collection which fuses Giorgio Armani’s Italian style with the latest Japanese technological innovation. Armani’s aesthetic vision has been complemented by designer Yuichi Toyama, who is known for pushing the envelope of Japanese manufacturing technology while also employing traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The resulting combination of Italian elegance and Japanese innovation delivers a nuanced effect, with lightweight, comfortable frames in Japanese titanium, created with subtle detailing and shading, and always blending form and function. Above: Giorgio Armani x Yuichi Toyama eyewear – campaign

The designs employ YUICHI TOYAMA’s signature “Double Dutch” design, which was released in 2016. This took its inspiration from the “Double Dutch” game in which two “turners” face each other and spin a rope in opposite directions, while one or more jumpers simultaneously jump over it. The playful “Double Dutch” design has become synonymous with YUICHI TOYAMA, and its use in this collection enhances the minimalist silhouette and elegant functionality of the eyewear.

About Yuichi Toyama Yuichi Toyama developed his Made in Japan eyewear brand over 30 years.
The signature look of the collection derives from its ability to combine seemingly contradictory details and materials into harmonious designs.
The design philosophy is one which respects traditional craftsmanship aligned with an equally evident curiosity about the possibilities that come from the use of innovative technology.
The brand is constantly evolving as it pursues an expression of simplicity, elegance and timeless beauty. For more information: https://yuichitoyama.com

The British eyewear brand will exhibit at Pitti Uomo in January – for the very first time

Kirk & Kirk will be heading to Pitti Uomo to introduce their latest hand-made acrylic sunglass collection to the men’s fashion stage in Florence. Already endorsed by numerous celebrities, the brand is promising a new sunglasses collection featuring eight styles for the fashion event, with an exciting, daring variety of sculpted looks, thick tailored rims and Spring/Summer colours with a vibrant glow.

The acrylic material featured in the collection – which is a signature of the brand – is light and colourful, and allows for a bold, chunky frame to be worn comfortably all day. Above: bold eyewear shape Ryan from Kirk & Kirk – pictured in Tiger orange

Creative Director Karen Kirk has a fascination with colour analysis; where colours correspond to seasons, based upon variations of warm and cool tones. The collection heading to Pitti will include an array of bright, trendy, characterful tones which range from Crimson Red and Cheeky Raspberry to Classic Tortoiseshell and warmer tones including Tiger Orange and Zen Sage.

For men, the collection is big on retro-inspired shapes and bold structured lines that lend individuality and contemporary edge. By means of a unique sandblasting technique, Kirk & Kirk is also able to re-shape their very own grade of Italian acrylic, lending it a refined and highly finished design style that stands out from the crowd.

For Pitti Uomo, Kirk & Kirk are showcasing eight shapes, each available in eight colours plus a series of limited-edition colours for Spring/Summer ‘24. All Kirk & Kirk frames are hand-crafted in Italy, and finished to the highest optical standards and fitted with fully protective
high grade lenses. Pitti Uomo takes place on 9th to 12th January 2024 (https://uomo.pittimmagine.com). For more information about the new collection launching at the show, visit www.kirkandkirk.com

For more information about the brand click on the link: https://www.eyestylist.com/2023/08/karen-kirk-on-the-contour-collection/

The Munich fair takes place in January, with a programme of events centering around sustainability, innovation, and future trends

The international optical show – opti 2024, which takes place in a few weeks in Munich from 12th to 14th January, is preparing an event for a broad range of optical players and their products, with focus on key topics such as sustainability and innovation for the future. The show organisers will offer a Myopia Hub, Sustainability Hub and a new Trend Hub, in which future-oriented trends of the industry will be presented via the “Trendradar by opti”.

At the edition, the opti team is looking forward to hosting its inaugural opti Sustainability Award created for opticians, and honouring leading examples of sustainability in ophthalmic optics. In the fields of social, economic and ecological issues, relevant initiatives of the companies such as the design of their premises, approaches to avoiding microplastics, use of alternative energy resources, climate-neutral projects, diversity and much more are areas that have been monitored and studied in detail to arrive at a shortlist and winning retailer. The jury for this Award includes experts from IG Nachhaltigkeit. Above: the opti fair will take place over four halls in 2024 / photo: © GHM – the opti Sustainability Award will be presented at a special event on the Friday of opti in the Sustainability Hub

A wide selection of independent brands focused on sustainable design are exhibiting at the event in Germany: they include innovators in natural materials, 3D printed frames and avantgarde sustainable design such as Rolf, Götti Switzerland, MYKITA, Vava Eyewear, neubau, You Mawo, LEINZ, Hoffmann Natural Eyewear, Andy Wolf, Sea2see, and Weareannu. JUNK PLASTIC REHAB are billed to feature this year in the Opti Boxes.

The fair promises a dazzling eyewear showcase of leading fashion brands, luxury collections and independent eyewear of all stylistic genres – from across Europe and further afield, including the very popular Spanish brand Gigi Studios (new Logo Collection), RAEN from the US, Orgreen Optics from Denmark, J.F.REY, FACE A FACE and Lafont Paris from France and RES/REI and BLACKFIN from Italy.

The 3rd opti BOX AWARD is a popular event for new emerging labels in the industry who apply to exhibit in one of the opti boxes. The start-up companies in this area are always a talking point at the event, and a popular must-see for those visitors seeking a full experience of how frame design is evolving in all its aspects, creative, technical, sustainable and high-tech. This year they include Junk Plastic Rehab (pictured above), Baselli swiss made, and LARS Brillen from Bern, who won the OPTI BOX Award in 2023.

opti will host over 400 exhibitors in 44,000 square metres, with representatives from all areas of the optical sector including manufacturers of lenses, contact lenses, machinery and eyewear and accessories.

Opti 2024 takes place on Friday 12th January to Sunday 14th January at the Munich Messe (trade only). To find out more details visit www.opti.de  Eyestylist will have more tips and recommendations to share on opti prior to the event in January.