Design + Inspiration

The Magna collection, created with jeweler Helena Rohner, is a new adventure for creative director Lorena Serrano Peinado and her brand from Madrid, Nina Mûr

With a unique aesthetic and common philosophy, rooted in design and sustainability, the new Magna line is the work of Helena Rohner and Nina Mûr – an experimental project with surprising designs and new departures in materials. The models feature a high-pressure laminate made from translucent paper, the finish of which is described as velvety. The material is layered over the signature birch plywood base which is a typical design feature of the Madrid-based eyewear brand.

Produced in wonderfully dreamy pastel spring tones Magna is proposed as a limited edition ‘deluxe kit’ with a large magnifier and a small pendant magnifier. The designers say that the particular construction of both of these collectible magnifying glasses mixes the colour and the sheets of wood in alternate layers, resulting in objects of great beauty with a unique style. Additionally, the edition offers five special glasses designs, inspired by the shape of the magnifying glasses but with their own unique and wearable silhouette. For more information about the brand visit www.ninamur.com

Exclusive: The company has been awarded a Red Dot Design Award (2022) recognising the new innovation in its collection

A beautiful, nature inspired spin on texture has been introduced at the Austrian label Rolf Spectacles, the result of careful research and development in 3D printed materials and finishes. The company is introducing the new tactile texture in their 3D printed substance mount collection made from castor beans. Close to, the frames have an almost shattered look on the surface, giving the effect of natural surfaces and phenomena; the company cites ice flows in the Arctic, rocky mountain peaks, or cracks in the dry earth as key inspiration for the subtle and refined finish.

The special texture can be found in the angular design of the Rigi range and the softer, more rounded design of model Viso from the Rolf substance mount collection and has already been recognised as an exciting step in 3d printed eyewear with the win of the much admired Red Dot Design Award.

“We wanted to make the concept of sustainability, which is central to everything we do, tangible and visible in our designs. Thanks to the latest technological advances, we’ve been able to move away from the usual smooth frames and create a feature using discreet textures, thereby turning everyday eyeglasses into something quite special. It’s fitting that the new models are part of the substance collection and therefore made out of the beans of a fast-growing species of the Euphorbiaceae family. This means environmentally aware eyeglass wearers get a pair of plant-based spectacles with an organic pattern that’s a symbol of our appreciation of nature,” summarizes designer at Rolf, Johannes Wacker.

Rolf Spectacles will attend industry events LOFT in NYC and MIDO in Milan to exhibit their new wood, stone, horn, titanium, combination and plant-based eyewear collections for 2022. www.rolf-spectacles.com Written by Clodagh Norton – all rights reserved

Directional and creative at FACE A FACE

A terrific breadth of inspiration from the past, complex, creative colour schemes and colour accents, and structured, sculptural design work all feature in the new collections that are here as Spring arrives. From cateye sunglasses and edgy 90s shapes, to sharp combinations of hues, a melting pot of many influences defines the season and inspires new, delightful themes. Above: FACE A FACE sunglass models Clone 1 and Clone 2 – ‘a retro futuristic oval and a Matrix shape’ – both styles have a double colour effect on the front and a strongly beveled sculpted look with an artistic elegance.

Model Clone 1 is one of the go-to styles in the new FACE A FACE collection, with a shape that’s symbolic of the 90s, the electric colours combine to create a dramatic statement piece.

In the glasses line at FACE A FACE, this bold and confident theme continues, with eyewear that explores two tones, transparency and pattern, layering effects and thicknesses, all inspired by asteroids and outer space! Among these frames, the distinctive model Quartz shows the playful touch of layering colours, and an almost dizzying so called “cosmic” interplay of dots with the flashy  ‘ultra-violet’ colour for the overlay. Find the new styles at www.faceaface-paris.com 

A feature by Clodagh Norton, Eyestylist.com – all rights reserved

Springfield flower glasses by a-morir – inspired by Dusty Springfield

Kerin Rose Gold, the New York designer behind a-morir studio turns eyewear into art. Her latest release, which she says has been bubbling for more than a few years – eight to be exact – has all the freshness and excitement of the promise of Spring, in five bold colours with sparkle and shine. Like many of her designs, the frame has an iconic feel with larger than life proportions, and an exotic, mix-up of colours. The flower shape consists of five individual circular petals on a classic 1960s oval base frame with a fanciful and feminine style that is beautiful and glamorous. The designer says the frame is inspired and named after the female singer Dusty Springfield, playing with an edgy hippie look with the mood of the swinging Sixties. Above: Springfield flower sunglasses in gold by a-morir – a collectible for 2022

The Springfield has been designed as a one-off piece for Spring/Summer 2022 and is handmade to order – the flower shape is trimmed with a fine lucite and crystal chain embellishment plated in gold, to compliment the colorations of the UV400 sun lenses which range from very delicate pink and purple smoke to deep brown gradients. Find out more at https://shop.a-morir.com/products/springfield-pink?_pos=3&_sid=6a68e0ca7&_ss=r

Independent brands from across the globe will travel to opti for a special May edition

Eyewear brands are poised to return to opti, the international trade show for optics & design, in Munich in May. The fair will take place on 13-15th May following the postponement from January and the organisers have announced in February that all coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions are to be lifted 20th March.

Opti is an annual trade fair with a special orientation towards innovation and design which optical professionals hold in high esteem. This year’s event promises a strong presence of foreign exhibitors and optical retailers who look forward to the chance to reunite after the multiple cancellations of optical events since March 2020.  The organisers have put in place the same hall concept (four halls, C1 to C4) at the venue as well as the same infrastructure as was typical in the pre-covid years and they have confirmed a strong number of exhibitors for the event, both large and small.

Above: companies from across Europe and further afield have booked their stands for opti 22. FLEYE Copenhagen: model Mary is one the latest styles added in FLEYE Copenhagen’s Silent Noise collection. The Danish brand is a regular exhibitor at opti munich – www.fleye.dk

The Swiss designer Nirvan Javan produces an eyewear collection characterised by essential shapes, fine materials such as Japanese acetate with a sophisticated and technical approach to good design and the comfort of the frame. New colours introduced have a modern elegance: they include tones of havana brown,  green, yellow and subtle light green. A selection of new designs will be shown at opti. Find out more: www.nirvanjavan.com

Ørgreen is releasing a series of new models in different collections this Spring. all of which will show at opti in May. They include the four new styles in the Imaginary Lines collection which were just released and mark the beginning of what the company says will be an ambitious year of global releases from Ørgreen. A new portfolio of colour stories and combinations stretches these dynamic and highly wearable styles to a broad range of customers, ranging from the traditional and subtly exclusive to the fashion-forward and youthfully avant-garde. www.orgreenoptics.com

Paris based label Tarian will show their optical and sunglasses lines for 2022 (Booth C1 452). The brand has just announced a new sunglasses series – PLAY ! – a humorous and vibrant collection which explores fresh colour combinations and striped 3 dimensional laser cut design effects. www.tarian.paris

VAVA Eyewear’s tremendous creative output of the last 18 months includes the statement optical design (above) BL0029, a classic cat eye with a completely avantgarde outlook! Watch for the new styles at www.vavaeyewear.com

JF REY’s most recent new models for “petite” faces offer bold patterned acetate, expressive shapes and delicate colour combinations which are designed to harmonise with the colours of skin and eyes. This will be just one of their lines on display for the opti fair! Find the latest styles here: www.jfrey.fr

Vinylize from Budapest always have something up their sleeve for the opti show and we look forward to their latest editions produced in recycled vinyl materials. The Vinylize designers have mastered the art of vinyl for frames, producing artisan quality constructions with interesting surfaces, as well as sporty or artsy shapes that suit the current mood in fashion and street fashion style.

opti will welcome many of our recommended independent brands including Blackfin, Coblens, Cutler and Gross, Falvin, Fleye Copenhagen, JF REY, Lafont Paris, Leinz Eyewear, Lucas de Stael, Nirvan Javan, Orgreen Optics, RES/REI, Rolf Spectacles, Rigards, Monoqool, Sea2see, Tarian, Tree Spectacles, Veronika Wildgruber, Vinylize, VAVA and weareannu. For more updates on the fair, watch this space!

opti takes place at the Fairground Munich in May 2022. For further details, the exhibitor list and registration visit www.opti.de  The fair organisers have already announced dates for 2023 – the fair will return to the normal January dates taking place 27th to 29th January 2023. This feature was written by Clodagh Norton – All rights reserved