Design + Inspiration

The UK optical fair, moved from January, is confirmed to take place in April 2022 at ExCeL London in the city’s historic Royal Docks / independent brands from Denmark, France, Italy, Switzerland, US and UK will be showing

Confirmed for the weekend of 23rd, 24th and 25th April 2022, with postponement from January, 100% Optical is looking forward to a show to remember, after a lapse of two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The fair, which is now billed as the premiere optical event in the UK, takes place at ExCeL London, a landmark exhibition centre on the East side of London. A handful of exclusively independent brands will show with cutting edge, innovative design collections, in a wide selection of eyewear materials including acrylic, acetate, 3D printed and eco-friendly materials. Above: Kirk & Kirk are a firm favourite among the independent brands who exhibit at 100% Optical; the label is known for its unique lightweight acrylic material and statement colours – model pictured – Guy in the Centena collection in Corn yellow – oversized and mega bold – https://kirkandkirk.com

Struktur plays with volume, colour effects and bold and dashing acetate construction. The frames, which are made in Normandy in Northern France, will make a special appearance at 100% Optical, with models such as ‘The Boards of Deauville” – a characterful acetate frame with sculpted contours, named after a walkway in the seaside town by the side of the historic Pompeian therapeutic Baths. Find out more about Struktur Eyewear at https://en.struktur-eyewear.fr

Ørgreen Optics has a wealth of new styles coming this season. The launches began this month with four new styles in the fashion-forward Imaginary Lines collection produced in a carefully balanced combo of 100% pure titanium and beta-titanium. The colour range is exciting and contemporary in this series, with tones like striking purple and shiny gold (above) and deep space blue and rose gold. Find this collection and more by the Danish innovators at Ørgreen – showing at 100%! – www.orgreenoptics.com

Gotti Switzerland is a regular exhibitor at the London fair, bringing a selection from across its 3D printed, rimless, acetate and titanium lines.  The advanced technical precision and refined aesthetic has long been popular in the UK, and continues to be a reference for quality and innovation. Gotti Switzerland recently announced new acetate styles including Hanlon and Heins, frames which have been milled from solid acetate, polished by hand and built the traditional way with elegant rivets. www.gotti.ch

Tree Spectacles from Italy will exhibit their artisan collection for the first time in London. The Italian label produces exclusive collections in advanced materials including eco acetate, surgical stainless steel and titanium, always upholding the Italian traditions of fine eyewear through design excellence, experience and production know-how. For more information: www.treespectacles.com / Recommended by Eyestylist: watch out for the independent brand selection at 100% Optical, including: Albert I’m Stein (Italy), Bird Eyewear (UK); Kirk & Kirk (UK), Erker’s 1879 (USA), Gotti Switzerland, Nathalie Blanc (France), Struktur (France), Ørgreen Optics (Denmark), Portrait Eyewear (Italy) and Tree Spectacles (Italy). To find out more about the fair and to register, visit www.100percentoptical.com CN

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A Capsule collection from the chic line Seraphin gives sparkle to eyewear

The latest release from Seraphin Shimmer brings sparkle to sunglass styles with oversized, glamorous designs hand-set with Austrian crystals. The brand has a reputation for producing a glitzy, feminine series of optical frames and sunglasses, with embellishments that make a statement of glamour and luxury chic. Above: model wears Shimmer Sun 1 in smoke crystal – with hand set crystals – photography by Anastasiia Ses

At a time when accessories punctuated with treatments remain very much in vogue, Seraphin Shimmer’s feline sunglasses are for those who want to make a statement with their frame, wear them as a special “party piece”, or pep up something more informal with some dazzling, glittery, crystal shine.

Intriguing tones – bold or muted – are trending for the season….

Impactful lenses lend a lift and a stylish modern twist to frames. Harking back to the early ’00s and further – to the 90s and the 70s in particular lines -, the graduated, soft pastel and bold tints returning offer a rainbow of possibilities to better shade the eyes. Above: Paris Fashion Week September 2021: even in the rain, orange-tinted sunglasses with a vintage 70s aesthetic look chic – Photography By Gennaro D’Elia exclusively for Eyestylist

Tone-on-tone is a particularly eye-catching concept among the different choices and colours. VADA Eyes have dropped a cool classic round shape called Zero, a unisex frame with domed metal harware and delicately toned lenses which match the frame colour, vadajewelry.com

A combination of state-of-the-art 3d-printed frame and bright rose-tinted lenses – created by Weareannu, provides an excellent balance of everyday style, comfort and contemporary colour. This made-in-Germany collection is known for its good fit, comfort and timeless design. https://weareannu.com

Kaleos – the fashion-focused Spanish brand, has several interesting lens tones including the yellow base 2 variation in model Sawyer – with an anti-reflective coating. Find more colours at www.kaleoscollection.com

EOE’s sensational sustainable sun collection includes several subtle lens tones inspired by nature, including soil/brown gradients, pine/gold gradients (above) as well as beautiful orange and green tones. Find more colours at https://eoe-eyewear.com

French artisan eyewear brand, Struktur puts extensive research and development into every aspect of each frame to ensure they enhance the uniqueness of the individual’s features, always highlighting, rather than overpowering, the wearer’s face. With collections displaying vibrant colourways, innovative materials, exaggerated shapes, and striking sculptural ‘structures’….

Struktur eyewear has drawn its inspiration from architecture and fashion for ten years. According to the brand owners today, Jean François Lufeaux and Thierry Bonhomme: “Our vision is to make the differences that we all have as human beings, a strength. We want our frames to be in line with and to represent the identity of each customer.” Above: Struktur glasses are made in a traditional factory in Northern France

Asked to describe the design process, Struktur’s owners refer to traditional creativity and good old-fashioned drawing. “Hand-drawing is a whole process. We create shapes and after dozens of sketches, there is always one shape that stands out from the others. The computer stage of this process  allows us to finalize the design so that it meets everyone’s expectations – to every extent. Once finished, the acetate material allows the frame to work with and fit the human face.”

Each piece in the collection is developed with minute attention to detail and painstaking precision. The research is based on two points; the ideas for shapes and the innovative techniques in manufacturing eyewear. “For the shapes, we seek inspiration in everything – except the world of eyewear! Architecture, fashion, jewellery, even sport,” explains Thierry Bonhomme. “The technical aspects of eyewear, like the titanium temples are developed over time. During their conception, we first focus on the aesthetic aspects; reflecting on the possibilities of designing two temples that could merge into one. Next, we looked at the mechanical aspects to find a specific opening technique, and finally, we worked on the flexibility and rigidity of titanium. We did many trials to find the right material with the right density and width, before eventually coming to the decision on colour. We also trial over ten colours across multiple prototypes, of which only three might be selected. The research is extensive, to say the least!”

Established artisan craftsmanship underlies this careful design work. The Struktur frames are produced at SOLF Production, a manufacturer present in the eyewear industry for over fifty years. “The factory produces frames in acetate and metal. They are truly gifted, with an incomparable talent in the nuances of the craft of spectacle making. SOLF works with many independent brands and some e-commerce sites, supporting its customers throughout the process of designing and making the frames.”

Struktur is one of a group of unique European eyewear brands featuring at the UK’s optical fair – 100% Optical in London – 23-25 April 2022 – www.100percentoptical.com. Find out more about Struktur at https://en.struktur-eyewear.fr

Co-Authored By Clodagh Norton & Victoria G. L. Brunton – All rights reserved