Design + Inspiration

From France: Kley’s, lunettes françaises

27th July 2020

A neo-retro artisan collection of frames by a Toulouse optician/designer

A small roster of young French artisan brands are making waves in Europe, several of which are the work of independent opticians, combining their technical knowledge and passion for their work with a love of design and handcrafted traditions of making spectacles – passed down through generations.

Kley’s lunettes françaises is a label by Simon Bousquet, a French optician from Toulouse. “I was looking for an original design for an acetate frame, and the Kley’s nose was born!” he told Eyestylist. “With this design, the optician can adjust the nose fitting and increase the comfort to fit each face. Each style is named after a member of my family…”

Above: Dany Sun by Kley’s – every frame has the distinctive adjustable acetate nose fitting

Model Pilar by Kley’s: handmade and 100% produced in France – the label exhibited at SILMO for the first time in 2018

The style of the collection is a delicate mix of a retro look with contemporary lines defined by slim, light stainless steel temples – and a fine, balanced, timeless colour palette. Elegant and characterful, the subtle yet distinctive nose fitting is combined with other artistic features: a very small delicate design at the temple in metal – described as “un clin d’oeil” or “blink of the eye”, a sign that links with the words which form the name “Kley’s” : clé (key) in French, and from English, “key” and “eyes“.

The Kley’s “family” of frames is made in the Jura (France), each design engraved with the words ‘Produite en France‘ on the temples. An authenticity card is also provided to show the provenance of the product. Today Kley’s is available in a handful of exclusive boutiques across France including L’Oeil de L’Odon (Aunay sur Odon), Colombette Optique (Toulouse), Lunetterie Laurent (Nimes) and Le Comptoir de la Lunette (Beauvais) to name a few. Look out for this label in future! To find out more visit www.kleys-eyewear.com

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Design + Inspiration

Hall of Frames (HOF), Zurich 2020

18th July 2020

The annual Zurich eyewear fair at Papiersaal + Folium (Sihlcity) is confirmed for 13-14th September 2020

European optical events update: As the optical business continues to see cancellations of some trade fairs, it’s a heart-warming pleasure to see our friends at the Hall of Frames, Zurich fair confirming their dates for September 2020, in Switzerland. The friendly, intimate atmosphere of this event presents a popular setting for opticians and brands alike. Reuniting industry representatives soon after the summer and bringing together new releases and new innovative concepts in eyewear by specialist independent designers is always an important element of the Hall of Frames show and is likely to be an even greater draw for visitors this year, as the European optical business gets back on its feet after difficult months of crisis, closure and lockdown.

Hall of Frames, Zurich: an informal and convivial atmosphere and an ideal opportunity to review new independent collections and meet the designers, face to face

After more than 10 years, HOF Zurich has established itself as a platform for independent opticians and eyewear designers in Switzerland, and owes much of its success, say the organisers, to a constantly evolving format. In particular, the fair has brought together and strengthened the “alternative” market for spectacle frames in the region. This year HOF has announced a new partnership with Reize Optik with the Nikon ‘lens’ brand and a new collaboration with Dynoptic (www.dynoptic.ch/de), a network of 100 opticians from across Switzerland.

For the trade: opportunities to engage with retailers and independent designers, both well-known and emerging, in the beautiful city of Zurich (HOF)

Hall of Frames has been officially recognised for its ecological footprint (www.saubere-veranstaltung.ch). This year, all emissions will be calculated and offset via ‘myclimate.org’ making the fair the first event of its kind in optics which is practically carbon neutral.

Exhibitors at the 2020 HOF event in September 2020 promise new designs and new announcements: confirmed brands include Coblens, Didier Voirol, Einstoffen, JF Rey, Kypers, Mykita, Nirvan Javan, YOU MAWO and Orgreen Optics. For more details and to see the full list of exhibitors visit: www.hallofframes.ch – opening hours at the 2-day event are: 13th September 2020 – 10 to 1800 / 14th September 9 to 1600. This article was written by Clodagh Norton, Eyestylist.com – all rights reserved.

Design + Inspiration

Sunglasses Edition: SALT. Optics x A’maree’s

13th July 2020

Californian luxury concept store partners with SALT. in exceptional sunglasses edition

The new capsule collection produced in a collaboration between the concept store and the Californian eyewear brand is one of the most beautiful eyewear collaborations to launch in 2020, with three sophisticated and timeless designs that pay homage to iconic sunglasses of the past. Above and below: The Trois, the round titanium rimmed silhouette in the trio of new designs in the exclusive collaboration. The Trois – with design elements that evoke the mid-century modern style of the A’maree’s store, is available in black, honey gold, rose gold or traditional silver. The campaign for the collection was shot at A’maree’s in Newport Beach, a distinctive architectural landmark dating back to the 1960s.

SALT. x A’Maree’s / The Deux – the 1950s inspired cat’s eye style in the trio of new designs

The Deux is based on a cateye frame shape with a glamorous fairly oversized silhouette based on the iconic styles worn by Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. This design is available in antique rose, A’maree’s signature white, black or toasted coffee.

SALT. x A’Maree’s / The Un – toasted coffee tone with pale green G-15 lens

Inspired by the wayfarer of the 1950s, The Un continues an eyewear tradition that has been a staple through the decades. A functional riveted plaque subtly evokes the styling of the era, while the specific sizing allows for a unisex fit. Colours include antique rose, black, indigo blue or toasted coffee.

All styles in the line are produced to the highest quality in Japan and feature premium materials, Japanese components and polarised lenses with backside A/R coating.

About A’maree’s – Located at Newport Beach, the family-owned luxury store has grown from a tiny boutique into a high fashion force, known across America. The store is still run by Nancy and daughters Apryl and Dawn who bring together art, fashion labels and accessories from across the world. They include one-off jewellery pieces by Alan Faye, hats by Italian brand FILU and Christina Kim’s dosa clothing and accessories. The sunglasses edition is available at A’maree’s (www.amarees.com) and selected boutiques/optical stores. For more information about the collection visit www.saltoptics.com

Design + Inspiration

3 of the best stylish glasses: sun shapes at LINDBERG

5th July 2020

Must-haves for aficionados of the Danish label’s lightweight design

LINDBERG sun titanium celebrates a mood of avantgarde chic with statement shapes and intriguing fashion combinations for blissful summer days. The latest collection by the luxury Danish label is a creative playground, founded on the signature LINDBERG craftsmanship and care for quality, reduced weight and fine artisan finishing. With modernist overtones, the pronounced shapes and proportions unite with an array of brilliant colour pairings and delicate transparencies which dress the face with elegance and a bold fresh vision. Above: LINDBERG 8328, a cat-eye inspired, 5-sided eye shape. The transparent frame and angular form has a dramatic beauty on the face

LINDBERG 8327: fashion-forward, custom-made sunglasses

Model 8327 plays with an interesting contrast where the thick transparent rim can be teamed with a brightly toned lens, according to each customer’s requirements. The very slim titanium temples contrast with the uniquely glamorous elongated square eye shape.

Stylish glasses – LINDBERG 8588: light, delicate styling for a classically beautiful look

The hexagonal 8588 provides the classic, minimal, couture style of a LINDBERG frame in a light, comfortable construction with a shape that is versatile yet perfectly on point. All LINDBERG sun models are fitted with premium sun lenses to ensure optimal vision and exceptional glare protection, throughout the day. Find more sunglasses and ophthalmic styles at www.LINDBERG.com

Design + Inspiration

edCFDA: all attention on the eyes

29th June 2020

A collective initiative by some of the most prominent designers in eyewear in the US brings together some favourite and iconic optical frames in a look book celebrating materials, colours, and imaginative shapes. The edition is a reminder that while public health concerns necessitate the masking of the face, the eyes are now ‘the centrepiece of communication and beauty’.

The project is the work of edCFDA, a group of independent eyewear designers within the CFDA (The Council of Fashion Designers of America), and has resulted in a showcase of memorable, individualistic styles from their current collections an expression of creativity, craftsmanship and fashion flair in eyewear design – from LA, Miami, and NYC.

Participating designers and their brand namesakes include: Ahlem Manai-Platt (Ahlem), Barbara McReynolds & Gai Gherardi (l.a.Eyeworks), Blake Kuwahara (Blake Kuwahara), Christian Roth & Eric Domège (Christian Roth), Jeff Press (Morgenthal Frederics – Robert Marc), Patty Perreira (Barton Perreira), Selima Salaun (Selima) and Shane Baum (Leisure Society).

Ed in green crystal by Morgenthal Frederics

The initiative also offers a timely reminder on the importance of eyewear care and suggests more regular and thorough cleaning of frames by wearers during the Covid-19 epidemic. It highlights the professionalism of fine independent opticians in approaching the creative styling of fashion eyewear with an elevated sensibility about hygiene and client safety at this time when stores have reopened with new protocols such as social distancing and greater availability of private appointments and contact-free consultations. Find out more: https://cfda.com/news/view-the-edcfda-digital-lookbook