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An eco-friendly choice

17th November 2011 I have recently received a pair of sunglasses by Idaho based Proof Wood Eyewear…the model is one of their women’s styles, Cake, a simple but feminine shape featuring a matching brown polycarbonate lenses. The frames are offered in different woods such as bamboo and ebony, and have neat spring hinges and a tiny discreet logo etched into the temple. A quotation appears on the inside of the arm, customised from model to model. My pair is marked with the line: “My life is my message“. 

Set up in January this year, Proof is run by three brothers, from a family sawmill set up originally by their grandfather. The brothers aim is to produce fun, well made, well priced wood sunglasses (suited to all ages but definitely appealing particularly to 20 somethings) while also donating a portion of sales to charity. Proof is supporting sight giving surgeries in India and is also currently involved with the Native American Reservation, Africa and re-planting trees in Haiti.

Another nice touch is the fact that Proof offers a recycling programme…if you want to change your sunglass style, you can return your old pair of shades and get a discount on your next purchase. The old shades are recycled into animal bedding..to find out more about Proof and to see the full collection visit www.iwantproof.com CN

Magnifying glasses from Filao Paris

16th November 2011 These adorable parrots are so cute – and useful! The charming magnifying/readers design, by Caroline Abram at Filao, is handy for small type and street maps, plus other necessities in fine print. Crafted in glossy acetate, the charming little creatures fold easily to slip into a pocket or purse. Available in bright, joyful colours of shocking pink, orange, forest green, burgundy, plus elegant black. Filao designs can be found in Paris at Les Créateurs D’Opta, 25 rue Abbesses 75018 Paris, and in Vienna at Siebenstern Handels optician. www.filaoparis.com JG

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Winter gift guide

12th November 2011

John Varvatos V801

14th November 2011 The season for gift giving rapidly approaches, and we have found some unusual, useful and chic eyewear ideas. Good things do come in little packages, like these splendid readers (above) from lifestyle designer John Varvatos. Beautifully crafted in antique gold and silver, and extremely comfortable to wear, they fold compactly into a little leather pouch case. The Transitions lenses provide clear viewing, and the distinguished nosepiece adds a smart touch. www.eyerespect.com www.johnvarvatos.com www.remeyewear.com JG

EYE’DC

11th November 2011 Marseilles based designer Lionel Bellet can always be counted on to create a collection with unique touches. In 2009, the company won a Silmo D’Or (an industry accolade) for their innovative  eyewear concepts. The newest collection features “Slide” (above) that allows the customer to select two or three different acetate colours; mix them to ‘slide’ into place, et voilà,  very distinctive frames. Ebony and champagne merge into these neat little shapes, and express retro harmony. Eye’DC designs are available at Les Createurs D’Opta in Paris, and Arthur Morrice Opticians in Knightsbridge, London. www.eye-dc.com  www.idc-lunettes.com JG

Katharina Plattner – Andy Wolf

10th November 2011 The next stop on our Austrian designer tour is to chat with Katharina Plattner, designer and managing partner at Andy Wolf. Although the brand is only five years old, it has captured international markets. Vintage heroes and heroines often inspire the timeless designs – including Betty Boop. Everything is handmade in the Styria region of Austria, located in the southeast section of the country, with a history that dates back to Roman times.

“Nowadays, it is difficult to find people to create handmade frames,” observes Plattner, “but is it important to have knowledge of old handcrafts, or else everything will be lost if you don’t learn from the old. The new collection is inspired by criminal novels from Agatha Christie – the sunglasses have names like Miss Marple or Colombo. This is because I grew up with these old films – my granny loved them.”

Plattner is adamant about quality, and every frame goes through a rigorous handcrafting and time consuming process. “I think it’s very important to give time to the finishing processes – we give the frames seven days – it’s usually three – and you can feel the difference.”

For the future, Plattner would like to experiment with materials. “I’d like to work with French lace for frames, and I think every type of cloth would be good, like silk for example.” Andy Wolf followers eagerly await the new Austrian eyewear creations. www.andywolf-eyewear.com JG