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Influential Nature

5th December 2014 Nature’s finery – the sea, sky and sand, mountains, sunrise and sunsets, lakes and forests, berries and blossoms – are all inspiration for the luminous eyewear designs by SALT. The effortless beauty of translucent colours is captured on fine acetate, which combines the best of California lifestyle – home base for SALT – and Japanese craftsmanship. Above: Lisa in turquoise / SALT Optics.

The design aesthetic is timeless, and characterised with quality, elegance and simplicity. SALT will launch another exciting colour palette in February 2015. www.saltoptics.com JG

..with striking accessories

1st December 2014 Luxurious accessories in classical black and gold will compliment evening and party wear this season. Our selection of artisan labels include jewellery finds from Italy, Belgium and Hong Kong, unique hand-finished eyewear and a super example of a glasses necklace by a sought-after label from New York.

1. 24k gold-plated palladium style Mille 23 from theo eyewear, www.theo.be; 2. black/navy star ring by Sardo, Atelier di Gioielli, www.sardogioielli.it; 3. Wouters & Hendrix cuff with gold buckle, www.wouters-hendrix.com; 4. Eventail clutch from Babe by Dennis Pong / Hong Kong, www.babe.com.hk ; 5. British made ‘Bond’ in gloss black, by Savile Row, at Algha Works London, www.algha.com; 6. Gold/black cuff by Wouters & Hendrix, www.wouters-hendrix.com; 7. Cosmo Duo 15 by Benner Eyewear, handmade in Germany www.bennereyeweardesign.com; 8. Black beaded gold glasses chain by New York’s La Loop www.laloop.com CN

Cody and Eric Balzan at HAPTER

25th November 2014 Today Eyestylist launches a new series – Eyewear Canine Companions. We have discovered some amazing four-footers who bring joy, fun, companionship and inspiration to designers and opticians.

When Eric Balzan chats about his dog Cody, his face beams. “Cody is a rescue dog and I just fell in love with him. He’s a mixed race dog that we found at a dog shelter. We were told there were a few problems with his eyes and he doesn’t hear very well. It didn’t matter – I fell in love with that one! Once Cody was out of the shelter, he changed. I brought him up to the mountain and he walked behind me. The only problem was that he was then so tired he couldn’t walk down! So I carried him down, and he loves the rucksack.”

Balzan and the mountains are ubiquitous – it was during a mountain exploration that Balzan and his design partner Mirko Forte discovered the glacier military goggles that launched their business. Now Cody is part of the designer’s trekking and hiking. “Cody is my best design inspiration when we are in the mountains,” says Balzan,” and he really enjoys it all.

“Unfortunately, with Cody’s eye problems, when the light goes down, he would fall over. We tried different doctors, and discovered it was cataracts. We had a drive with family and friends to raise funds for an operation. The vet was an hour and forty minutes drive away, but Cody had the operation, and he has recovered his sight. He is always with my wife Antonella and I – we take him everywhere including art exhibitions. He is a very cultured dog!” www.hapter.it JG