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A New Chapter in Eyewear History…

16th September 2014 Two powerful, luxury brands in the eyewear world have forged a partnership that heralds a visionary alliance. Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses & Claire Goldsmith Eyewear in England, and Ørgreen Optics from Denmark have joined forces; however, each company will retain its own brand name and identity. Oliver Goldsmith has an enviable legacy of eighty-eight years of innovative and influential eyewear design. Ørgreen Optics was founded seventeen years ago, with a cult following inspired by film noir, vintage cars, cultural icons and street savvy.

The charismatic collections of both brands, and the innovative concepts and ideas that Claire Goldsmith and Henrik Ørgreen share, bring fresh vitality and design ethos to these revered eyewear companies. Claire Goldsmith stated: “I decided last year that I wanted to bring in some additional support into the business to help OG and CG reach their full potential. I have been calling Henrik Ørgreen a friend for many years. Not only do I love him as a person, but also I have a huge amount of respect for him and his team, and what they have achieved with Ørgreen. So you can only imagine my joy  when, over a friendly beer in New York last year, Henrik asked if I would consider him to be my business partner. My response? Of course, it was a big fat YES!”

Henrik Ørgreen added: “I believe that Claire Goldsmith and Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses represent unique possibilities. OG Sunglasses is such an iconic brand that has been around since 1926. We have the greatest respect for the history and understanding of eyewear design behind the OG name. Therefore, we are proud that Claire has decided to trust us in terms of helping her develop OG Sunglasses and her own line, CG, into the next phase, with the utmost respect for the identity of the brand.”

A pre-show peek at the new collections by OG, Claire Goldsmith and Ørgreen Optics reveal impressive shapes, gorgeous colours, and impeccable craftsmanship. Both collections will be presented at SILMO Paris at the end of the month. www.olivergoldsmith.com www.clairegoldsmith.com www.orgreenoptics.com www.silmoparis.com JG

Italian Style-Setter – Exuberant and Eclectic

12th September 2014 Anna Piaggi was an Italian journalist, fashion consultant, and iconic style setter with great artistic flair. She loved clothes, and during her lifetime collected over two thousand dresses, and hundreds of pairs of shoes. Her eclectic dress was a mix of vintage design that she collected during her travels, and her own irreverent concepts. She died in 2012. In hommage to this fashion icon, Alessandro De Lorenzo, owner of the ûber chic boutique Boudoir in Venice, collaborated with designer Oscar Mamooi to create fabulous frames in equally fabulous colours. Top photo: Green Grid with mirror pattern lens

“I met Oscar last year,” says De Lorenzo, “and he brought me a folder of amazing sketches. Anna Piaggi has always inspired him, so he designed these glasses thinking of her.” The dramatic Italian acetate shape is creatively printed, and sealed with a thin layer of crystal clear acetate. A metal ring holds the lens, and the open side has a nylon string. The Piaggi frames are a true celebration and stylish remembrance of a genuine fashion original. Anna would have approved, and worn them with her inimitable presence. www.boudoir.venice.it JG

l.a.Eyeworks Anniversary Celebrations

9th September 2014 An innovative chapter in eyewear history began exactly thirty-five years ago today. On 9 September 1979, Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi opened their optical shop on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Their concept was to challenge the then prevailing norms of eyewear with proposals for new and provocative frames. More than three decades later, l.a.Eyeworks remains a privately owned business, now with two retail stores, and influential designs that reach a global network of independent opticians and boutiques. Top photo: The legendary Bodhi frame with sun clip 1994, and the l.a. Eyeworks signature “frog toe” temple tips.

McReynolds and Gherardi were high school friends who trained as opticians, and believed it was time to open a new kind of conversation about glasses. They launched l.a.Eyeworks with a mission to encourage people to stop looking and to start seeing. Bold shapes, imaginative handling of materials, and vivid, expressive use of colour became their hallmark, and the frames are a harmonious combination of technology and handcrafting.

Art and artists are an abiding love for McReynolds and Gherardi, and since 1981, the brand’s signature portrait ad campaign has been photographed by Greg Gorman. The ads have featured an eclectic mix of more than 200 high-profile celebrities and cultural provocateurs, in an ever-evolving series of stunning black and white images, anchored by the legendary tagline – “A face is like a work of art. It deserves a great frame.”

The original, invigorating sunglass and optical designs by McReynolds and Gherardi are the result of their inner intuition and the ability to take risks. “We design eyewear to celebrate the diversity of faces and the uniqueness of individuals. The glasses we make are sparks of our imagination. You complete these thoughts and bring the dreams of l.a.Eyeworks into being.”  The latest influential and original designs will be shown at SILMO at the end of this month. Warm and joyous anniversary greetings to l.a.Eyeworks from Eyestylist! www.laeyeworks.com www.silmoparis.com JG

New ways with print

1st September 2014 Designers revisit the beautiful effects of animal prints across the accessories segment, and in eyewear, the story is seductive. Print is nothing new of course but it’s resurgence is elegant and imaginative; no two prints are the same, adding to the appeal. Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson is consistently creative with luxurious print effects, and proposes an exotic hallmark tiger print combined with fantastic colour on what has become one of her bestselling sunglass styles, ‘Alice Goes to Cannes’. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Available next month, Annabella is one of the new women’s opticals from American fashion designer, Zac Posen: a classic silhouette meets the mood of the moment in a subtle natural print inspired acetate. www.zacposen.com / www.kenmarkoptical.com

And from Spain, Etnia Barcelona draws on inspiration from Africa and a number of species from its exotic animal kingdom:  a soft natural palette in the “Wild Love in Africa” collection features interpretations of cheetah, havana giraffe, horn and zebra.

“Wild Love in Africa” frames are produced in 100% eco-friendly acetate, made using natural organic compounds that are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. www.etniabarcelona.com CN