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Shortlist Announced for Newcomer Award

17th September 2013 Excitement is mounting as Hall of Frames and Eyestylist announce the shortlist for the 2013 edition of The Newcomer Award. The finalists are: Blue Magic Eye; Claire Goldsmith Eyewear; Hapter; Suzy Glam; Rigards; Kuboraum; Coblens and Nine. Here we present two of the entries, and the designer’s philosophy behind their creations. Designer and artist Livio Graziottin describes his frames as “monumental, concrete, organic, architecture. Kuboraum masks are drawn on the face of the wearer –  masks that highlight personality. Eyewear gives people the opportunity to feel unique and special with timeless taste.” The brand started in February 2012, and is handmade in Italy. Above: optical mask T3 www.kuboraum.com

Netherlands based jewellery designer Susanne Klemm uses her expertise with fine gemstones to achieve the play of shadow and light in her eyewear. Suzy Glam was launched in May this year, and she has three goals when creating a design: “First, the frame must look good by itself from all angles. Second, emphasize the structure of the feminine face-  the frame must be complementary –  and third, a perfect fit.” All Suzy Glam frames are handmade in Venice. www.suzyglam.com 

The voting for the 2013 Hall of Frames/Eyestylist Newcomer Award takes place next month, and the winner will be announced in Stuttgart on October 20th. www.hallofframes.ch JG

Vintage Glamour by Legendary British Brand

13th September 2013 Oliver Goldsmith designs transcend time – Norum, this lovely acetate beauty – was one of the first frames created by OG. It was ‘retired’ for a period, but now back in exciting new colours that are magnificent. Featured above is Fusion – an explosion of gorgeous autumn tones.

Youngsters adore wearing OG Mini Icons, and playful new colours will be unveiled in Paris later this month in the frames featured above. From the top: Sophia, Lord, and Manhattan. More information at www.olivergoldsmith.com JG

10th September 2013 Two tones, two textures, two effects, side by side. It’s nothing new of course, but it’s a direction that is being looked at very closely this coming season. We’ve spotted these brights from Nico Design’s Italian-made Vanni collection, where one colour appears in two versions in one frame front, solid at the top, transparent below. Launching in Paris this month, this fresh fruit-inspired Vanni specs collection -Fruits of Vanni – has 9 gorgeous models in shades that include shocking pink, apple green and bright purple with an additional flash of colour for the lining. Smart, uplifting, and very eye-catching. For more information, visit www.vanniocchiali.com and www.nicodesign.it CN

Theo Belgium

6th September 2013 Eyestylist continues the series on Eyewear Artisans and Architecture with Wim Somers, founder of theo eyewear, who reveals the structure he likes best in Antwerp.

What is this your favourite building? “My favourite building in Antwerp is just ‘around the corner’ from the theo office – Huis Van Roosmalen. It really stands out with its black-white striped façade. And it resembles a bridge of a ship. At the time it was built, this was quite different!”

Who designed the building? The Huis Van Roosmalen was built in the 1980’s and designed by architect bOb Van Reeth. The owner was an interior designer and he, and his wife, liked the black-white pattern of the cathedral of Siena very much. So they decided to use this banded pattern as well. But the house also has an important symbolic value. It was the beginning of the upgrading of the entire neighbourhood – someone always has to take the first step!”

Does this structure influence your designs – and why? “Like our designs, the Van Roosmalen house is also an eye catcher. I like bOb’s work because for me he’s a true visionairy. Theo also never looks backwards but always to the future. We are looking for the next big thing. And with our designs we also want to surprise people. Theo loves to make people happy – and the Huis Van Roosmalen makes me happy! Did you know that bOb always wears round glasses? Another thing we have in common! And at one time we really got swept away and we designed a pair based on this house. A round one of course! But it was for charity, so only one pair was made. We liked it so much that we bought it ourselves – so we can look at it every day!” www.theo.be JG

3rd September 2013 Colour choices are very seductive this season. Alongside plenty of blocked single shades are a growing array of frames in exotic multi tones, using print, pattern, even marbling – on a wide variety of materials from wood to titanium to much loved acetate.

From Italy, W-Eye is a specialist in wood eyewear strengthened with aluminium sheets which also lend extra flexibility to their designs. This year, as well as proposing frames in natural wood tones, they have launched some unique designs with playful stripes, real wood-grain colour effects and exotic rainbow colours. W-Eye’s sunglass model 202 Rajasthan (above) is one of their fun, showy sunglass styles that uses bold statement coloured stripes with a charming soft oval eye shape. www.w-eye.it

RVS by V., the Turkish label by Vidal Erkohen, is one of the independent labels working with top-of-the-range vintage Mazzucchelli acetate this year. “We are using a lot of marbled acetate for the collection this time round,” explains Erkohen, “we are always looking for new combinations of colours for this collection. The blend of solid colour with marbled acetate balances things out and it has been a lot of fun mixing the two within this new line we are launching in Paris shortly.” RVS by V. eyewear is now available at These Eyes of Mine (www.theseeyesofmines.com), Washington DC, Magrabi Optical, U.A.E., and Polo Optique, Istanbul. www.rvsbyv.com

Young Italian label Essequadro Eyewear also makes a feature of brightly patterned Mazzucchelli acetates, this time new ones, in colours developed exclusively for the Ariano Irpino-based label. Their new collection, also launching in Paris end of this month, is inspired by the 1950s and 60s and the history of Italian frames; the range is made in Italy’s traditional eyewear region of Belluno using traditional techniques. Find out more at www.essequadroeyewear.com CN

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