November Archives - Page 2 of 3

Hornet

1st November 2013

Rolf Spectacles Austria

Buffalo horn – the classically elegant material for eyewear – is experiencing a resurgence as designers use the fabrication – all eco-friendly – with frames that are timeless and unique. Here we review our favourites.

In their spacious surroundings in the Austrian mountains, the Rolf Team creates – step-by-step – totally handmade horn frames. Select horn plates are used for the designs, which are set on an inner wooden core – no metal or other materials are used. The temples in Hornet are gracefully tapered, and the frame is light, flexible and feels wonderful on the skin. Naturally pure and a work of art. www.rolf-spectacles.com JG

100% Optical 28 FEB - 2 MAR 2026, Excel London

Monthly Titled

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1st November 2012

Rigards – Handmade for Your Face

Looking for a unique pair of sunglasses? Made of horn, this super oversized style is the creation of an independent label called Rigards who specialise in handmade horn designs using traditional production techniques. This is a first taste of this label on Eyestylist.com. I can’t really do their collection justice in a few lines but what I can say for this review is there is a lot of attention to hand finishing and detail here that deserves to be noticed, and the passion for quality, style and comfort is very strong. Made in an atelier in Hong Kong, these are one-off designs for connoisseurs of beautiful eyewear and each piece has a huge amount of character and individuality…the horn is carefully selected and is an organic by-product from water buffalos reared on small African farms so there is an eco-friendly element too. Each of the sunglass styles is individually numbered and produced in a limited series of 200 or 500 pieces.

Rigards Eyewear is coming soon to the UK www.layerslondon.com (be quick this Spring!) and available in France at L’Eclaireur (Paris) www.leclaireur.com and Royal Navy (Marseille). We have more details on Rigards designs coming soon. See the label’s website for insights and further information on stockists: http://rigards.com CN

November

Eolie Collection

1st November 2012

Mondelliani Glasses

Another new label we stopped to see in Paris was Rome-based Mondelliani Glasses. Their Eolie Collection features a fresh colour palette inspired by the landscapes of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Created by the owners of the Mondelliani optical shop in Rome and made in their entirety in Italy, the sunglasses are youthful, vibrant, and made in lovely acetate materials where a lot of attention is given to warm sunny colour tones and elegant bright colour pairings. The sunglass styles feature top-of-the-range sun lenses by Carl Zeiss Vision. A perfect choice for a warm holiday destination. www.mondelliani.it/home/ CN

Five

Valentine

1st November 2012

Infinit

Inspired by Hollywood superstars, this pretty modified cat eye frame from the Argentinian label has a feminine shape. It was the animal print that caught my eye; I like this interpretation on the top of the front, with the coordinating design on the side of the temple. This one is the brown, white and leopard version; it also comes in black glitter, one I’d choose for an easy update of my autumn/winter wardrobe. www.infinit.la CN

November

LDStäel O5 Walnut

1st November 2012

Lucas de Stäel

Paris based Lucas de Stäel recently launched his own eyewear collection – and swiftly won a Silmo d’Or for 2012. “Once Upon a Time” is the result of two years of intensive research and testing before unveiling the collection. De Stäel is fascinated with industrial processes, and his goal is to achieve a perfect balance between flexibility, lightness, classicism and purist. The frame above – in smooth polished walnut achieves those goals with its refined, graceful shape, and delicate details. www.undostrial.com JG