Reviews

Blake Kuwahara: ever evolving, with signature details

24th May 2023

Highlights in this season’s line by Blake Kuwahara include strong shapes, bold, sculpted effects, and much admired signature details

Known across the eyewear business for a unique product style, and his signature frame-within-a-frame laminated technique, the American designer, Blake Kuwahara continues to deliver an exclusive eyewear experience in products which reflect a carefully honed style and quality, with dedication to nuances and finesse in shapes and use of colour.

“The one thing the last few years have taught us is to expect the unexpected,” he says, talking about his approach to this year’s collection and his focus in the designs. “We’ve had to adjust our expectations and learn to adapt to a new normal. I felt the need for a similar shift in my eyewear designs while keeping a visual through-line connecting it to my existing collection. I wanted to play a bit more with softer colors balanced with stronger shapes. I also wanted to enhance the cutting and sculpting of fronts and temples. To achieve this, we needed to use special cutting and CNC laser machines to get the precise contours for each frame.” Above: the model Kellogg is available as an optical or sunglass style and comes in refined tones of cloud, midnight, navy horn and olive.

Model Aldrich by Blake Kuwahara offers the designer’s signature look in acetate, with an expressive colour palette ranging from crystal (contrasting with black), midnight, navy horn or red fade. The playful two-tone effect of the colorways distinguishes the bold yet classic round eyewear shape.

BK1021 by Blake Kuwahara – available as an optical or sunglass style

The BK1021 is one of the genderless metal frames that stands out in The Grey Label Collection at Blake Kuwahara. The frame is available in black, antique brown, gold and gunmetal and features the fascinating cast bone temple motif typical of this series of frames. Find out more at www.blakekuwahara.com

Reviews

Eyestylist summer showcase: Erker’s 1879

22nd May 2023

Custom-designed acetate colour blends

For Spring/Summer, Erker’s 1879 introduces eyewear models in their Roman Numeral V collection, with several designs featuring spectacular new acetate colour blends. The designs use biodegradable cellulose acetate, supported by a matte silver wire core and authentic stainless-steel rivets on the inside of the temple. Of the eight acetate models, there is one men’s style, Marlborough, which features a classic rectangular shape available in five colours, including the brand-new Tricolor acetate blend, which combines very delicate tones of light blue, and brown. Above: attention to detail has always been a feature of the Erker’s 1879 collection

100% Optical London 24th to 26th February 2024

Erkers1879 – the masculine Marlborough frame – with a “Tricolor acetate blend’

As a family-owned brand with a rich history in St. Louis, the Erkers pride themselves on the storytelling throughout their collections. Each new release features elements relating to the history of the brand and the Erker family, like the roman numeral V on the temple tips to symbolize the collection and the number of generations to run the family business, as well as their year of inception found throughout the designs. Each frame gets its name from an area throughout St. Louis, honoring the city that started it all. For more details visit www.erkers1879.com

Reviews

Spring/Summer accessories: bio glasses chains

1st May 2023

Orris London highlights supremely versatile convertible chains in chic bio acetate

The original London brand of eyewear accessories, Orris London continues to expand their range with new designs and playful colourways. A new style – the Convertible Bio Glasses chain – is introduced this season combining functionality and playfulness. Made of bio-acetate – a plant-based plastic derived from wood pulp and cotton fibre, and mixed with some unwanted acetate stock, this new style can be worn as a short necklace, a glasses chain, a mask chain, a phone chain, or can be linked with bracelets or multiple chains to create endless possibilities of wearing. Above: Orris London chains can work as beautiful statement jewellery pieces – and make a perfect pairing with artisan eyewear

Orris London: versatile chains in bio acetate – a range of delicate colours has been introduced

Besides their best-selling neutral hues such as tortoiseshell and mother of pearl, Orris London has released some noteworthy dreamy pastel colours in the range this season with lavender, peach, baby pink, sky blue and turquoise all featured. “Some innocent optimism is what I’m looking for this season,” brand founder/designer Tara Shen told Eyestylist when we asked about the colour scheme that perfectly reflects a key fashion trend for Spring. For more information about the designs, visit www.orrislondon.com

Reviews

Eyestylist Exclusive: Woow Eyewear adds bio-acetate

25th April 2023

‘Be Green’ is the new message at Woow Eyewear as the brand introduces biodegradable materials on its 10th anniversary

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, the team at Woow Eyewear has revealed to Eyestylist that its latest project is a release of iconic and quintessential concepts from the last 10 years, produced in biodegradable acetate – a first departure in this collection. The specific material – produced by Mazzucchelli – has been selected by the Woow Eyewear design team on the basis of its verifiable provenance and its content which they explain includes cellulose powder from wood, and plasticizer (with bio based content). Above: new bio acetate model – HOLD UP by Woow Eyewear is part of a 10th anniversary edition ‘BE GREEN’ for 2023

Bolly Wool by Woow Eyewear, one of Woow’s most famous creative models, is included in the new Be Green edition

The designers Claire Ferreira and Marianne Dezes who shared a preview of the collection with Eyestylist at Mido 23, told us that they have worked hard to produce a striking display of colours and colour concepts in the new material, giving the collection radiance and style.

Feminine and feline: Come On by Woow Eyewear is one of the cat’s eye shapes in the line

Trendy highlights in the colour schemes include a graduated effect for the Come On style, combinations of bright tones which transform into gradient crystals in the model Marry Me and dazzling colour blocked tones using hues of bright pink or bold blues and greens for models Roof Top and New Rules. The classy re-edition shapes include designs for men and women, well known amongst fans of Woow, and featuring their catchy names embedded in temple tips, in customary Woow style! To find out more about the French label’s latest bio-acetate collection, visit www.wooweyewear.com

Reviews

Erkers1879 : titanium in combination

30th March 2023

The US label has added titanium into the mix, in new ophthalmic models Castle Point and Lakeside

A cool mix of bio acetate for fronts and slim titanium for temples, the two new optical styles from Erkers1879 this Spring aim for lightness and comfort, with a secure, well balanced fit.

Both eyeglass models come in four colours true to the traditional subdued-modern palette of the brand. As is typical of the brand, attention to detail is interesting and eye-catching, with the year of their inception lightly etched on the left temple tip of each frame, in addition to the letter “V” on the right to signify the Roman Numeral V collection. Honouring their rich history in St. Louis, both models are named after areas throughout the city. Above: Model Lakeshire has a traditional rectangular shape. The masculine frame comes in two classic colours, Crystal and Brown Fade, as well as two brand new blends, Graphite and Shiny Fern.

Erker’s1879: combination models offer lightness and comfort

Model Castle Point, the round shape with soft edges, makes for a sleek but sturdy design. The lightweight feel paired with a saddle bridge ensure ultimate comfort when wearing this frame. The classic colours of Navy, Smoke, Purple Fade, and Tort, balance the modern titanium temples for a timeless look that is on point for Spring. Find out more at www.erkers1879.com