Reviews

read on light: a new take on reading glasses

6th March 2024

A new design product launched by the ‘read on’ team answers an untapped demand for a practical, contemporary, easy-to-use reader

The Swiss reading glasses design company ‘read on’ have launched their latest innovation this season: ‘read on light’ – ultra-thin, lightweight and highly flexible reading glasses, made of high-quality, skin-friendly TR90. At only three millimetres, the designers say ‘read on light’ is one of the thinnest reading glasses on the market and offers the most colourful, contemporary eye-catching style – with practical, functional design.

‘read on’ was founded by Sandra Kaufmann and Monika Fink, eyewear innovators who established the Swiss eyewear brand, ‘Sol Sol Ito’ and who have won a number of prestigious design awards, including the German Design Award, the Good Design Award and most recently, the Red Dot Design Award. Three years ago, the team launched their first reading glasses product: slim, foldable reading glasses which fit neatly inside a smartphone case. ‘read on light’ is a new addition in the product line, developed in response to the success of the first original compact reader with mobile case. The new ‘read on light’ comes in a range of great colours including red, violet, jade, blue, black and yellow and is already available in the US via Amazon. Find out more about both ‘read on’ products and enquire by visiting www.readon-mobile.ch

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

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MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

Reviews

Italian eyewear: Nova by Stupor Mundi

28th February 2024

Part of a micro edition of Italian-made luxury frames, the designers at Italian eyewear brand Stupor Mundi Eyewear have been inspired by the rich history of Sicily, and opulent Arab Byzantine jewellery and clothing, produced by the royal jewellers of Palermo, many centuries ago

Described as a micro production of luxury frames, Stupor Mundi’s collection of eyewear is new to the market, proposing an exclusive style inspired by their origins in Palermo, Sicily. Their four unique designs include the sunglasses model Nova, a frame they have named after an astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright “new” star.

The frame Nova is a combination of several different frame shapes. The dark surfaces appear to converge gently upwards, where they transform into a shining explosion of yellow micro-diamonds – a decoration that is one of many unique steps achieved by hand. Above: Nova by Stupor Mundi is a handcrafted work of luxury

Detail – model Nova by Stupor Mundi is decorated with lab grown micro diamonds

The frame itself is a combination of several materials, including parts in M49 bio acetate and in yellow gold coated steel – as well as featuring 24k yellow gold plated seven-barrel hinges. The decoration is created using ethical yellow lab grown pure micro-diamonds while the small logo on the temple is a yellow gold coated metal plate with detailing in sleek black enamel. The production of each design is described as being a long and complex process, with many special steps which are undertaken exclusively by eight craftspeople with a particular expertise in luxury production and jewellery-focused eyewear design.

Stupor Mundi specialises in small-batch sunglass production in Italy and designs with a striking attention to detail, also collaborating with Zeiss for their high-tech protective sun lenses. Find out more about the collection at https://stupormundieyewear.com

Reviews

Ultra-thin eyewear: Blackfin AirGlass – Mavericks

22nd February 2024

Ultra-thin pure mineral glass lenses by Barberini paired with lightweight titanium Blackfin Mavericks

Just out at Blackfin for 2024, the two Italian companies, Blackfin and Barberini, have combined their expertise to introduce a design product which balances lightness and quality. Weighing just 9 grams more than equivalent plastic lenses, Blackfin AirGlass is designed to propose a new lens experience which eliminates distortion and aberrations and neutralises glare and reflections to minimise eye fatigue. The new lenses are offered in a selection of Blackfin frames, including Blackfin’s new sleek unisex Mavericks frame. Above: close-up of the new Blackfin Airglass polarised lenses, featured in the Mavericks frame

Blackfin Airglass – Mavericks, pictured in light gold/brown fuchsia ultra-thin mirror lenses: a fusion of avant-garde design and cutting-edge lens technology

The Mavericks are part of the Blackfin Pacific Series, a collection by the Italian titanium specialists which presents a modern minimalist design style. The technicians at Blackfin skillfully produce the entire front of the frame from a single 3mm block of titanium, eliminating unnecessary welds. Other micro-components are integrated into the front, adding continuity and refinement to the frame’s aesthetic. Find out more about the frame at https://www.blackfin.eu/en-us/sunglasses#5PR1039S52C1661-BF1039_MAVERICKS

Reviews

Eyewear trends: Erker’s 1879 – fresh in for Spring

17th February 2024

The Forsyth sunglasses are back in new limited-edition colours in custom acetate

Known for its distinctive heritage style, US independent eyewear label Erker’s have just announced new colours in the STL Flag collection, a line which was created in homage to the city of St. Louis. Part of this edition, the Forsyth sunglasses represent one of the sophisticated thick rimmed styles in the selection, designed with a wide frame, and a rounded nose bridge, features which make it particularly well suited to larger faces. Above: the Forsyth sunglasses in Crystal – a masculine sunglass design – ideal and flattering for larger face shapes

Eyewear trends: Forsyth sunglasses by Erker’s 1879 – pictured in Sugarfly

Erker’s is well known for its 48-step manufacturing process, with an attention to detail and authentic craftsmanship that deserves special mention – as a signature of the collections that the Erker family has been perfecting for 145 years. The details in a frame such as the Forsyth include special authentic rivets produced in the traditional way, and a sophisticated finish to the acetate material which is polished by means of a proprietary hand polishing technique.

The Forsyth sunglasses in matt olive tort tones

Originally introduced with four colours in Autumn 2021, this new release doubles the colorways of the Forsyth sunglass with four additional blends: Crystal, Matte Olive Tort, Sugarfire, and White Black.

Like each frame from Erker’s 1879, the sunglasses model is also built with a custom 3-rivet German hinge engraved with their year of inception on the end, which can be seen through the translucent faces of the Crystal and Sugarfire blends. The Crystal, Peach, and Matte Olive Tort colours also display the custom-designed wire core along their translucent temples, which give strength and flexibility to each acetate frame from the collection. As part of the STL Flag collection, each new piece features a gold emblem of the St. Louis flag inlaid on the temple tips, inspired by the family’s rich history in their hometown. Erker’s 1879 will be exhibiting in London at 100% Optical – the UK trade only eyewear event – from 24th to 26th February 2024. For more information, visit www.erkers1879.com

Reviews

Lamarca: colour, combinations, and “mosaic” effects in acetate

3rd February 2024

The eyewear brand by Tris Ottica in Italy realises bold and colourful acetate frames with a signature style created with intriguing bonding – a signature technique of the eyewear producer

The new Lamarca collection by Tris Ottica – which debuts at Mido 2024 in Milan – is fresh and colourful, featuring contemporary touches and sophisticated colour variations and transitions, created through bonding techniques in the Italian acetates.

Divided into several different collections, the Fusioni range is based on the concept of blending, combining and uniting things as one. Model Fusioni 142 uses acetates to replicate the ripple effects of water. Curved sections of the frame feature solid colour and crystalline effects, passing through an opaline finish. Each colour is milled at a different angle creating a dramatic and dynamic finish and an elegant play of light. Above: Fusioni 142 is a new entry in the collection – it is not unusual to see several tones combined in one frame design at Lamarca

Mosaico 136 by Lamarca Eyewear: here, the colours are combined in the mosaic effect on the upper section – the colour scheme features tones of light pink, dark pink and coral

A brand new example of a square-shaped frame for women in the Mosaico collection, model Mosaico 136 is characterised by a thin and lightweight frame design where crystal and opaline colours are combined in a patchwork effect on the upper section of the front. Tris Ottica has developed and perfected this technique of gluing the acetates together over many years, create different looks that are particular to their brand.

About Lamarca Eyewear – Lamarca was first launched as an eyewear brand in 2015, by the Italian eyewear makers, Tris Ottica. The line originated as a showcase for the production techniques and colour embellishments that the company was able to offer; gradually the collection developed into a range in its own right. Today, Lamarca includes several different series including Mosaico and Fusioni, collections with particular and recognisable characteristics, colour effects and decorative styles. Find out more at the Lamarca Eyewear website at www.lamarcaeyewear.com