Reviews

At the French eyewear brand, the concept in acetate for 2024 is bright and bold, with a graphic aesthetic

Exploring new ways of working with acetate laminations for both the fronts and temples of every style, the new concept at J.F. REY entitled “Graphicolor” this season focuses on fluid or contrasting graphic lines, with a wide range of colour combinations punctuated by fresh hues. Above: a selection of styles in the Graphicolor collection

The colour palette includes flattering shiny finishes and subtle transparencies designed to suit all faces. Pastel shades such as pink and blue, pops of mint green and fashion patterns or touches of purple – see JF1549 above – are all featured with details adding a refreshing and modern accent to the collection.

Notable in the collection are the asymmetrical details such as the topline of colour introduced in JF1551 – on the left, with an amber crystal shade and on the right, a delicate lilac. While less usual, the colours combine harmoniously to create a look that feels natural and refined. To find out more about the collection visit www.jfrey.fr 

A new collaboration design at SALT. Optics launches this weekend at Loft in New York City…

A new collaboration edition created by SALT. Optics with the American Black Bear brand represents the culmination of a connection between two labels which align with particular similarities in their approach to design and quality manufacture.

Named the Sirlin collection after Creative Director of Black Bear Joshua Sirlin, the sunglasses have been conceived to offer a harmonious fusion of refinement and ruggedness, complexity and simplicity. Three colours have been created with a number of signature features in the model, ranging from custom laminated temples with visible gold cores, custom 8mm thick acetate fronts and SALT.’s custom hardware such as visible pins on front/temples finished in 24k gold. The SALT. Optics team explains that this is the first time that they have used precious metal to create the hardware. Each design is provided with a robust branded custom case and Black Bear ‘branded’ cleaning cloth. Above: Josh Sirlin, Creative Director of Black Bear wears the new sunglass edition (above and below)

About Black Bear – Black Bear is committed to time-proven materials and workmanship free of compromise creating pieces that will last a life time. The Black Bear Manufacturing Company was founded in 1918 making blue denim overalls. Josh Sirlin has reinvigorated the brand for modern day, restoring the lost legacy, and honouring frontier roots to achieve products that are created to be “ruggedly refined”. The range of products today includes denim apparel, footwear, hats and accessories. www.blackbearbrand.com / www.saltoptics.com

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

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