Reviews

Italian-made, unpretentious and classical in approach with a price point under 200 euros. Having started out as The Bespoke Dudes Eyewear company, ‘TBD’ as it is now most commonly known is a well loved label on the fashion circuit, especially in Italy and at fashion industry events such as Pitti where they have a successful following of design fans,  fashion bloggers and entrepreneurial types who include Marco Taddei, Niccolo Zaffarano and Gabriel Cohen.

The frames are timeless in their look and style. The Cran is an example – a well-known round shape, produced in an attractive, lightweight acetate and in colours that are usually subtle; traditional black, blue, crystal, tortoise and so on or occasionally quite different – the canvas brown has a patterned look like horn – there are also delicate metal shapes and metal/acetate combinations.

Bespoke Dudes Eyewear was set up by Fabio Attanasio, the founder of The Bespoke Dudes, an Italian blog about craftsmanship and tailoring and Andrea Viganò ‘with the aim of enhancing the image of Italy and its exceptional craftsmanship abroad and promoting excellence and creativity’. The frames are made in Cadore and feature unique details – a favourite is the styling of the hinges which resemble bow-ties – these were picked from a lot dating back to the 1930’s and feature four screws – rather than the usual two – each one applied and tightened by hand. For more details and to visit the online store go to www.thebespokedudeseyewear.com CN

The 1880 Collection from MOREL offers classical ‘retro-inspired’ styling based on the original designs of this established French eyewear company. Inspired by buffalo horn tones and textures, model Homere is in fact produced in a luxurious acetate, comfortable to wear and practical and hard wearing for daily use. The design has a tapered, three-section temple, with the hinge section revealing a discreet “M” when the temples are folded – based on original designs in the 1880 vintage collection. Colours are dark and muted in black, red, blue or brown with a solid or tortoiseshell finish – sophisticated yet flattering for different faces and ages.

MOREL is one of the original French eyewear producers of the Jura, the French spectacle-making region, located in eastern France – and remains a leader in the field – committed to quality and fine design. Their eyewear collections range from the classic luxury of 1880 to the modern 3D printed state-of-the-art LIGHTEC range. Find details at www.morel-france.com CN

Luxurious crafting in titanium; exceptional shiny finishes in amazing colours; and sleek shapes ensure unmistakable elegance in Blackfin’s Black Edition. Frames – including Charleston (above) are available in dark blue, brown and black, and the finishes include striking colour details in Pale Amber Gold, Obsidian Black Gold, Imperial Yellow and Ancient Rose Gold. The Italian label has created an exclusive patented process – Blackfin Nano-Plating. This is a special treatment in which metal particles are vaporised in a vacuum, inducing sublimation that enables the particles to be deposited  – atom-by-atom –  on the the surface of the frames to obtain a stunning chromatic effect. The results are luxurious frame designs that are durable, sophisticated and comfortable to wear. Visit www.blackfin.eu to discover all the new optical models with Blackfin Nano-Plating. JG 

FLEYE Copenhagen has been awarded the prestigious German Design Award for Excellent Product Design in the Category Lifestyle and Fashion for ‘Fox’ – stylish sunglasses in beta-titanium and acetate.The sleek design is handcrafted with three layers, combining solid and transparent hard density cellulose acetate with beta-titanium. Lightness, flexibility and durability add to the character of the design, with its individualistic attitude. Environmental – as well as fashion considerations – are incorporated into Fox, as the sunglasses are constructed using non-toxic materials with hypoallergenic qualities, and AR coated lenses. Discover more from the Scandinavian label at www.fleye.dk JG