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G.M.S Limited 2013

October 1st 2013

Masunaga 1905, Japan

This Japanese label won an eyewear award in Paris last week for their G.M.S. Limited 2013 which I had a chance to take a closer look at. The frame has temples in solid 18 carat gold and beta titanium, welded using a new technology to give a smooth transition between the two materials, and an interesting colour contrast between the luxury metals featured. The rims and the saddle bridge are fashioned from titanium overlaid with bamboo. A signature round shape is inspired by a frame that Masunaga Optical presented to the Emperor of Japan in 1933; the style has been given a modern feeling using advanced technology. This is a luxurious optical style conceived to push design boundaries. www.masunaga1905.com

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Boutiques

Vincent Optiek, Netherlands

September 6th 2013

12th September 2013 A modern ambiance, fantastic attention to detail, and a penchant for Alpacas (see the youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvuicDX1cW0) -Vincent Optiek is a little gem that brings beautiful eyewear choices – labels such as Dita, Graz, Suzy Glam, Gotti Switzerland, Lindberg Precious, Lafont, Face à Face, Mykita, and others – to a local community in Houten, Netherlands. It’s the friendly, smart independent optician’s that some of us wish we had around the corner.

“The new shop has been open for 1 and a half years,” explains owner, Vincent de Goede. “I worked on the interior with a Dutch craftsman called Johan van Zutphen. Our aim was to reflect quality but without looking overly posh, to show a feeling of stylishness, but not excessively trendy.

“We have glasses for all ages, but most of my customers are between 25 and 55. My store is a bit unusual. Most Dutch optical stores are more classic, but there is a new breed of us on the rise. I like to have fun in what I do. For me that means working with the most beautiful eyewear I can find, in a store that fits me like a tailored suit.” Vincent Optiek, Plein 9A, Houten, Netherlands. www.vincentoptiek.nl CN

Boutiques

Sid Fiz Optique

August 29th 2013

1st September 2013 Queen’s Park, a fashionable neighbourhood of west London, with a well-known gastro pub (www.thesalusbury.co.uk) inviting bakery (www.gailsbread.co.uk), small independent shops, cafes and a popular farmers’ market is the location of Sid Fiz Optique, a new eyewear store that is a wonderful modern addition to this area. Sid is an eyewear expert, with a wealth of experience of the finest labels on the market – he is also a distributor of some of them, who has long been working with special, quality brands, and who now has his own unique label – Coppe & Sid – in a partnership with Gaultiero Coppe – www.eyedesignclub.com

Sid FIz Optique interior — Sid Fiz Optique interior

For his shop which opened in July, Sid’s choice of frames reflects his knowledge and understanding of the new direction towards artisan luxury, something that is likely to please the fashion crowd and professional families locally. “I am in a really nice position to be able to fill my shop with well selected special labels; my customers will be able to walk down the street here and they will be the only one wearing the frame they purchase. There’s something for everyone, and yet we have chosen eyewear that is less mainstream and more about great design and clean, elegant aesthetics. From what I have seen so far, our customers are intrigued by new design and independent labels they may not have heard about before.”

Providence, Coppe & Sid — Providence by Coppe & Sid

As well as showcasing the Coppe & Sid Eyewear Collection, Sid guided me through labels that included Oliver Peoples, Frency & Mercury, Mykita, Jacques Durand, Lafont, Meyer Eyewear, Face à Face and for kids, Zoobug. “I have a created a minimal interior; my wife and I have designed absolutely everything ourselves and I think the shop reflects something about how we see eyewear moving whilst making this a store where you can see, touch, and try everything – the frames are not locked away and you can pick them up and try them on easily. “The shop also represents a great opportunity to show the Coppe & Sid label in full for the first time; the label has been a great success with the opticians I have worked with and I am looking forward to seeing the response in the eyes of the customer, that is where you really understand the success of a design so you can evolve the collection in line with their tastes and desires.” Sid Fiz Optique, Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park, London. www.sidfizoptique.com CN

Arts + travel

Best of Britannia 2013, London

August 20th 2013

20th August 2013 Best of Britannia is coming up again in October and will take place at the Farmiloe building in London’s Clerkenwell. The exhibition showcases a special mix of quality British brands – established and emerging – encompassing an interesting range of industries and sectors, including interiors, furniture, lighting, food, sports, accessories, automotives… and eyewear too. Founder and Creator Antony Wallis explains: “It is a very exciting time to be a British designer and manufacturer – the London 2012 Olympics, the Golden Jubilee, and now with the arrival of Prince George, brand Britain is experiencing a major boom. At Best of Britannia, we have curated a collection of British brands that have authenticity, a strong British heritage and provenance, all under one roof. Visitors are in for a real treat.”

Among the fashion exhibitors we are looking forward to seeing are the accessories label, Age of Reason (https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/07/a-favourite-new-season-accessory/) and the British eyewear brand FAN Optics (www.fanoptics.co.uk), who recently launched a Limited Edition Sunglasses Collection – The Nine Worthies. Read more about it here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/06/summer-stories/.

Best of Britannia 2013, the Farmiloe Building, Clerkenwell, London – 3rd to 5th October 2013. To book a stand or attend as a visitor find out more here: www.bestofbritannia.com CN

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A favourite new-season accessory

July 29th 2013

Age of Reason

28th July 2013 We have covered a few special accessory labels this month, and this one is on my “most wanted” listed for next season. Ali Taylor Mapletoft designs luxurious printed silk scarves with unique patterns and motifs, as well as other elegant accessories including hats and cushions. Dedicated to quality and integrity, Ali puts a twist on her designs that she describes as “wearable luxury with a playful punk twist.” The combination of the natural fibres such as pure silk and cool modern decorations – from abstract to slogans, to line drawings and pug puppy prints – bring a whole new modern feel to the classic scarf as we know it.

For A/W 2013, Ali’s collection includes what you see here, a brilliant world of colour and designs and motifs celebrating rebellion. Trompe l’oeil robes, chains and antique French linens are printed on the silk or wool, combined with contrasting delicate patterns and glamourous female portraits hidden through the bold stripes, deconstructed from the Union Jack flag.

We discovered Age of Reason at Kirsten Goss, London W8. www.kirstengoss.com The label is also stocked in selected fashion boutiques. www.age-of-reason-studios.com and http://age-of-reason-blog.com/ CN