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Silmo exclusive: Maybach Eyewear

Luxury label Maybach Eyewear highlights handcrafting and exquisite materials such as natural buffalo horn, precious metal and titanium 

A prestigious trio of materials, a daring design style and hours of crafting are at the core of one of the collaborations of note this season at the German luxury eyewear brand: ‘The Creator I’ from Maybach Eyewear and Mercedes-Benz offers an interpretation of contemporary couture eyewear that is adventurous and bold with a cool structure, inspired by a shield design. The exclusive model combines lightweight titanium and sustainably sourced natural horn, while 22 carat gold, platinum, and 18 carat rose gold elements add a special and luxurious touch.  Above: the Creator I by Maybach Eyewear + Mercedes-Benz

The Creator I – available in a choice of 10 colorways – from the Maybach Eyewear + Mercedes-Benz collaboration edition

For ‘The Creator I’, elements of the automobile design language of Mercedes-Benz include dramatic sweeping contours and flowing aesthetics reminiscent of the most luxurious Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The Consultant by Maybach Eyewear: from the mainline collection

Issued also for preview at the Paris show this weekend, Maybach Eyewear present a classically stylish fullrim shape named ‘The Consultant’, created in natural horn and offered in a selection of luxurious (and always exclusive) colourways. The elegant colour of the front of this frame is paired with a temple design offering contrasting shades of horn.

The Dean by Maybach Eyewear (mainline collection) in premium Italian acetate or genuine natural horn is available as both sunglass and optical versions

Also making an exclusive debut this month at Maybach Eyewear, ‘The Dean’ is described as a vintage inspired clubmaster style with a defined browline, paired with lightweight lower rims in precious-plated titanium. The details are carefully considered in this model – and include aerodynamic cut-outs on the end-pieces and temples, Maybach Double-M logos, flowing lines and embossed lettering on rims and temples. All the Maybach Eyewear frames are designed and made in the company atelier in Germany, where traditional handcrafting techniques have been developed and perfected through decades. For further information visit www.maybach-eyewear.com

Silmo preview: Fleye Copenhagen celebrates 20th anniversary

A new Fleye collection of 16 styles will release at SILMO to mark two decades of design. The frame concept is inspired by a type of round layered Danish cake called “lagkage”

The Danish eyewear brand FLEYE Copenhagen marks its 20th year with a brand new collection called ‘Decades of Design’. As a tribute to its beautiful eyewear design work through two decades, the label has created a collection that is testament to craftsmanship and artistry where fine design, fit and quality are manifested in each individual frame.

Special features include sleek inner rims, which add character to the beta-titanium frames and elegant engravings inside the temples. The acetate frames have beautiful soft colours including fade effects and a striking mottled tortoise. Above: models in the Decades of Design collection

Levi by FLEYE Copenhagen – in blue fade

“Together we celebrate a two-decade journey. FLEYE Copenhagen reflects a set of values at the epitome of Danish design. From the designer’s first sketch to the careful creation of each frame and the thorough service afterwards – it is the small details that makes the big difference,” – Annette Estø, Head of Marketing & Design

Fleye Copenhagen’s imaginative design collections are based on creative inspirations, and explored with passion and energy through still life photography. These qualities remain a particularly endearing starting point in this line – which is inspired by the traditional Danish ‘layered’ lagkage cake.

Olivia by FLEYE Copenhagen in deep blue wood with glimmering gold temples

The many colours of this traditional and well-known ‘celebration’ cake, with textures placed on top of each other, have inspired ingenious layering effects in the frame designs, as well as delicate colour combinations and shapes. Included in the splendid mixed material selection are four refined frames in acetate in contemporary colours such as blue fade and grey with ‘swirl grey’ back, eight beta-titanium designs with a simple, timeless aesthetic and four new carbon-wood styles – a sleek and stylish denouement in a beautiful and memorable Danish optical line. For more information visit www.fleye.dk

Silmo 2022: a stage for innovation and design

The international optics fair takes place this month from 23rd to 26th September 2022 – the organisers promise a “return to normal” and an unforgettable experience of optics and eyewear through four days

The industry is preparing for a lively and buzzing Silmo in 2022, with high hopes of a return to pre-pandemic international attendance at the upcoming Paris event.  Exhibitors from Japan, USA and further afield as well as Europe – have booked to return to the event this year, following a period of time, due to the global pandemic, in which it has been complicated or near impossible to travel long distance. Above: the design brand FOLC Eyewear from Barcelona will return to Silmo this year. Their frames have a glamorous sculptural style which fuses with fascinating colours and bold silhouettes, www.folc-eyewear.com

The fine-lined Wisper1 from FACE A FACE: part of a new collection which will be revealed soon in Paris – www.faceaface-paris.com

Among the highlights of the Silmo ‘optical’ weekend programme will be Silmo NEXT, a showcase for creativity and innovation comprising lectures, talks and workshops exploring new technologies such as the Metaverse and smart glasses, as well as focus on ‘savoir-faire’ via the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF) an exhibit which will highlight craft and heritage in the production of eyewear and demonstrating that the present and future are inextricably linked.

The Silmo d’Or awards are always a point of interest and excitement during Silmo. This year, the 10 categories include the very competitive and highly acclaimed prizes for Best Optical Frame and Best Sunglasses ‘Eyewear Designer’ categories.

Silmo d’Or winners in 2021, ROLF Spectacles return to the fair this year to exhibit their wood, horn, stone and plant-based eyewear, produced in Austria – www.rolf-spectacles.com

The fair organisers have also announced a new initiative called the Optical Design Contest, overseen in 2022 by designer and creative director, Emmanuel Gallina. This competition aims to stimulate creativity and innovation and encourage talent for the optical industry in the future.

Minimal, high quality accessories by Diffuser Tokyo (aka Joy Every Time- stand K-164) – the Japanese brand will exhibit at Silmo this year, travelling from Japan for the event

Diffuser Tokyo, the luxury accessories brand from Japan, will exhibit at Silmo this year with a range of cases, cords and one-of-a-kind stands and storage pieces suited to high-level retailers, creative boutiques and eyewear connoisseurs. Check out the brand here: www.diffuser-tokyo.com

Brand new at Struktur: The Director Light offers the ‘wow factor’

Struktur launches Director Light and Paris Light, two ‘perforated metal’ styles which play with a structural concept and bright combinations of colours. Comfort and lightness are always considered in combination with the striking design details proposed at this French independent eyewear brand. www.struktur-eyewear.fr

Titanium style Denis by Götti Switzerland

Götti Switzerland has just released a small taste of its titanium styles which will launch for the Paris fair. Models Duncan and Denis are classic aviators offering a bold and futuristic statement style. The frames come in shiny metallic combinations with a very original look using tones of violet and apricot, silver and copper and apple green and yellow. www.gotti.ch

Spencer by SALT. Optics: one of the Californian brand’s new releases – coming to Silmo (www.saltoptics.com)

About SILMO 2022: the fair (trade only) takes place at Paris Nord Villepinte from 23rd to 26th September 2022. This year the roster of independent labels showing include: Carlotta’s Village  Dabrach, Diffuser Tokyo (Joy Every Time), Fleye, FACE A FACE, FOLC Eyewear, Gotti Switzerland, Kirk and Kirk, Lafont Paris, MOREL, Nina Our,  Res/Rei, Rolf Spectacles, Sea2see and Veronika Wildgruber. The SILMO d’Or awards – much coveted prizes which recognise outstanding design and innovation – will be announced during the weekend of the event. To register, and find out more: visit www.silmoparis.com

Kirk & Kirk pop-up opens in Shoreditch

“Connecting with the customer, raising visibility…”

Kirk & Kirk have opened a pop-up store in Redchurch Street, in Shoreditch, one of London’s most prestigious fashion, food and lifestyle destinations. The gallery-like space, which presents the Kirk & Kirk frames in bright neon boxes against a stark white backdrop, offers a complete introduction to the eyewear collection and its history, with video presentation and virtual try-on as well as the actual frames on display.
“The pop-up is open for a month in this location,” Jason Kirk told Eyestylist on Friday at the launch. “For us it is a chance to raise the visibility of the brand, listen and interact with the public, and explore another way to retail Kirk & Kirk which we hope will inspire and create new opportunities. Our plan is to roll-out this pop-up in other places in the UK and abroad.”

Kirk & Kirk offers the only eyewear collection produced in colorful Italian acrylic, a material that is lightweight, pleasurable to wear and translucent. Based in Brighton and producing their collection in traditional frame factories in France, the company has a rich heritage and brand story, dating back to the early decades of the 20th century when Jason’s ancestors – Sidney and Percy set up Kirk Brothers’ first London workshop in 1919. Today, the collections are sold in more than 40 countries, offering a mix of styles and designs that appeal to many age groups and tastes, with a colour palette that is based on striking neon tones, and signature hues such as blue moon, ‘passion’ pink and citrus orange. Pop-up opening times: Monday to Saturday 11 to 4pm / Sunday 11am to 4pm – 81, Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ / the pop-up shop is open in Redchurch Street until 29th September, 2022. For more details visit www.kirkandkirk.com

Eyestylist Silmo Exclusive: Nina Mûr

A major new collection launch by the independent label from Madrid

“The Super Hero Collection by Nina Mûr is here to remind us of all the power we have within. To honour those values that make each individual unique. And to underline that everyone’s contribution to this world is essential and invaluable…” Lorena Serrano Peinado, Founder and Creative Director, Nina Mûr

Eyestylist Silmo Exclusive / Nina Mûr’s fresh, bold design concept is heading to Silmo

At Silmo this month, visitors will have a chance to see the new collection by Nina Mûr – a fresh, bold design collection entitled Super Hero. This range fuses the iconic style so characteristic of the Madrid label with a spiritual inspiration, reaching out to every individual’s inner powers.

A concept which has “evolved out of Serrano’s personal experiences and the events of the last 2 years,” the design of the frames breaks rules and challenges conventional concepts “to bring out the best in every individual”. The designer wished to honour those values that make each one of us unique, empowering them with new energy and an uplifting sense of being achieved through colour and exciting yet wearable pieces of design.

Eyestylist Silmo Exclusive: Nina Mûr – Super Hero collection – a bold and graphic style

The three graphic frames in the collection are constructed in distinctive refined wood with translucent paper sheets. These sheets add a soft texture to the natural plywood base. The striking, unconventional colour palette maintains close links with the established signature collections by Nina Mûr such as Eighties and Magna. Colour combinations include yellow / white, white / dusty blue and white / berry red. Find out more about the brand at www.ninamur.com