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Anna-Karin Karlsson ‘for a life less ordinary’

29th April 2020

Haute couture eyewear with an avant-garde design

Putting a maximalist style at the heart of her work, eyewear designer Anna-Karin Karlsson has created a world of eyewear apart from the everyday. Decoration such as carved flowers, exotic wildlife and fantastical bugs and ‘claws’ have featured as embellishments for fronts, temples and bridges in works that highlight extravagant materials (24k gold, white gold and titanium) and immaculate execution.

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This season, the collection unfolds with new dramatic sun entries, ‘Shady Luv’ and ‘Too Handsome’ defined by sophisticated forms with minute engraving work and jewellery settings. In 100% Japanese titanium, Shady Luv is hand-set with Swarovski crystals. Each colorway is available in just 100 limited edition pieces. The style is a reminder of the oversized mask shapes of the 00s with single visor lens. Above: Shady Luv, pictured in white gold with Zeiss mirrored lens.

Style “Too Handsome” combines Japanese acetate and titanium with attention to metal detailing and the engraving of AKK lettering. Another Limited edition entry, each colour of this design is produced in less than 50 pieces.

Anna-Karin Karlsson eyewear is available in luxury retail outlets around the world and online at https://annakarinkarlsson.com/shop/sunglasses/

Design + Inspiration

Aviators: a directional design style

27th April 2020

Aviator sunglasses continue to earn their iconic status. They lift and compliment most outfits with extraordinary versatility, a style staple through seasons and activities, from beach to business. The original teardrop silhouette is adaptable for many face shapes – just as much for women as men; it’s recommended if you have an oval, heart or square shaped face, but for the most part, with so many versions and sizes, there’s one for us all.

Independent eyewear labels are exploring the lightweight qualities of the design whilst make subtle changes to aesthetic details, eye shapes, lens colours or technical features to bring the styles a new-found directional elegance.

Above: Berlin-based designer Veronika Wildgruber’s new collection is inspired by geometry, the future and architecture. The Kent frame in the Interspace collection explores a completely new shaping of the lower section of the double bridge. Photo by @kerstinzupan. For more details about designer Veronika Wildgruger visit www.eyewear.veronikawildgruber.com

LINDBERG 8209: modern minimal lines + traditional teardrop lens shape

The LINDBERG 8209 is part of the Air Titanium line with full-rim made entirely of ultralight titanium wire. The frame is vintage inspired and timeless yet fully on trend with a choice of colourful Zeiss sun lenses, ranging from traditional to bold and bright. www.LINDBERG.com

Delon by Gotti Switzerland – an ophthalmic shape, adapted from the classic aviator

Gotti Switzerland’s new entries for Summer include the very finely structured model Delon, a large shape for men, with a slightly angled rim below the top bridge line. The minimal design is achievable through the expert application of ultralight Japanese titanium. www.gotti.ch

Reviews

Street art inspired: JF1494 by JF Rey

16th April 2020

Designer Jean-François Rey plays with colour in acetate in the new JF1494 Urban Collage design. Inspired by the eye-catching tonal palette and details of famous street art in his home city of Marseille and the vibrant bohemian quarter of Cours Julien, Rey applies spectacular acetate materials with mixes of tones and patterns in designs which are literally bursting with personality and French-infused style.

Cours Julien, Marseille – colorful street art is a feature of this quarter

The designs (of which there are 12 in the Urban Collage collection) focus on the careful selection of the materials, the asymmetrical and diagonal lamination techniques – unique signature elements in the range – and the fun and fanciful mix of colours. Various tortoiseshell shades in graphic combinations and contrasting styles add an assertive, distinctive look to the final designs. For more information visit www.jfrey.fr

Boutiques

Tasoni welcomes Lapima SS20 collection

15th April 2020

In an exclusive brand partnership the luxury Tasoni boutiques (Zurich, Switzerland) are releasing three glamorous Lapima sun models with a chic collab “Lapima + Tasoni” logo, discreetly appearing on the inside of the temple. The Brazilian SS2020 sunglasses collection (including models Teresa, Andrea and Joca) is the latest addition at the much-admired Swiss fashion stores which specialise in luxury brands and emerging designers for men and women, curated by sisters Taya and Tary Sawiris – and sourced across the globe. Above: SS2020 Lapima: the model wears model Teresa in mint. The frame has a bold square shape, inspired by 1960s retro sunglasses.

Lapima model Andrea, a co-created version with Tasoni – Mazzucchelli acetate, German OBE hinges in titanium, sun lenses by Essilor

The Andrea, a statement frame in the release, is a unisex piece inspired by scuba goggles, with the distinctive oversized shape based on the aviator. The colours of the shades are inspired by the ocean, ranging from delicate tones of mint, one of our favourite tones of the summer collections, and caramel alongside bold cherry and dark olive green (see Andrea above).

About the brand – Launched by Gisela and Gustavo Assis in 2016, Lapima is based on Brazilian design, with geometric lines that play with light and shadow in frames produced principally in Italian acetate. With backgrounds in dance and sport, the founders are both inspired by movement and aesthetic rigour, which set the path for creating the essence of a novel artisan sunglasses collection. The label is based on and continues to expand through constant experimentation, and proposes pieces which “frame the face” while still evoking a sharp image, filled with contemporary attitude. All Lapima frames are manufactured by artisans in São Paulo, Brazil.

Lapima sunglasses are available at Tasoni, St. Peterstrasse 1, 8001 Zurich (Switzerland) and branches including The Chedi Andermatt. For more information visit www.tasoni.com and www.lapima.com

Reviews

Fassamano: award-winning readers

14th April 2020

Cristiana Vannini describes her glasses concept as ‘micro architecture for the face’. The designer and art director of Fassamaneria srl – the company which owns the Milan-based reading glasses brand – has created a unique style of fast reader, worn on a chain or leather cord, specifically for instant tasks such as reading menus or text messages, with a luxurious artisan design – borne out of the Venetian craft tradition.

Fassamano: a charming, stylish reading accessory, worn around the neck

Created in hand polished Mazzucchelli 1849 acetate, with metal parts in laser-cut German silver, the product combines a beautifully-finished jewellery style with a practical, lightweight – yet sturdy – construction. A choice of 9 colours – including a delicate blue (Capri) and delightful spotted green havana – with variations for men and women, are available with lens strengths of +1 to +3.5 dioptres. Photochromic sun lenses have also been added to the range.

Fassamano X Laura B: a collaborative design with Laura B, featuring gold and silver plated chains

Elegant chains, charms and brooches with cabochons are available to transform the basic design, for those who wish to wear the design as an artistic piece of luxury jewellery. These chic distinctive details come to life in the sophisticated capsule collections by the talented jewellery designers Sharra Pagano and Laura B.

Fassamano was the winner of the Golden A’ Design Award and Competition 2019 in the ‘Jewellery, Eyewear and Watch Design category’, a well-known award which recognises qualities such as innovation and sustainability alongside design excellence. For more information on Fassamano readers and accessories and for the online store visit www.fassamano.com