Eyestylist

  | Eyestylist 8th March 2022

Opti Munich: 3 days of innovation and design for 2022

Independent brands from across the globe will travel to opti for a special May edition

Eyewear brands are poised to return to opti, the international trade show for optics & design, in Munich in May. The fair will take place on 13-15th May following the postponement from January and the organisers have announced in February that all coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions are to be lifted 20th March.

Opti is an annual trade fair with a special orientation towards innovation and design which optical professionals hold in high esteem. This year’s event promises a strong presence of foreign exhibitors and optical retailers who look forward to the chance to reunite after the multiple cancellations of optical events since March 2020.  The organisers have put in place the same hall concept (four halls, C1 to C4) at the venue as well as the same infrastructure as was typical in the pre-covid years and they have confirmed a strong number of exhibitors for the event, both large and small.

Above: companies from across Europe and further afield have booked their stands for opti 22. FLEYE Copenhagen: model Mary is one the latest styles added in FLEYE Copenhagen’s Silent Noise collection. The Danish brand is a regular exhibitor at opti munich – www.fleye.dk

Nirvan Javan – London collection

The Swiss designer Nirvan Javan produces an eyewear collection characterised by essential shapes, fine materials such as Japanese acetate with a sophisticated and technical approach to good design and the comfort of the frame. New colours introduced have a modern elegance: they include tones of havana brown,  green, yellow and subtle light green. A selection of new designs will be shown at opti. Find out more: www.nirvanjavan.com

Revolution by Ørgreen Optics: one of the new designs in  IMAGINARY LINES collection

Ørgreen is releasing a series of new models in different collections this Spring. all of which will show at opti in May. They include the four new styles in the Imaginary Lines collection which were just released and mark the beginning of what the company says will be an ambitious year of global releases from Ørgreen. A new portfolio of colour stories and combinations stretches these dynamic and highly wearable styles to a broad range of customers, ranging from the traditional and subtly exclusive to the fashion-forward and youthfully avant-garde. www.orgreenoptics.com

Creative style from TARIAN in the PLAY! collection

Paris based label Tarian will show their optical and sunglasses lines for 2022 (Booth C1 452). The brand has just announced a new sunglasses series – PLAY ! – a humorous and vibrant collection which explores fresh colour combinations and striped 3 dimensional laser cut design effects. www.tarian.paris

BL0029 by VAVA in crystal matt

VAVA Eyewear’s tremendous creative output of the last 18 months includes the statement optical design (above) BL0029, a classic cat eye with a completely avantgarde outlook! Watch for the new styles at www.vavaeyewear.com

JF REY Petite: small sizes with big impact (PA 087)

JF REY’s most recent new models for “petite” faces offer bold patterned acetate, expressive shapes and delicate colour combinations which are designed to harmonise with the colours of skin and eyes. This will be just one of their lines on display for the opti fair! Find the latest styles here: www.jfrey.fr

Vinylize produce frames from repurposed vinyl – a recent limited edition reimagined the frame worn by jazz musician, Miles Davies

Vinylize from Budapest always have something up their sleeve for the opti show and we look forward to their latest editions produced in recycled vinyl materials. The Vinylize designers have mastered the art of vinyl for frames, producing artisan quality constructions with interesting surfaces, as well as sporty or artsy shapes that suit the current mood in fashion and street fashion style.

opti will welcome many of our recommended independent brands including Blackfin, Coblens, Cutler and Gross, Falvin, Fleye Copenhagen, JF REY, Lafont Paris, Leinz Eyewear, Lucas de Stael, Nirvan Javan, Orgreen Optics, RES/REI, Rolf Spectacles, Rigards, Monoqool, Sea2see, Tarian, Tree Spectacles, Veronika Wildgruber, Vinylize, VAVA and weareannu. For more updates on the fair, watch this space!

opti takes place at the Fairground Munich in May 2022. For further details, the exhibitor list and registration visit www.opti.de  The fair organisers have already announced dates for 2023 – the fair will return to the normal January dates taking place 27th to 29th January 2023. This feature was written by Clodagh Norton – All rights reserved

  | Eyestylist 4th March 2022

Mr Tortoise, Soho, London

Petite eyewear store with curated collection in the heart of Soho’s unique shopping hub

In a destination neighbourhood revered for exclusive fashion, food and design, Mr Tortoise is the most recent addition to the plethora of eyewear stores and eyewear chains in this area of London, and the first specialist to bring a curated artisan selection of frames that is fresh, luxurious and selected for exceptional quality. The collections presented include a substantial display of designs by the highly acclaimed handmade label Rigards by designer Ti Kwa.
Located on Brewer Street at the entrance to Farrier’s Passage, a path which leads to the chocolatier William Curley, the Billy & Bo salon and courtyard cafe Hideaway Coffee, this eyewear corner shop is owned by Greg Karipidis, a Greek expert in luxury eyewear collections, with an existing Mr Tortoise store he founded in Thessaloniki back in 2013. Above: Mr Tortoise was designed by Urban Soul Projects – www.urbansoulproject.co.uk
Interior, Mr Tortoise, Soho, London
With subtle reference to the design of the original store which has more of a NYC-inspired vibe, the London location, which is just 110 square feet in size, was designed by Urban Soul Project and features a floor to ceiling glass frame facade, classically styled walnut veneer fittings, and stone finish flooring…..details with give the feeling of a gentle tribute to traditional London architecture in the area. Eyewear stands are placed against the walls, slightly rotated so that the shelves are visible to passers-by.
Displays of fine frames are visible from the windows
Mr Tortoise Soho opened in 2019. The store currently stocks an exclusive selection of Rigards frames, as well as Ahlem, EYEVAN and Native Sons, with some of the collections being unavailable elsewhere in the city to date. The choices of design labels shows a clear predilection for fine artisan design and avantgarde style.
57A Brewer Street, London, W1F 9UL
Find out more at Mrtortoise.co.uk

  | Eyestylist 28th February 2022

Hall of Frames: new location for 2022

Longstanding eyewear fair Hall of Frames in Switzerland confirms dates for Lucerne event

Hall of Frames, the established independent eyewear fair in Switzerland, has announced confirmation of its 2022 Hall of Frames meet, to take place in Lucerne. The event, which will take place on 4th September at the Swiss Museum of Transport, is designed to bring a crowd of eyewear enthusiasts together from all over Switzerrland and further afield, while offering a perfect location for a fun weekend away.

The selected location – the Museum of Transport – is the most visited museum in Switzerland and displays a large collection of locomotives, cars, ships and aircraft. In addition to the actual museum, the Museum of Transport also houses a planetarium, the “Film Theatre” and the “Swiss Chocolate Adventure”.

“We are pleased to be able to continue our cooperation with our main partner Nikon in 2022”, said Nathanaël Wenger, owner and managing director of HOF. “Dynoptic – an association of about 100 owner-managed opticians from all over Switzerland – as well as the Basel-based architectural firm Studio Arenas will also be back as partner companies this year.” Hall of Frames welcomes independent labels and creative designers from around the world to enquire about exhibition spaces.

The organisers of Hall of Frames have also confirmed an event in Stuttgart on 8/9 October 2022. After a five year break, DIie Brillenmesse will take place in the popular location Motorworld in Böblingen. Find out more at: www.hallofframes.ch

Image @Luzern Tourismus AG

  | Eyestylist 27th February 2022

Silhouette: new edition of an icon

The bold Futura frame reimagined

2022 sees the return of the iconic Futura by Silhouette, reimagined since its first launch in 1973. The new form of the sunglasses consists of a polyamide shield, specially developed for the company with a particular shape, titanium temples and a bold circular “dot” design in the centre of the frame. Produced in a limited edition of 1964 pairs (a symbolic number as it represents the year in which the Austrian company was founded) – the frame has the lightweight finesse of a classic Silhouette frame. The dot design on the front is created by means of special milling and coloring. Above: the new Futura Dot frame is a statement design with a retro colour palette

Futura Dot: the new interpretation of the classic frame retains a futuristic feel

The Futura Dot special edition is available in four colours of black and white, olive grove, nostalgic brown and Atlantic blue. To see more about the Futura frame in the past, visit https://www.eyestylist.com/2014/04/futura-trendsetting-sunglasses-by-silhouette/ www.silhouette.com

  | Eyestylist 23rd February 2022

Independent eyewear: Mykita – perfecting the combination

The independent eyewear brand presents a chic capsule in stainless steel and colourful acetate

Classic eyewear shapes in minimal combinations: the three new round and panto shapes – Dayo, Cantara and Siwa – express the signature design aesthetic of Mykita, with combinations of sleek stainless steel and vivid acetate fitted in the inner rim, a fine design detail with a striking modern expression. Above: model wears model Dayo in the new campaign by Max von Gumppenberg – the style is available in four different colorways  – pictured above in champagne gold and pine honey

Model Cantara by independent eyewear brand Mykita in indigo with deep ocean

The Cantara style has a masculine build, and minimal elegance in tones of blue (above), black on black or dark brown/Santiago gradient. For technical features, the patented spiral hinge and adjustable qualities of the frame ensure wearer comfort and a light and pleasant overall feel. The launch of the new capsule coincides with the release of the new Mykita campaign which considers the delicate forces of nature and its extraordinary restorative power in imagery where raw nature moods mix with close and intimate human portraits. Find out more at www.mykita.com