Eyestylist

Pretty Pastel Looks at Carlotta’s Village

16th September 2021

A new collection by Danish designer Charlotte Dokkedal Leth – of eyewear label Carlotta’s Village – abounds with fashion-forward transparent tones

Eyewear designer, Charlotte Dokkedal Leth is an advocate of wearable eyewear with a fresh, vibrant, and unpretentious style. Since founding her brand with husband Bo, her approach has always been to realise a collection for real people, created in eco-friendly materials, with minimal yet interesting characteristics to appeal to different tastes. Durability, quality as well as lightness are intrinsic to her designs. She also describes the frames as “something classical, always with a twist”. Above: Melanie wears model Alfie by Carlotta’s Village – a classic shape with balanced proportions. The imagery at Carlotta’s Village always features real people, friends, family and faces spotted in the street

Model Alfie by Carlotta’s Village in crystal with pink tinted lens – the frame also comes in crystal blue (coming soon in sage green)

Model Alfie is part of the iconic collection at Carlotta’s Village which offers cotton-based cellulose acetate designs with stainless steel barrelled hinges and screws. The shapes are vintage-inspired, with emphasis on easy, flattering designs that stand out without taking over the face and the individual’s style.

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Alfie by Carlotta’s Village – in this season’s trendy crystal lavender

About Carlotta’s Village – A style of eyewear that epitomises the clean, high-quality Danish design style, Carlotta’s Village frames are made for real faces in a colour range that is modern and balanced. Charlotte and husband Bo, the duo behind the label, have a wealth of experience in the eyewear business, which eventually led them to the creation of their own brand. Starting with materials such as cotton-based acetate, their ranges today include titanium and surgical steel, and lots of interesting combinations such as acetate and beta titanium. Carlotta’s Village has adopted a sustainable approach to their frame collection for many years and focus on the quality, longlife and low carbon footprint of their production. Find out more: https://carlottasvillage.com

Design + Inspiration

PFB in the city

14th September 2021

Peoples from Barbados: the fashion edit from London

The Barbados brand by optometrist and optical entrepreneur Alicia Hartman, brings new looks to London in a shoot with balmy weather – on trend for city (or beach), and created with the inspiration of the Caribbean island – Barbados and its peoples. Above: model/influencer Jalicia Nightengale (@iamjalicia) wears PFB: photography by David Nyanzi (@davidnyanzi)

PFB in the city: Jalicia Nightengale models PFB sunglasses – photo above – Jalicia Nightengale with Lydia Marcy

Bajan beauty, Jalicia Nightengale, who has appeared in previous PFB campaigns features in the new campaign, with Hartman’s UK-based cousin, and new model – Lydia Marcy. The photos were shot by London-based street photographer David Nyanzi (@davidnyanzi) at an out-of-the-way secret North London location which provided a warm natural backdrop – with a subtle urban “London” twist for the Barbados based brand. Find out more about this fast growing brand at https://peoplesfrombarbados.com

Design + Inspiration

SILMO 2021 Paris preview

13th September 2021

Renewed energy and a tantalizing freedom of choice in trends and looks: the styles for the new season will debut in Paris

As the first international event for eyewear companies in some time approaches this month, our attention will be on innovations and trends, and how the experiences of the past 18 months play out through the design and development of eyewear. With the move to a more sustainable orientation in materials and less wasteful manufacture (and effort to design eco-friendly packaging materials), the key directions also look set to be much more wide-ranging than ever before. Recurring, popular shapes for specs and sunglasses there are of course, and colours too, but over and above that typical flurry of new season trends there are signs that a desire for freedom and creativity among the designers will fuel an especially broad and tantalizing assortment of new-season designs – big, small, minimal, decorative, restrained, rebellious, formal, casual and so on -, to suit every individual and their unique, personal style.

In the Eyestylist forecasts about what to expect at the event, we introduce must-see eyewear designs and highlights for the first time. Above: Fleye Copenhagen will show a skillfully designed collection inspired by silent film at SILMO 2021. This distinctive optical collection includes beta-titanium, acetate and combinations of carbon fiber and wood – www.fleye.dk

Delicate femininity – shades of pink are in vogue: Juillet in rose by Lafont Paris

Lafont Paris promises glamorous novelties in their sun and optical collections at SILMO, including the very chic statement model Juillet: an acetate design, the front features a grooved linear decoration adding a pretty texture to the surface. We expect to see more unique surface finishes, detailed patterns and artistic sculptural designs in the weeks ahead! www.lafont.com

Contrast and pattern: Morel’s circular 40152K in ‘old rose’

At Morel, a collection of colorful new models in small sizes hint at a desire for warm, original yet functional eyewear that addresses a need for an easy-to-wear, comfortable and well-fitting choice of frames. Generally, shapes are very versatile, and many of the new collections point to a real diversity to meet all tastes and different face shapes. The collection of new smaller sized frames by Morel includes the circular shape, a bold rectangle and a hexagon – all on point for the season ahead. www.morel-france.com

Oversized and structured: Model BAM at FOLC Eyewear

From FOLC Eyewear, a Barcelona-based label by the designer Marta Linares, who will make her second appearance at SILMO for 2021, BAM is a striking example of a large unisex frame with a sharp rectangle eye shape. FOLC takes a special interest in the details of the construction and finish of each design, and here, very defined and contrasting carving or bevelling is observed, in combined matt and shiny surfaces for the front. This frame requires a detailed process for production and special steps as well as a customized tooling of the front to achieve the contrasted finish.
BAM will be presented with a selection of new models. The frame comes in eight trendy colour combinations including a Blue Combo ( Blue + havana), Havana Mix RX (demi + turmeric) , Moss Combo ( Moss + Havana ) and Sage Mix ( Soft Sage + Soft Blue). www.folc-eyewear.com

A design feat: LOKI by Veronika Wildgruber

Innovation in creative design is always a favourite theme at the Paris fair. And this year, those moments where something completely different appears will certainly be memorable. Already on our must-see list is the designer Veronika Wildgruber’s new aviator which features an interwoven bridge design in nickel silver CuSn6 – a copper alloy – a detail that she says is inspired by Roger Penrose and Escher. The designer describes the frame as painstakingly put together – it includes rubber temple tips and titanium nose pads – and the unique twist at the bridge. This frame has been shortlisted for a SILMO D’Or award in the category ‘Sunglasses – Eyewear Designer”. www.eyewear.veronikawildgruber.com

Two-tone fronts: Garland by SALT. Optics – clean lines and a gentle lift, harking back with subtlety to the 1950s

SALT. Optics continues to evolve a fascinating, nature inspired colour palette in shapes that are timeless and versatile to wear. The brand will show new models in its C3-21 series at SILMO, including new model Garland , a frame which comes in this beautiful two-tone coloration. The frame is a good example of how the brand uses vintage influences from the 1950s and 1960s and reinterprets them in a modern-day style. www.saltoptics.com

About SILMO 2021: the fair (trade only) takes place at Paris Nord Villepinte from 24th to 27th September 2021. Over 500 companies have booked to exhibit this year following post-pandemic closures and a smaller event in 2020. This year a good number of independent labels are showing. They include: Fleye Copenhagen, FOLC Eyewear, Gigi Studios, Jean-Philippe Joly, J F REY, Kuboraum, HOET, Lafont Paris, LINDBERG, Mykita, MOREL, RIGARDS, ROLF Spectacles, SALT. Optics, Sea2see, Shelter, SOOD Eyewear, Struktur Eyewear, Tarian, VAVA, 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

Creative spirits

Swiss eyewear: Nirvan Javan

9th September 2021

The Swiss eyewear designer cherishes film-making, working with others – and any opportunity to travel. In an interview, we asked him to share his creative design philosophy and explain how it applies to his work.

What was the path that led you to eyewear design and how do your formative experiences shape your design style? Drawing was always a way of communication for me. I have a Persian background, it was not easy to talk German with the other kids in kindergarten. So I mostly expressed myself through small sketches. Over time this turned into a fascination for design and fashion design, everything from jewellery to clothing. Later on, I began an apprenticeship to be an optician. Then the future was clear to me ‘I will design eyewear’ I decided. How this design finally looked was largely inspired by my past, the multicultural aspect of it to be exact. Putting various, different pieces together to create something new, this will always be fascinating to me.

Today Nirvan Javan is a well-known Swiss frame brand. When you first launched, what was your focus, your approach and your goal? When we started, the approach was centered around purism. The glasses themselves stood in the forefront, while details were discarded. The glasses were freed from any kind of excess, not even a logo. Clear lines and a timelessness in design that survives the decades, that is what made the early models unique. Since then, the brand has evolved. This philosophy of purism transformed into a lifestyle, into a concept of ‘enablement’: to let others experience the world at its best.

Nirvan Javan: titanium styles in the Tokyo collection – ‘an interplay of tradition and technology

What has been the most inspirational part of your journey, and what has been the most challenging? It’s the literal journeys I take that offer me immense inspiration. Every time I come to a new destination it is an amazing moment for me. Traveling through foreign streets, while trying to be as open as possible, without any kind of preconceptions, makes unique experiences possible. You’re taking in the architecture, the culture and the way of living and let them merge with your own experiences. This year and the past year didn’t make it easy to live this openness though. The pandemic closed the world of and made it difficult in some places and even impossible in others to experience them. But in the end, it has increased our anticipation for visiting the world, when borders open again.

Can you give us an example of your most enjoyable collaboration to date? This summer we created a new collection with Kochoptik – a well-known optician in Switzerland. Our inspiration was the Arabica coffee bean!

Nirvan Javan; frames inspired by Arabica coffee beans

How do you reflect on the last 18 months (of pandemic) and what did you find in that period that has had some positive bearing on you or your company? Last year was a challenge, as well as a great opportunity. One could go deeper into oneself, get inspired and let this inspiration flow into the collections. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the year ahead with great expectation.

Craft and design are at the very heart of your independent label. When you’re not working, what other passions do you have that relate to these artistic tendencies? Travel is one of my biggest passions. Going to distant places and experiencing different cultures will always be a great pleasure. I would also add storytelling and film. The visual creativity and coordination that goes into the creation of a film fascinates me; I hope this passion translates into our own video production for the brand.

As the new launches arrive, can you pick out for us the theme in your collections that point to the way ahead for your brand and your collections for autumn/winter. The brand counts creativity as one of its guiding principles when translating cities into frames. Capturing the pure essence of a metropolis and then turning it into a material representation of the city, with everything that makes it unique, that is creativity. No matter what new destination the brand is trying to capture in the frames, elegance will always be a defining factor. There’s nothing as elegant as walking through life with an open mind, taking in all the impressions of all the vastly different locations and forming something new out of them. So the act of experiencing new cultures is deeply rooted in my design process. Every aspect of a city and its culture are reflected not only in the shape, but also in the material of the glasses. Tokyo’s interplay of tradition and technology for example can be found in the extravagant forms and high-quality titanium frames. Nirvan Javan will show the new collections at Hall of Frames in Zurich this weekend on 12th and 13th September 2021. www.nirvanjavan.com

Design + Inspiration

Reading Glasses innovation: read on

8th September 2021

Eyestylist Exclusive: iPhone case with integrated reading glasses – presented at Milan Design Week this month

From the team in Switzerland who created Sol Sol Ito eyewear, comes a new and innovative concept in reading glasses. The glasses come with a slim sleek iPhone case, for ease and convenience, and have a super thin and foldable design, fitting snugly into a narrow pocket of the smart phone case, so they never get left behind.

Already an award-winner – the product has won multiple prizes including the German Design Award and the Good Design Award – read on is currently a highlight among the Swiss contingency at Milan Design Week with Pro Helvetia who showcase outstanding designers for the international event.

Read on is available for the latest iPhones including iPhone XR, 11, 11 Pro Max, 12 and 12 Pro and comes in attractive colours of black and red (case) and black and white (glasses). Made from lightweight TR90, the glasses come in 4 strengths and have some remarkable, innovative design details including a ribbed feature on the inside of the temples to improve the grip, when placed on the face.

About the designers: Industrial designer Sandra Kaufmann and artist Monika Fink, the designers of ‘read on’ are also the co-founders of Sol Sol Ito eyewear, a Zurich based creative eyewear brand – originating in 2012 – making design-focused frames with acetate fronts and filigree steel temples. Their Sol Sol Ito designs are bold and colourful as well as comfortable and have won multiple awards for their achievements and clever combination of quality materials, craftsmanship and innovation in manufacturing. For more information visit www.readon-mobile.com

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Eyestylist

Pretty Pastel Looks at Carlotta’s Village

PFB in the city

SILMO 2021 Paris preview

Swiss eyewear: Nirvan Javan

Reading Glasses innovation: read on