Eyestylist

Monoqool for opti 19

15th January 2019

As innovation in 3D printing moves forward with leaps and bounds, in eyewear, new design directions focus on the extraordinary lightness and comfort of the Polyamide material and, increasingly, its adaptability to produce different, more creative eyewear designs. Specialists in 3D printed frames, Danish company Monoqool continues to work in this field with a particular focus on the perfect balance of comfort and astute contemporary style. With an architectural aesthetic and an underlying passion for Danish design, Monoqool has taken their collection forward with combination styles featuring Polyamide fronts and fine metal temples in a palette of eye-catching modern colours from ochre and violet through to a light, dusty green.

Above: The spectacular Ragnarock Museum of Rock in Roskilde (http://museumragnarock.dk/besoeg/), Denmark was selected as the venue for the Spring/Summer campaign. The setting is a colourful, unusual building designed by Cobe Architects (http://www.cobe.dk) – inspired by the 70s looks of Danish designer Verner Panton (http://verner-panton.com), who shocked the world with his colourful space age design.

Balanced design: a Polyamide front with slim metal temples

For SS19, the Danish brand launches 12 eyewear shapes and four new sunglasses. “We aimed for a mix of frames, from the colourful and extraordinary to the classically cool,” says Allan Petersen, founder of Monoqool. “Four new colours are added to the already considerable line of 3D printed frames.”

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

New hues from Monoqool: Big Love in burnt ochre

The line up of frames features the popular Monoqool Slider series with a flat horizontal temple and screwless hinge. The Slider frames are made in ultra lightweight 3D printed polyamide material, which results in a frame weighing only 4 grams. It is in the Monoqool DNA to make frames with a high degree of comfort and which are easy to adjust and give a perfect fit – as well as offering contemporary design and an accomplished attention to detail.

Exploring 3d printed design: trend-focused cut-out effect

Monoqool will exhibit the new collection at opti Munich in Germany from 25th to 27th January 2019. For more details about the latest designs, visit their website at www.monoqool.com. CN

Boutiques

Lunetier Ludovic Brussels Belgium

13th January 2019

An energetic hub embraces Brussels. It is a hive of remarkable activity for culture, cuisine, fashion, and international politics. The city boasts vast green spaces and lovely parks; numerous museums; architectural landmarks; and it is the capital of the European Union. Belgian fashion designers have captivated the global style stage, and include Dries Van Noten; Raf Simons; Ann Demeulemeester, and Martin Mangela. Chocolate, chips, waffles and beer are known to dominate cuisine; however, elegant gastronomy is alive, well and flourishing in Brussels, and beyond the city centre.

Brussels includes nineteen municipalities, and a stroll of the historic Sablon area enchants the visitor with tempting antique shops; vintage clothing; designer labels; charming cafés; and speciality food shops. For distinctive and original custom-made eyewear – set your sights on the remarkable and influential Lunetier Ludovic Boutique. “My wife Vinciane and I opened the boutique in 2015,” recollects optician and owner Ludovic Elens when we met in Brussels, “and we specialise in bespoke glasses. We do feature some brands, but I am an eyewear crafter…that is my passion. We offer the finest quality and personalisation.”

Lunetier Ludovic is a bright and airy space over three levels; the street level displays frames where customers try on the designs; the lower level is Elens craft shop; and the upper level houses the office. “It was very hard to find a location; every week we went to a different area. We chose the Sablon as it has many interesting shops – art; jewellery; chocolate; antiques; and luxury products,’ says Elens.

The frames crafted at Lunetier Ludovic are truly luxurious works of art. Clients chose their materials from the intriguing collection that Elens has acquired – including sheep and deer horns that he works in layers. “We never throw anything out”, declares Elens, “as you never know when a particular piece of acetate or horn might be useful.”

Bespoke Ludovic design in acetate with Knot and Lemon Tree Wood

Each design takes approximately two weeks to create – and then two to three months for the actual crafting of the frame. “I want to design the frame that the wearer wants to wear,” Elens emphasises, “as we have many clients who are unable to wear a regular frame from a designer or manufacturer – perhaps due to an abnormal facial issue. However, that can be overcome with the correct design and bespoke fitting. There are details in the designs that you may not see, but the wearer can feel.”

Lunetier Ludovic has an amazingly diverse international clientele that range in age from two-and-one-half-years old – to eighty-one years old. They all wear Ludovic designs, which are individually personalised. Some clients are very specific about what they want. “We had a client who was a Roy Orbison fan, and he wanted frames exactly like what Orbison wore, so that is what we created.” Discover more about Lunetier Ludovic and the boutique’s unique, and beautifully handcrafted eyewear at www.lunetierludovic.be JG

Reviews

Octagon by Delirious

11th January 2019

The Octagon, considered a polygon of eight angles and eight sides, also demonstrates the positive attributes for renewal and rejuvenation. These honoured and symbolic meanings of the Octagon are inspirational characteristics to launch a New Year. Painter Leonardo frequently used the octagon in his drawings and renderings. This geometrical concept is beautifully represented in a slender, slim acetate version by Delirious Eyewear, and is professionally and eloquently handcrafted with essential production protocols in Italy. Details are meticulous with fine construction. Delirious Eyewear is an award-winning Italian label, with an ingenious collection of innovative frame designs for men and women. www.deliriouseyewear.com JG

Design + Inspiration

Eyewear for opti

8th January 2019

Munich’s expanding international fair for optical professionals – opti – takes place in a few weeks at Fairground Munich. Known for its wide variety of exhibitors and impressive line up of independent designers, the event is one of the highlights of the optical year in Europe, and is increasingly attended by retailers and business professionals from inside and outside Europe.

This year, the fair offers an exceptional mix of creative designers and distinctive eyewear collections from as far afield as Hong Kong, the US, Swedish Lapland and Canada. First time exhibitors include Rapp, Nirvan Javan, Frency and Mercury and Specs Lab Zurich.

A selection of start-ups and small labels will show in the OPTI Boxes (Hall C2), some, such as Lightbird (Italy), showing product for the first time. Above: Young label PORTRAIT Eyewear from Italy will show their new artistic Glitch Series (opti BOXES). The Interface sunglasses (above) are a tribute to Peter Campus, the American pioneer video artist. www.portraiteyewear.com

Oliver Goldsmith – highlighting new winter sunglasses for opti

Oliver Goldsmith pioneered the idea of “winter sunglasses” in 1966, according to Claire Goldsmith. In an article written about them in the 60s in the UK, the concept was explained: “The idea was that these designs should be worn in the winter months as there was insufficient sun-light to warrant wearing dark lensed summer sunglasses.” Originally, the lenses were made from precision ground optical glass and were very pale in density making them ideal for wearing indoors as well as outside on dull winter days.” Re-exploring the concept with special releases for opti19, the new styles offer the statement style of Goldsmith designs and are fitted with state-of-the-art soft hued lenses by Divel Italy for exceptional comfort and protection. www.olivergoldsmith.com

Always bold and decorative, J F REY’s BOZ collection continues to offer surprising shapes and eccentric combinations, designed with sophisticated creative touches. The BOZ collection will be exhibited with JF REY, 1985, and the much praised leather line – Le Cuir – at the opti fair. www.jfrey.fr

Tavat Eyewear has launched a series of exciting designs in recent months. Their ability to use innovative construction in multiple designs and material combinations continues to develop through a strong commitment to original design and artisan excellence. Find them at opti and visit their website at www.tavateyewear.com

BLACKFIN Black Edition – model Sandbridge

Titanium experts Blackfin return to the fair in Germany with new styles in the Black Edition, where a special treatment – Blackfin Nano-Plating™ – creates shiny finishes on the advanced material. Find out more at www.blackfineyewear.eu

opti Munich takes place at Fairground Munich from 25th to 27th January 2019. The show will offer an extensive new layout as it expands to include Halls C5 and C6. For full details and a full list of exhibitors, visit www.opti.de CN

Reviews

The Cran by TBD Eyewear

4th January 2019

Italian-made, unpretentious and classical in approach with a price point under 200 euros. Having started out as The Bespoke Dudes Eyewear company, ‘TBD’ as it is now most commonly known is a well loved label on the fashion circuit, especially in Italy and at fashion industry events such as Pitti where they have a successful following of design fans, fashion bloggers and entrepreneurial types who include Marco Taddei, Niccolo Zaffarano and Gabriel Cohen.

The frames are timeless in their look and style. The Cran is an example – a well-known round shape, produced in an attractive, lightweight acetate and in colours that are usually subtle; traditional black, blue, crystal, tortoise and so on or occasionally quite different – the canvas brown has a patterned look like horn – there are also delicate metal shapes and metal/acetate combinations.

Bespoke Dudes Eyewear was set up by Fabio Attanasio, the founder of The Bespoke Dudes, an Italian blog about craftsmanship and tailoring and Andrea Viganò ‘with the aim of enhancing the image of Italy and its exceptional craftsmanship abroad and promoting excellence and creativity’. The frames are made in Cadore and feature unique details – a favourite is the styling of the hinges which resemble bow-ties – these were picked from a lot dating back to the 1930’s and feature four screws – rather than the usual two – each one applied and tightened by hand. For more details and to visit the online store go to www.thebespokedudeseyewear.com CN

“A different approach”: SIX SIX, Melbourne

Article One: stylish performance

Looking back: outstanding eyewear destinations that continue to thrive

Morel: preserving a legacy

Ørgreen Optics: Acetate Cut and Imaginary Lines

Pallas: Masunaga x Kenzo Takada