Eyestylist

Optimum opticals

5th June 2018

Beautiful colours, alluring materials, and imaginative shapes characterise optical frames with optimum style chic. Creative concepts enhance the latest frames from international designers, confirming that eyewear is an elite accessory not only for corrective sight, but fashion flair. Danish brand Orgreen Optics features a sleek panto-silhouette – Vitus – in a mix of titanium and beta-titanium in seven lovely colourations, including 801 shown above. Nathaneal Wenger at Hall of Frames Zurich describes Vitus as: “My absolute favourite design and it works well with men too.” Orgreen Optics is among the artisan independent brands that will be presenting at Hall of Frames Zurich on 07-08 October at Papeiersaal. More news on the 10th anniversary celebrations for HOF soon on Eyestylist.com! www.orgreenoptics.com www.hallofframes.ch

Americano by Oliviero Zanon for Res/Rei The Cocktails Collection

Oliviero Zanon for Res/Rei highlights streamlined designs in The Cocktails Collection – ultra-light construction in elegant feminine shapes. Americano explores refreshing, delicate colourations in stunning acetate combinations from Mazzucchelli – handcrafted in Italy. www.resrei.com

A cheerful burgundy/cherry acetate design – Jacques – by KBL Eyewear is crafted in a timeless shape, with pure lines and aesthetic simplicity. Explore www.kbleyewear.eu for more optical and sunglass styles.

Never misplace or lose your glasses again! Frame Chain has the ideal solution with graceful chains in metal (above) delicate pearls, or desirable combinations. Discover the ingenious designs by Annie and Vanessa, co-founders of Frame Chain at www.framechain.co.uk

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

Sol Sol Ito is the exclusive Swiss brand with frame designs that maximise visual impact. Acetate and metal combine in a subtle pastel blue frame with the brands innovative twin-steel sides. Visit www.solsolito.com for more elegant designs.

Acclaimed fashion designer Zac Posen brings his couture technique to eyewear with commanding masculine eye shapes. A retro-inspired square shape in Forest Green with custom metal detailing on the temples combines with enduring tortoiseshell. www.kenmarkeyewear.com JG

Boutiques

Jean-François Rey, Créateur Lunetier

4th June 2018

French creative designer Jean-François Rey announces the opening of a redesigned flagship store, located in Marseille in the South of France – home to the company. Two passionate young opticians take the helm of the store – Julia Maggio and Valentin Abrioux – which first opened in the French city in September 2008.

The shop has a new striking black facade with a new identity : ‘Jean-François Rey, Créateur Lunetier’, strengthening the link with the Jean-François Rey company, now over 30 years old with a global distribution. Inside, the shop has been completely transformed with a beautiful, chic and creative area for each of the company’s different specialists collections: JF Rey, JF Rey Petite, Kids&Teens, Boz, Volte Face, Sky Eyes, Jean-François Rey 1985 and LE CUIR.

The company told Eyestylist: “The result is just perfect. This is the universe of designers Joëlle and Jean-François Rey! Our intention was to express the mood of each of the brands, the spirit of the designer and the House Jean-François Rey. Our customers can now see each and every one of our collections, the inspiration, and the original, creative style of our frames.” Marseille, France CN

Design + Inspiration

Mission accomplished: ic! berlin x Austrian Space Forum (OeWF)

1st June 2018

ic! berlin frames have been trialled in a rigorous series of Mars field simulations and experiments in the Omani desert, run by the Austrian Space Forum.

The AMADEE-18 Mars Analogue Mission studied equipment, procedures and work flows under the extreme ‘Martian-like’ conditions of the deserts of Dhofar, the largest governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. Above: photo taken during the AMADEE- 18 Mars Analogue Mission

Alley-Oop by ic! berlin – tested by analogue astronaut Stefan Dobrovolny, MD

During the simulations the analogue astronauts from the OeWF wore 45-kilogram robotic spacesuits equipped with their own power supply, communication systems and a variety of sensors. They also tested ic! berlin sunglasses – selected to protect their eyes from the desert sun and provide a lightweight technical solution for the face.

Analogue Astronaut Carmen Kohler, wears model Layup by ic! berlin

With an average weight of around 20 grams, ic! berlin’s advanced rubberized sunglasses combine features such as comfort and state-of-the-art UV protection with a reliable and robust construction, resilient screwless hinge and high-performance materials. The frames tested during the field work feature extremely flexible and lightweight 0.5mm spring stainless steel with a rubber polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-U) coating which is scratch and heat resistant. More details: www.ic-berlin.de CN

Boutiques

Vinyl eyewear at Tipton, Budapest

30th May 2018

Majestic architecture, the river Danube and the backdrop of the Buda Hills make Budapest one of the most stunning weekend destinations in Europe. The city is also home to Hungary’s no 1 independent eyewear company Tipton Eyeworks, located in the centre of the city across the street from the historic Cafe Centrale.

A wide choice of inventive eyewear at Tipton’s showroom

Opened to the public in 2017, the showroom offers a wonderful peep at a team of industrious, highly skilled artisans finishing frames, and a buzzing retail space exhibiting the collection, where Zach Tipton’s first eyewear designs and some very special limited edition glasses – including the NVSBLE range and a tribute to Bob Marley, are on show. A highlight is the photo wall of famous faces, including Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, Fred Durst and Elton John. “I started with rimless in early 2000, but soon moved into vinyl,” explains Zach as we toured the workshops and store. “Over the years we have perfected how we use the vinyl and we remain the only company who has pursued this direction with a growing global success in top-level boutique shops.”

Visitors to Budapest can arrange an appointment to make their own frame at the showroom, with expert artisans on hand to explain the process of assembling individual frame parts, personalising the frame with gold lettering, and, eventually cleaning and polishing the frame – ready to wear. In the background music plays from the vinyl archive on a retro ‘record player’: we play all the LPs we use for the frames, Zach explains, as he puts on a mysterious 90s ambient album that has come from a London warehouse. A current favourite is AC/DC, the focus of a collaboration using the 22 x multi-platinum “Back in Black” album.

Tipton Eyeworks showroom interior display (photo: *Eyestylist*)

Tipton Eyeworks has also achieved notoriety in the film industry in Budapest, producing frames for particular requirements on set, and as special commissions and gifts for the many actors and actresses visiting the city. This Spring, a Limited Edition design from the Cinematiq Collection was created for Antonio Banderas during the shooting of Genius: Life of Picasso. These unique sunglass editions are presented in a flat circular case similar to that used to carry old-school film.

Alongside the VINYLIZE collection launched in 2004, the new Cinematiq concept presents luxury acetate frames which make use of vintage 16mm film footage – perfectly aligned inside the temples where light illuminates the colourful action and characters within. And there is no stopping there. Whilst we were at the store, an ingenious, collaborative eco-inspired project was in production – a limited edition commission by coffee machine makers, Nespresso, recycling the aluminium coffee capsules into a chic run of co-branded sunglasses for Hungarian stores.

Eyestylist stayed at Hotel Rum, Budapest (www.hotelrumbudapest.com). Kind thanks to Tipton Eyeworks for a memorable first trip to their beautiful home city. Visit the company: TIPTON EYEWORKS, Iranyi u. 20, 1056 Budapest www.tiptonbudapest.com / www.vinylize.com CN

Design + Inspiration

Sun-sational sunnies!

29th May 2018

Welcome summer – free from winter doldrums, and with eager anticipation of leisurely, sun-drenched days – now is the time to enjoy fabulous sunglasses. Eyewear designers cater to style/trend setters, with sunglass selections in alluring materials, shapes and colours to complement your easy-going, laid-back days. Luca Gnecchi Ruscone at L.G.R adores the Italian Rivera, and is influenced by the natural beauty of Capri for his sun specs that glow with the colours of the island. (Top image: Reunion – design purity, elegance and chic in Cappuccino from the L.G.R Capri Collection) www.lgrworld.com

RIGARDS RG0104CU “Mad Scientist” in copper

Copper is an unexpected component for eyewear, and in Ti Kwa’s talented vision it is a wonderful standout in his new collection for RIGARDS. RG0104CU – codenamed “Mad Scientist” – as it was designed in homage to the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s classic horror Frankenstein – is full of character with individual hand texturing adding an organic dimension to the frames. www.rigards.com

The open green spaces of Norway inspire Karmoie’s beautiful design by Kirsten and Lars Iversen. They embrace summer with voluminous sunglasses in a sleek round shape. Rise in Bark is lovingly crafted in fine quality acetate with meticulous details. www.karmoie.com

Plein Les Mirettes in France entices with rich colourations for their impressive and dazzling variety of sun styles. Left to right: Diva 6 in exclusive colouration for PLM by Mazzucchelli; Fantasque 7 in vivid tones; Re Belle 9 in mustard – a seasonal favourite; Diva 7 in specific Mazzucchelli colours for PLM. Visit www.plein-les-mirettes.fr for additional glamorous colours and styles.

Elverfeld from the Signature Collection by Fleye Copenhagen

The exclusive Signature Collection at Fleye Copenhagen includes the sophisticated and oh so cool – Elverfeld – that combines solid and transparent layered acetate in beautiful colour combinations. Explore www.fleye.dk for additional sunglass creativity from the Danish brand.

Jimmy 9010S form the Jean-François Rey 1985 Collection

Sunshine is always a dynamic, enlightening inspiration for Marseille-based JF Rey. Jimmy 9010S is the latest innovative model in the Jean-François Rey 1985 collection – a powerful design in striking colours with a splendidly curved double-bridge. www. jfrey.fr JG

“A different approach”: SIX SIX, Melbourne

Article One: stylish performance

Morel: preserving a legacy

Otis Eyewear: the independent Australian brand is now certified B Corp

Ørgreen Optics: Acetate Cut and Imaginary Lines

Pallas: Masunaga x Kenzo Takada