Eyestylist

Mexico: artists Kobayashi / Aumann at Dr.York optical boutique

16th September 2025

Launched in May, the installation explores diffused edges, gradients and dynamic colour transitions inside the Dr.York optical store

Mexico City’s Dr. York shares their installation project by renowned Mexican artists Pablo Kobayashi & Lucia Aumann (@pablokobayashi and @lucia.aumann. The installation creates a bold statement for the store which expresses their commitment to arts collaboration and close integration with the Dr. York community.

“We decided at the end of 2024 to begin defining possible ideas,” the artists explain. “The final piece acts as a ‘modulator’ of the dynamics that José and Laura generate [in the store] and that uniquely define the characteristic atmosphere of the place.

A series of characters manifest behind the curtain asynchronously, suggesting that something is happening. In a constant game of colours that intensify and attenuate with each change in pressure, you see something regardless of whether it is visually perceived as a defined silhouette. The curtain does not divide. It rather suggests other layers, other depths, and other presences.” Above: the installation “ESPECTROS’ by Pablo Kobayashi and Lucia Aumann – at Dr.York

Independent optical store, Dr. York in Mexico City – the installation brings a completely different experience to those that enter

“We deeply appreciate the opportunity that José and Elena gave us to integrate ourselves even more into a project that we are so fond of. Over time, it has become one of those corners that feels familiar and close in our immense city, Mexico City….” Pablo Kobayashi & Lucia Aumann

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Independent optical retailer, Dr. York

Dr.York is one of Mexico City’s leaders in independent optical retailing and specialists in finely curated eyewear collections. They have stores in Mexico City and Guadalajara and offer high-end and luxury frames from brands that include LAPIMA, Lazare Studio, AHLEM, Paloceras, Kuboraum, Oscar Magnuson, Theo and Moscot. Their stores are designed more like showrooms. They provide a unique eyewear consultation and buying experience for their close-knit local communities. Find out more on Eyestylist: https://www.eyestylist.com/2023/04/dr-york-colonia-americana-guadalajara/

Mexico’s optical retailer – Dr.York, Mexico City

About the artists

Pablo Kobayashi is a Mexican architect and designer whose work extends to a wide array of material explorations. The artist Lucia Aumann, who is working with Kobayashi, is a specialist in materiality and uses textiles and pneumatic systems to explore “self-organising systems, morphology and perception”. Find out more: https://dryork.mx/blogs/refraccion/espectros-x-kobayashi-aumann

Design + Inspiration

Trending in eyewear: SILMO Paris 2025

15th September 2025

SILMO Paris 2025 has much in store for those who seek the latest eyewear trends and innovations. Amongst the independent eyewear makers and designers, new directions rooted in fine craftsmanship, detail-oriented expression and complex colour stories look set to create a spectacular eyewear stage…

SILMO 2025, taking place from 26th to 29th September 2025 at Paris Nord Villepinte, returns with the promise of exciting events, exclusive showcases, and a diverse lineup of eyewear exhibitors (expect to find over 900!), including leading companies, independent brands and emerging talent. Attendees can look forward to the launch of multiple new collections and innovative products that will offer a glimpse into “tomorrow’s trends” and key directions for Autumn Winter and 2026.

The organisers have announced this month that the event will place the spotlight on the future of optics with the launch of the a brand-new space entirely dedicated to artificial intelligence and smart eyewear, called the Tech Village. Building on the success of SILMO Next, this new hub, featuring 20 companies, is designed as a unique meeting point between research, technology, and professional practice. We expect other key talking points to include sustainability and developments in new materials, ongoing demand for luxury and authentic craftsmanship and advances in segments such as 3D printed eyewear produced on demand.

The Silmo D’Or awards will be announced during the popular Gala ceremony on the evening of Saturday 27th September at the Gabriel Pavilion in central Paris. The shortlist was published on 15th September, and includes for the independent eyewear category – Creative Designers the following nominations: Sunglasses – Eyewear Designer: ALBERT DUVAL with XC7 – NUIT; BRETT EYEWEAR with SPEC.01; DESIGN EYEWEAR GROUP with Super Tactic – Woow; DESIGN EYEWEAR GROUP with Flare – Face à Face; and RES REI EYEWEAR with Nocturne B94. Optical Frame – Eyewear Designer: VICTOIRE D’AQUI with Clem / Galaxie; ATELIER ARTHUR SARDO with Rotative Upside-Down; DZMITRY SAMAL with Luc; YOSHINORI AOYAMA with YA-002; LUCAS DE STAEL with « Zeppelin 27. The independent eyewear brand ROLF is also nominated in the Optical Frame Category (for Eyewear Makers) – see below, while Ørgreen Optics has been shortlisted for the category ‘Technological Innovation in Eyewear’. The Italian brands BLACKFIN and LOOK have been shortlisted for the categories Sunglasses – Eyewear Maker and Children respectively. (For full details of the nominations visit the SILMO Paris website).

Above: TAVAT Eyewear is one of many independent eyewear brands returning as an exhibitor to the SILMO fair – SOUPCAN by TAVAT Eyewear: one of the Italian brand’s signature designs just keeps on evolving. Each frame is made in limited batches by artisans, in modern materials such as surgical stainless steel and the highest quality acetate – www.tavat-eyewear.com

Trending in eyewear: oval shapes – a classic example from Lafont Paris – model Tulipe

Lafont Paris have several special highlights instore for the event including a new release of their historic optical model Tulipe, a fine example of an oval shape – now trending in eyewear. Lafont Paris balances the beautiful elegance of their handcrafted “Made in France’ designs with a careful attention to quality, comfort and ease of wear, down to the last detail. www.lafont.com

Premiere Wood Frame by ROLF – made in the Tyrol – nominated for a SILMO d’Or

Rolf has been shortlisted for a Silmo d’Or with the Premiere wood frame, crafted from hand-selected veneers that are milled, layered and refined through many different stages. The frame features the patented FlexLock hinge which is screwless, lightweight, and maintenance-free. “Each frame undergoes strict quality control until the natural material is transformed into a distinctive, one-of-a-kind piece” the company explains. The frame is nominated in the new ‘Eyewear Maker’ category. www.rolf-spectacles.com

Rimless eyewear: HOET Couture will show new unique rimless styles with a bold identity

HOET Couture will unveil its newest collection of haute couture glasses — a striking line of rimless designs. These styles are characterized by their feather-light feel yet remarkable strength, and an aesthetic that embodies the essence of refinement. Rimless, yet far from invisible, each piece is elevated with sophisticated detailing and the unmistakable HOET signature — making them instantly recognizable. Find out more at www.hoet-design.com

French eyewear focusing on craft and quality: Maggio Eyewear – model Brigitte in colour “Salins” – informed by the colours of St. Tropez’s Plage des Salins

Julia Maggio’s stunning eponymous collection of frames and sunglasses is inspired by southern light, contemporary design and consistent, highly accomplished craftsmanship. The new collection – Endless Summer – draws on her childhood memories in Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle. She celebrates a discreet and sunlit Saint-Tropez — the quiet mornings in La Ponche, the artists in retreat, and an ageless elegance — a suspended summer, far from clichés. Endless Summer is a collection of sunglasses with a timeless, free-spirited allure. The oversized, sensual frames pay tribute to the icons of the 1960s and 70s — Romy, Jane, Brigitte — while embracing a distinctly modern vision. www.maggiojulia.com

70s design inspiration: Wenke by Götti Switzerland

Götti Switzerland have just announced the release of two new styles which will be on show at SILMO: Wenke and Waid. The two designs are informed by 1970s trends whilst offering contemporary colour combinations featuring delicate pastels and transparent nuances. Soft, elegant tones of olive, mocha and soft pink are featured. www.gotti.ch

A new collection by HAPTER, launching in Paris

Under the direction of JDO Eyewear, HAPTER is to launch their new “BONE” Collection at the show. This artisanal eyewear collection, made entirely in stainless steel, reveals minimal, light, essential silhouettes. The line, which features 12 models, represents an evolution of the quiet dialogue between artisanal craft and industrial tradition that HAPTER explored in its early years. Together with CORE, the signature steel and rubber collection by HAPTER, BONE traces the anatomy of presence, two parts of a whole, defined by balance, intention and quiet innovation. www.hapter.it

Horses by PRESS Eyewear – from the Punks Collection – produced in 8mm Mazzucchelli bio acetate, made in Japan

PRESS Eyewear’s focus on fine materials with which they can create new finishes, exceptional colourations and clever detailing – always looking at how to innovate further for exciting results -, will be a further highlight for those seeking premium handcrafted eyewear at the show. Alongside the PUNKS collection, which pays tribute to the bold style of impactful music eras, the brand promises new luxurious designs produced in very exclusive small-batch editions. Find out more ahead of the event and see some of the latest designs at www.presseyewear.com

Diffuser Tokyo is “one to seek out” at SILMO Paris 2025

For eyewear accessories, returning to SILMO this year is Diffuser Tokyo, a Japanese accessories brand with a vast collection of beautifully made designs – from storage pieces to display items, chains and cord retainers, this collection delivers a wonderful variety of designs in exciting premium materials and lovely colour palettes. See their full range in advance of SILMO at www.diffuser-tokyo.com.

For further details and registration visit www.silmoparis.com. Check in on Eyestylist’s Design and Inspiration page for the next weeks for exclusives and updates on what’s launching at the Paris show and beyond: www.eyestylist.com

Boutiques

Paris Design Week: DEGree store and FACE A FACE

11th September 2025

FACE A FACE 30th anniversary celebrations continue with installation by Valentin Lebigot

FACE A FACE has teamed up with the designer, Valentin Lebigot to unveil a special installation at the DEGree (Design Eyewear Group) flagship store on Rue Pernelle – for Paris Design Week. First opened in July 2023, the DEGree flagship store brings together all the sunglasses collections from the nine brands of Design Eyewear Group. For this anniversary, the showroom has been transformed under the creative direction of Valentin Lebigot, with a graphic, multi-coloured interior set featuring custom-made displays. Every element in the design of the displays has been conceived to highlight FACE A FACE sunglasses and reveal their sculptural qualities and beautiful colours.

The installation is showing throughout Paris Design Week, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will continue through to the weekend of the Silmo Paris trade fair (26th to 29th September), as a unique conclusion to the 30th anniversary celebrations. Above: installation by Valentin Lebigot, with sunglasses by FACE A FACE

DEGree store in Paris, for Paris Design Week and SILMO

The collaboration between the brand and the designer began last March when they designed a re-edition of the Halo mirror, an iconic model by Valentin Lebigot which was then distributed to the brand’s partner opticians. Designed as a nod to the intimate moment when one discovers a frame in front of their reflection, this mirror represents “a dialogue between design, gaze, and identity”. After the success of the collaboration, FACE A FACE asked Lebigot to create a new set for the store with point-of-sale materials designed to be perfectly in tune with FACE A FACE’s avant-garde spirit and design style.

DEGree store in Paris: the displays in situ

About Valentin Lebigot Committed to a local and sustainable self-production approach through 3D printing, Valentin Lebigot has been developing for several years a graphic and colourful universe, perfectly in sync with the creative and bold values of FACE A FACE. Inspired by the 1980s Memphis movement, he creates colourful, graphic, responsible designs, showcased in prestigious venues such as the Louis Vuitton Foundation and the Palais de Tokyo.

4 Rue Pernelle, 75004 PARIS, France – find out more at www.faceaface-paris.com

Creative spirits

Silmo Paris 2025: Gaëtan Gaye, Alpagota

9th September 2025

Trending in optics: Gaëtan Gaye is a Belgian entrepreneur, brand builder and business developer in the field of modern luxury. With a background in the fine watchmaking industry, where he worked for one of the world’s three leading luxury groups, he draws on his 15 years of expertise to further enhance the eyewear experience and its desirability. His scented eyewear formulas under the brand Alpagota have caught the imagination of luxury optical retailers worldwide, delivering a brand new experience to aficionados of fine frames. Gaëtan talked to us in this exclusive interview ahead of the Silmo Paris event this month.

We have seen that you have added a perfumier stockist for the first time for your eyewear products. Can you tell us about this new partnership and how it has come about? What is Galilu’s speciality as a retailer? We now work with Galilu in their seven stores in Poland. Being sold alongside iconic brands such as Aesop, Byredo and Dyptique has always been a goal. Alpagota is at the crossroads of two worlds: optics and beauty, and we want to develop both distribution channels simultaneously. We focus on visual well-being, and it is only natural that after taking care of your skin, hair and body, you should take care of your eyes. If you happen to wear glasses or sunglasses, that means eyewear care. Above: Gaëtan Gaye, Founder of Alpagota, Eyewear Care Re [de]fined™

Trending in optics: Alpagota – chic aromas for cleaning lenses – Green Mandarin & Cedarwood

Alpagota has already become a favourite product in many luxury optical stores. What has been the key to building the brand this last year? Are you stocking direct in Europe, Asia and North America or are you seeking distribution partners? The key is and always will be the people. Those who embrace what we do and share the same values. The stores we work with are true visionaries. We are currently distributed in more than 20 countries, including Europe, Asia and North America. Europe is our strongest B2B market and I see a promising future in the United States, as it is our largest DTC market. We are stocked in all the stores of Black Optical in the US but we still need to find the right distribution partner. The recent tariffs might slow the process but I am confident it will happen soon.

What has been the biggest challenge? And the biggest surprise? We are generating a lot of interest and enthusiasm. Every week we receive enquiries from stores all over the world. We recorded triple-digit growth of +261% in the first half of the year compared to last year and have therefore focused on increasing our production capacity in Antwerp to meet demand. That is our biggest challenge to date. The biggest surprise was undoubtedly having a full page of PR coverage in the Financial Times‘ How To Spend It magazine. This is the most valuable and widely read magazine in the world. Such international recognition is a game changer for us.

Is the reaction all positive or have you had to do a lot of work to explain your philosophy and direction to the optical business in general? For now, we mainly work with people who have contacted us or seen us at trade shows, but education plays an important role in our daily work. We are challenging the way this product category has been perceived by the industry and customers for decades. It is a €12.5 billion market from which most opticians derive no income. They have been trained to view eyewear care at the same level as a merchandising key chain. This has to stop, because it minimises the importance of taking care of your glasses. No wonder so many people walk around with dirty lenses. Alpagota is redefining the way people care for their eyewear and their visual well-being.

Currently which is you favourite ALPAGOTA product and why? I can’t choose a favourite product, but Vision °III, our superior aromatic lens cleaner, is currently our bestseller. In addition to cleaning and protecting your lenses, its green mandarin and cedarwood scent gives you a sensory boost every day. It becomes a morning ritual that you can look forward to.

What’s coming next? We have many projects in the pipeline, ranging from new products to new business opportunities. At Silmo, for example, we will be unveiling our first collaboration with an eyewear brand and our very own ceramic trays. Stay tuned and visit us at our booth in Hall 7!

Find out more about the Antwerp-based brand, Alpagota on Eyestylist.com at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/01/alpagota-changing-the-face-of-eyewear-care

Visit the brand website at https://alpagota.com

Design + Inspiration

Swedish eyewear brand EOE Eyewear launch ‘Novel Frames’

7th September 2025

The Northern Swedish eyewear brand launches a line inspired by literary works

In true innovative spirit, Swedish eyewear brand EOE Eyewear has created their new designs to reflect literary works in original ways. The collection features select silhouettes adorned with quotations from texts by six renowned northern writers, weaving the storytelling into the designs. Each frame is inspired by natural forms and earthy colour palettes, with exquisite tones such as pine and amethyst, light bark and smoke.

The collection is divided into two series, a base collection reflecting timeless elegance with a minimalist spirit, and a limited special edition which showcases inlays and sculpted words and quotations from the featured writers. The result is a collection aesthetic which invites the wearer to see the world through the lens of literature unique to the geographical location where EOE Eyewear has its origins. Above: Sadek by EOE Eyewear – this frame is created in bio acetate and features a temple core with engraved pattern inspired by a mountain range – a reindeer horn detail appears on the temple tip

Swedish eyewear brand – EOE Eyewear – frame Balaliden, featured in black with gold text

Balaliden in the Novel Frames series is a tribute to Stina Stoor, an author from the far north of Sweden, whose lyrical prose is rich with local dialect. Stoor was born and raised in the village of Balaliden which is in Vasterbotten country (Bjurholm Municipality). The words “Se! Se här! Se Då!” appear on the temples in gold (translating loosely “yes yes see that…) adding a glamorous and at the same time surprising final touch.

EOE Eyeweare SKELLEFTEÅ – bio acetate and recycled stainless steel

The SKELLEFTEÅ Author model is inspired by the words of Stina Jackson with the quotation: “Ljuset. Det stack och brann och slet i honom” in English translation, “The light. It stung and burned and tore at him…” The lettering is audacious and immediately noticeable like a jewellery embellishment that becomes a statement of design. Find out more about EOE Eyewear at https://www.eyestylist.com/2022/04/limited-edition-preview-eoe-x-cake-get-creative/ and more on the frames at www.eoe-eyewear.com

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