An elegantly refined aviator shape – Explorer – in luminous crystal acetate is among the remarkable new designs from Karmoie. The Norwegian brand features exemplary quality Mazzucchelli acetate and Carl Zeiss lenses, with the frames solely handcrafted and polished in Italy. Explorer is also available in Black, Twig, Forest and Havana. Discover more about this environmentally friendly brand at www.karmoie.com JG
An imaginative spectrum of colour invigorates eyewear designs with savvy, eye-opening results. Whether solid colours, bi-or tri-colourations, plus fun variations, ravishing colour in frame designs can become a wondrous, bold adventure. Vividly bright or elegantly muted, frame colours offer intriguing options. Oliviero Zanon’s collection for Res/Rei includes the striking Amalfi (above) in superb hues of Mazzucchelli acetate with a seductive retro shape. www.resrei.com
Vibrant colour highlights Showoff by WOOW – an oversized frame with a chic double bridge, and streamlined composition. www.wooweyewear.com
Victor by Kirk & Kirk is an engaging mix of dark forest green on a lighter lime base which results in a glorious shade of Emerald. The tones react differently in changing light, and give the illusion of dancing colours. www.kirkandkirk.com
The colour excitement extends to eyewear accessories too. Italian craftsmanship excels in Pollipo’s clutch case – Ronette – in an exclusive patchwork of gold and rose gold in a crocodile pattern on natural Tuscan leather. www.pollipocchiali.it
The German Collective – a group of innovative optical retail experts and friends with stores around the country – have created a new collaborative frame with German eyewear company, MYKITA. VOLT, a sporty, unisex design, in keeping with the aesthetics and technical concept of Mykita Mylon, is limited to 100 pieces and will only be available through the German Collective members’ stores (from 3rd December 2016). Produced in storm grey with ultra flat lenses, the frame is made using a 3D printing technique called Selective Laser Sintering.
“We started our collaboration with Garrett Leight, and this is our latest project,” explains Akram Husseini from Klar Augenoptik. “We love great design and good friendship and we think that by doing a limited edition together it makes our stores especially interesting. The next edition will come in Spring 2017.”
The German Collective includes five optical stores: 6MillionGlasses, Specs Berlin, Steingasse 14, Leidmann and Klar. The stores specialise in independent collections and artisan eyewear and they share a passion for design and quality. CN
More extreme proportions lend a dynamic look to eyewear for women as 2017 approaches. The rise of the oversized metal aviator as a “statement” has boosted this direction, and style influencers are continuing to sport the design as the ultimate fashion accessory, whether they require prescription lenses or not. New quality aviator shapes are a staple at many of the small and medium sized independent eyewear labels specialising in metal. One such example, the German independent label Coblens, produces distinctive aviator designs in high grade titanium: pictured above, model 30066 from their Luna Park line. www.coblens.com
In the acetate collections too, a broad offering of more substantial shapes include deeper, generous sized cat eyes and cool retro “geek-chic-revival” designs.
Spectacle Eyeworks have created several new designs in this vein, including the elegant Sierra in the Pussy Galore Collection. In subtle acetate colours, pretty striated versions, the style works the fuller shape with fine lines and the characteristic pointed top corners of the cateye.
Christian Roth, the iconic American “designer” eyewear label, now partnered with Dita, proposes a similar femininity in a large round sixties-inspired design. The designer describes the frame as “a look that is straight out of a beatnik Greenwich Village coffee shop” when fitted with optical lenses. It’s one of several frames in the new line that bridge the old and the new, playing with modern colourways and materials with expertise and know-how. More information on Christian Roth’s new line at www.christianroth.com CN
Art deco overtones have long been a popular theme in eyewear design. Vue dc, the French artisan label, has particular expertise in translating deco motifs in frames that offer character and design flair. A new addition in their refined acetate collection for the coming year, model Bel boasts the classic Vue dc colour palette – the red and black is always stunning for the festive season – combined with a cat’s eye shape that’s classical and instantly glamorous. The four colour choices are black, red/black, tortoise and white with a pearlised effect. More artisan frames by Vue dc including their outstanding Swarovski pieces at www.vuedc.fr CN