Eyestylist

| Eyestylist 1st January 2016

Samba by Lafont Paris

Creative director of the Paris brand, Thomas Lafont has caught our imagination with the adorable Samba sunglasses, a design enhanced with hair clips in the shape of bows, clipped into each temple (and removable, as required). Lafont continues to feature authentic Liberty prints embedded in acetate frames and the Samba’s statement bow shaped clips make a feature of the iconic floral fabric in several of the colourways available, perfectly coordinated with the laminated tri colour fronts. Launched at Silmo Paris 2015, expect to see the beautiful Samba hitting store shelves shortly. For more information about Lafont Paris, visit www.lafont.com CN

| Eyestylist 29th December 2015

Joyful Colours

Joy and colour are two elements to celebrate, and a winning combination in artisan eyewear. The end results are beautifully original. Colour enhances, transforms and inspires. The amazing colours of South African fruit are the basis for the Exotic Fruit Collection by Niloca Eyewear. The Australian brand has launched a classic, large round frame – ACIA (above), fabricated in acetate with gold glitter in three different sizes to replicate a Glitter Tortoise effect. For more info on this custom eyewear brand visit www.niloca.com

Seaside Wave 202 by Jono Hennessy
Seaside Wave 202 by Jono Hennessy

Louise Sceats at Jono Hennessy reports that she looks forward to heading to their favourite summertime haunt – Palm Beach in Australia. The lure of sea and surf is the impetus for the new design Seaside Wave 202 – an explosion of colour that is reminiscent of sun parasols, the blue ocean and yellow sand. www.jonohennessy.com

Infused with Colour - Kaleidoscope Collection by Kirk & Kirk
Infused with Colour – Kaleidoscope Collection by Kirk & Kirk

Vibrant, joyous colour is a stimulus at Kirk & Kirk with their lively designs from the Kaleidoscope Collection. Acrylic – the preferred material at Kirk & Kirk – orchestrates with colour so rich – the effect is luminous and clear. www.kirkandkirk.com

Sandman by l.a. Eyeworks
Sandman by l.a. Eyeworks

Traditional shaping meets modern splashes of colour in Sandman by l.a. Eyeworks, a softly sculpted fame with generous volume – a creative design of multi-faceted colours in acetate – called Jimmy Tortoise. www.laeyeworks.com JG

| Eyestylist 23rd December 2015

Moscot NYC in London

Moscot’s latest venture is a new store in Soho, London, which opened this month. The first of its kind in Europe, the shop at 37 Beak Street has been designed to replicate the Moscot stores in New York City, with the familiar decor, vintage memorabilia and dark wood fittings, and a range of its well-known vintage-look eyewear, popular with spec-wearing celebrities including Johnny Depp.

Hugo at Moscot London
Hugo at Moscot London / image by Eyestylist.com

We popped in on a busy Xmas shopping afternoon to a warm welcome from the team and managing partner, Mo Webb. Resident ‘Moscot mascot’ Hugo (#MOSCOTMASCOT) was also at home – one of the cutest puppies we’ve met in a while.

As well as three stores in New York City and one in London, Moscot has shops in Tokyo and Seoul. One of the oldest surviving independent labels in eyewear, dating back to 1915, the brand has grown a following globally.

Moscot London, 37 Beak Street, Soho London W1F 9RZ. For details about Moscot, visit  www.moscot.com CN

| Eyestylist 22nd December 2015

Let it snow!

“When the weather outside is frightful, a new pair of glasses is so delightful!” Gogosha Optique. Gogosha Optique in Los Angeles ring in the holidays with a snow-filled campaign, and glasses by specialist independent labels including Ahlem Eyewear, Kirk & Kirk, Garrett Leight, and THEO. Bold colours, inventive shapes and detailed finishes make for a holiday collection that’s festive and cool, yet sure to warm up any look, says owner Julia Gogosha.

gogosha-by-maggie-west-1770_web

gogosha-by-maggie-west-1203_web

With images by photographer Maggie West, the campaign highlights some of the most covet-worthy artisan frames of the season, with emphasis on the handmade and individual colour selection. Wishing everyone a festive holiday!

For more details about spectacles and sunglasses at Gogosha Optique visit, www.gogosha.com CN

| Eyestylist 18th December 2015

AMREF Flying doctors

The vast, sprawling plains of Africa, its beauty and history have long been an influence for Luca Gnecchi Ruscone. So the Italian eyewear designer was naturally inclined to participate in a humanitarian campaign to help African people. AMREF Flying Doctors is an independent, non-profit company providing professional air ambulance services across the African continent. Through their Charitable Evacuations Programme, the Flying Doctors offer aero-medical care and transport free of charge to the poor in need of urgent medical attention; otherwise these people may not survive.

Luca Gnecchi Ruscone and a Flying Doctors pilot
Luca Gnecchi Ruscone and a Flying Doctors pilot

Through their Charitable Evacuations Programme, the Flying Doctors offer aero-medical care and transport free of charge to the poor in need of urgent medical attention; otherwise these people may not survive.

Dahlak for AMREF Flying Doctors by L.G.R.
Dahlak for AMREF Flying Doctors by L.G.R.

To help support the AMREF Flying Doctors, L.G.R. has created Special Edition sunglasses  with the design based on suggestions received from the pilots. The sleek, smart frame – Dahlak – is revisited, designed with a special anti-reflective coating on the lenses, plus a powerful high altitude UV protection filter and leather eye guards to block out glare while the pilots are flying.

Ready to help: Flying Doctors offer aero-medical care in Africa
Ready to help: Flying Doctors offer aero-medical care in Africa

Luca Gnecchi Ruscone commented: “The origins of L.G.R. are deeply rooted  in Africa, which is why I wanted to produce the Special Edition ‘L.G.R. for AMREF Flying Doctors’ Charity Evacuations. A percentage of revenues from sales will therefore be donated to the Charitable Evacuations programme run by AMREF Flying Doctors, a local organisation that has been working in Africa for many years. My hope is that in this way, L.G.R. can make its own contribution  to increasing the number of free evacuation flights flown to save the lives of people with serious illness. This along with other projects, is our way of giving back to the African continent, which has played such an important role as the source of inspiration behind the brand.” www.lgrworld.com JG

Images: Courtesy L.G.R.