Eyestylist

Australian independent brand OTIS Eyewear launches in UK

13th March 2025

The independent premium lifestyle brand from Australia was presented to optical retailers and press at an exclusive launch party in White City House, London – the event was attended by the cricket legends, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan

OTIS Eyewear, an established high-quality sunglasses brand founded in Yallingup, Australia, has launched in the UK, with The Eyewear Collective, a newly formed eyewear distribution company with a curated selection of brands and marketing services for independent opticians (@theeyewearcollective). Otis Eyewear’s CEO, Nathan Omodei, and cricket legends Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan were present at the special launch party in London which took place in the exclusive White City House. During the evening Nathan Omodei expressed his excitement at bringing the brand to the UK. The collection offers an award-winning plano sun range featuring a trade marked LIT lens, with properties such as excellent colour enhancement, contrast and reduced glare. The brand is also expanding into Rx, Omodei announced during the presentation of the brand. “With several years of searching and testing behind us, we’re excited to launch OTIS LIT Rx here in the UK as part of our global launch of this product,” he said. Above: OTIS Eyewear is well known in Australia for its high quality and its commitment to using mineral glass lenses; the brand is B-Corp Certified and places emphasis on its sustainable orientation in product development. OTIS Eyewear is launched in the UK through The Eyewear Collective, a newly formed eyewear business which launched officially at 100% Optical, London

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Launch event in London: OTIS Eyewear – Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan were special guests and spoke about their career highlights – *image credit: @ga_walker*

About OTIS Eyewear: The sunglass brand was founded in 2000, built with the intention of creating premium eyewear with a quality-driven timeless style and exclusively featuring mineral glass lenses. Celebrating 25 years in 2025, OTIS is looking forward to expansion beyond Australia and further championing their commitment to craftsmanship, style and sustainability – “to see the world through a clearer lens”. OTIS frames are built on qualities of “style, durability, sustainability and technical excellence”. To find out more about OTIS Eyewear visit https://otiseyewear.com – Photography by Grant Walker @ga_walker

Boutiques

VAVA Eyewear: concept store, Porto

10th March 2025

The Porto-based eyewear brand has created a spectacular concept store designed by Pedro Silva in collaboration with architects and designers from creative fields outside eyewear

The impressive 300m2 concept store is located on the historic Passos Manuel at number 66, and has three distinctive levels. Conceived as an expansive and experimental space, Silva describes it more as an art installation than a store, lit by neon lights and lined with mirror walls and details such as gradient colour palettes and fluo tones. Above: view of the Ground Floor of the VAVA concept store – considered the main showroom in the store, where the brand showcases the eyewear and sunglasses collections – the design of the space was influenced by 2001: A Space Odyssey, Donald Judd minimal art and Brian Eno’s Ambient : Music for Airports

Ground floor – eyewear display at VAVA and red “cube” seating

The Ground Floor has been designed to manifest many of VAVA’s architectural and design preferences and its links with concepts of minimalism. Baby blue details symbolise a sense of calm, serenity and human innocence, while the red cube seating is a tribute to Space Odyssey and the red Djinn chair designed by Olivier Mourgue in 1965.

The Upper Floor showcases products and features a lens laboratory. For the design, the space is informed by Sol LeWitt’s modular structures and by his statement: “conceptual artists are mystics rather than rationalists. They leap to conclusions that logic cannot reach.”

Basement – dedicated to state-of-the-art eye testing and contactology

An eye clinic for full eye testing and contact lens fitting has been installed in the Basement. This area uses design as a tool to “reshape” eyecare with focus on the individual experience and a holistic view to welcome patients as guests, giving them the opportunity to slow down and spend time on self-care in an environment that is contemporary and striking in its minimal architectural style.

About VAVA – Portuguese eyewear brand Vava is one of Europe’s leading innovators in optical/sunglass design offering a sophisticated contemporary and often subtly futuristic design style. The VAVA leitmotif is to offer a high-quality product which embodies the experience, knowledge and art of the great masters of handmade eyewear. According to VAVA, this is knowledge that is gradually being lost as we live in an era when mass-production flourishes and the use of low-quality materials dominates. VAVA seeks to foster a dialogue between craftsmanship and high-tech solutions. This approach, combined with the use of the highest quality materials, makes VAVA unique. The core concept of the brand is closely linked to the “post-industrial” society in which we live, and the growing belief that we live in a “post-human” age. VAVA plays around with people’s imagination and “science fiction”. The brand is inspired by futuristic unisex characters, who have helped them to create a minimal silhouette and a monochromatic figure. This unisex philosophy and minimalistic aesthetic are naturally interwoven into the DNA of VAVA. www.vavaeyewear.com

Design + Inspiration

LOFT 2025, New York City

6th March 2025

Creative leaders and design innovators from the US and around the world will showcase their latest collections at a much expanded LOFT event, with two locations in New York City from 13th to 15th March 2025 – this year marks the 25th anniversary of LOFT in New York

The global eyewear industry is preparing for a blockbuster edition of the LOFT trade event in New York City, part of a new Eyewear Design Week which will host a variety of events at showrooms and hotels in the city. The much larger LOFT event will take place in two locations – Chelsea Industrial and Chelsea Factory – to house a line-up of international eyewear brands. The two sites are just two NYC blocks apart in the Chelsea/Hudson Yards District.

Founder, Richard Mewha has made a statement this week: “I am amazed at the overwhelming support from our vendors and optical retailers this year. We knew that we would have to grow the event to provide a comprehensive reason for clients to keep coming here. We have added a range of independent, curated frame brands as well as a premium lens company and a lab. We have also encouraged other showrooms in a coordinated effort to boost attendance and embellish the customer experience.”

LOFT NYC will present more than 150 independent eyewear designers and brands in the two larger locations. Brands confirmed for Chelsea Industrial include AKONI Eyewear, Blake Kuwahara, FACE A FACE, Folc, Gamine, GOTTI Switzerland, Jean Philippe Joly, l.a. eyeworks, Nina Mûr, RES/REI and MYKITA among others, and in total over 80 individual brands. The Chelsea Factory will host over 60 brands, including Blackfin, Caroline Abram, Erker’s 1879, FFIN, Morel, VAVA, and Veronika Wildgruber. For the first time, LOFT has arranged CE classes by several top industry speakers and experts as part of the schedule. Visitors can schedule all their eyewear appointments and CE classes online on the LOFT website.

Above: theo’s Liquid Elements – a collection which embodies the fluidity and adaptability of liquid metals; the collection includes six frames named after liquid elements in Mendeleev’s periodic table: Gallium, 31 (Ga), Bromine, 35 (Br), Rubidium, 6 (Rb), Cesium, 55 (Cs), Mercury, 80 (Hg), and Francium, 97 (Fr). theo is a long-standing exhibitor at the LOFT event and always brings colour and sensational design collections to the show – theo will be exhibiting in Chelsea Industrial.

RES/REI: model Ambassador: “a tribute to timeless elegance”

RES/REI from Italy will exhibit at Chelsea Industrial. The brand will show its collection for Spring/Summer 2025, and new models in the Flowers, Diamonds and Sculptures collections where highly skilled Italian craftsmanship and charming design work through colours and details come together in very accomplished, unique frame styles. www.resrei.com

Simone in the Galaxy collection by Nina Mûr, the Spanish brand

At Nina Mûr, two new collections are unmissable for visitors wishing to see material innovation in creative eyewear design. The Spanish brand by Lorena Serrano will show Galaxy, a line which fuses art, nature and the universe. The frames are sustainable and feature an authentic stone finish – the material has been explored to create designs with uneven edges and surfaces which capture the textures and purity of nature in its raw form. Nina Mûr is a Spanish brand that offers personalised and innovative glasses for opticians; they will also show their brand new must-see Pearl Eyes collection at the show. www.ninamur.com

MOD by FFIN Eyewear – the eyewear label by Anna Lewis

FFIN Eyewear is one of the emerging labels that will exhibit at the LOFT event (the brand is by Anna Lewis from Wales, UK). Among their new styles launching are the Mod, inspired by the iconic mirrors of the Lambretta scooter. A pioneer of the 60’s British Mod culture, the designer’s mother Rosemary says: “To be a Mod was to be part of a revolution, a shock to the establishment, to be edgy and with-it.” Rosemary was one of the few women to own a Lambretta scooter and she was part of a youth culture that brought attitude to 60’s fashion, music and freedom of expression. The wearer of a Mod frame should feel the echoes of a 60’s youth movement, “who fought for the right to be who you want to be!” Find out more at www.ffineyewear.com

Kuboraum – Mask E21 Crossover – LTD Edition

Kuboraum, the Berlin brand founded by Livio Graziottin and Sergio Eusebi in 2011, will feature at Chelsea Industrial. Their latest interpretation of the Mask E21 is the Crossover Limited Edition design created with Sandra Mujinga. The design seamlessly integrates into Mujinga’s work with its imposing style and exciting aesthetic with multiple piercings. www.kuboraum.com

Blackfin will exhibit at Loft in NYC for the first time (Chelsea Factory). The brand looks forward to showcasing its premium futuristic eyewear designs at the event, representing an important new direction for the Italian brand in 2025. Taking its titanium know-how to new heights, with a fresh design perspective, Blackfin will reveal its capabilities in fusing technological know-how and design expertise in models like the Arc-R and Slot-R sunglasses. Nicola Del Din, CEO Blackfin said: “Blackfin’s unparalleled expertise in 100% in-house titanium manufacturing allows us to create avant-garde eyewear with a truly unique identity. Decades of mastering this material have led to a level of technical and design maturity that brings constant innovation. Every frame reflects a fusion of cutting-edge engineering and refined aesthetics, resulting in state-of-the-art eyewear that is both modern and distinctive.” www.blackfin.eu

Much loved in the US, Lafont Paris returns to the LOFT event next week showing at Chelsea Industrial. Among their novelties is the colourful Raffinée optical model, part of a women’s eyewear collection which includes pretty, multi-coloured combination frames with a creative yet timeless design style, inspired by the Lafont woman herself. The frames in this collection are bold and square, with a structured yet subtle retro look. www.lafont.com

Smith by SALT. Optics – SALT. will be at CHELSEA Industrial

SALT. Optics will show its new luxurious eyewear and sunglasses collection, featuring Japanese acetate styles in custom colours. The frame designs pay homage to the art of timeless eyewear while embracing Japanese innovation. The line includes the style above called Smith, a shape which reexplores the classic P3 with a thinner, lighter profile. The finely tuned nature-inspired palette includes tones of matt indigo, smoke grey tea and mesa, pictured above, a lightly striated acetate pattern with natural cream and brown hues, www.saltoptics.com

Valley of Fire by Gamine NYC – designed in lightweight stainless steel – by Sergei Zubkouski

Valley of Fire is a new design from Gamine New York who will be exhibiting at Chelsea Industrial. This signature model, inspired by Nevada’s oldest state park, captures the fluid beauty of wind-carved sandstone in titanium. The frame’s organic, wavelike shapes mirror the park’s iconic formations, while its signature copper finish echoes the rich, red-tinted sands of the Mojave Desert. Gamine NYC said : “This piece embodies our philosophy of finding beauty in natural forms while maintaining exceptional comfort and wearability.” There are four other striking designs in this collection which all reference architecture or natural landscapes. www.gamine.nyc

Watch our website for more updates and releases ahead of the Loft event next week!

LOFT Eyewear Show takes place at Chelsea Industrial and Chelsea Factory from Thursday 13th March to Saturday 15th March 2025. The show’s popular Independence party will take place on Friday 14th March (Chelsea Industrial) as a celebration of 25 years of LOFT in New York City! LOFT NYC is open from 9.00 am – 6.00 pm, Thursday 13th – Saturday 15th March – www.lofteyewearshow.com

Design + Inspiration

Colour notes: super soft

4th March 2025

Among the many trend stories in eyewear, a soft palette of colours has emerged as one of the most sensual and chic directions in the Spring/Summer collections

Recent eyewear trade events in Munich and Milan unveiled a wide-reaching selection of new colour proposals, among them some soft, light ice-cream tones that lend a new delicacy and feminine expression to women’s eyewear as well as a special elegance in some styles for men. Tones of light blue, powder pink, tea rose, buttery and celestial yellow and light tangerine are among the lighter hues that have been introduced more widely than in previous seasons and explored at different levels of transparency or saturation to bring a new feeling to the frames. Above: 70705 Full Xinox series – LOOK Moda – the colour palette in this collection by LOOK has been designed to reflect a trendy retro style with colour-blocking effects – the material Xinox, a steel originating from Sweden, is given a softer lighter look through the colour combinations and use of some surprising and very contemporary tones, www.lookocchiali.it

Hypno1 by FACE A FACE is a sunglass style in the new collection at the French eyewear brand for Spring/Summer. Exploring an avant-garde concept to challenge the norms of classic eyewear, the shape has oversized temples that frame the front and also features a riveted hinge and visible temple-cores. Available in two hybrid shapes, the colour pictured combines a soft “pink” nude and egg-shell blue. www.faceaface-paris.com

Lafont’s latest collection proposes some playful material mixes with colour combinations that are both fun and sophisticated. Model Rhythme 5726 combines a solid light pink with a deeper tone of red in a structured shape with beautifully confident lines to “frame the eyes” with a particular and striking design. www.lafont.com

Suitto Eyewear from Spain has created an optical collection with a well balanced palette that ranges from classical tones of black and tortoise through to several light pastel tones of crystal pink, light mauve and light turquoise. The designs are also very distinctive thanks to the refined bevelling which provides a sculpted look. Suitto places much emphasis also on creating shapes that suit and fit the face. www.suittoeyewear.com

Model Maple by Article One – in a delicate soft tone of suede

Article One’s subtle sports details are combined with a fashion sensibility to ensure their designs suit all needs across an individual’s active lifestyle. The subtle tone of “suede” is one of a series of on-trend tones in a palette (have a look also at their colours like butterscotch and vintage crystal) that evokes soft varieties of mocha mousse, the Pantone Colour of the Year. See all their finel eyewear styles at www.articleoneeyewear.com

Retrosuperfuture: a collection that is always in tune with colour trends relating to fashion and design

RSF has many different frames featured in pastel tones and light blues and yellows for the Spring/Summer. The Numero 128 – a frame with a cool double bridge and elongated rectangular eye shape, comes in a tone called “Cremoso Q” a lightly saturated creamy yellow tone that perfectly fits with the delicate palette that is currently evolving and catch our eye! Take a look at more of the Retrosuperfuture frames at https://retrosuperfuture.com

Design + Inspiration

100% Optical, London – new must-see collections

26th February 2025

The UK’s optical show takes place this weekend (1st to 3rd March 2025) – eyewear companies from Europe and the US will be exhibiting – in total 250 exhibitors have been confirmed for the trade event

Returning to London’s Excel Centre this week, 100% Optical organisers are promising an action-packed show, the 11th edition of the UK’s largest event for the optical industry. The programme for the weekend will include an education programme, in partnership with the Association of Optometrist (AOP), as well as optical fashion, design and cutting-edge equipment and technology, the return of 100% Ophthalmology, a co-located event which is the first in the world to bring together optometry and ophthalmology under one roof, plus a host of ‘happy hour’ networking opportunities.

For visitors who wish to find eyewear design inspiration, this year’s event will see the return of the 100% Studio (sponsored by Nikon Lenswear UK). The event organisers say this area will be “bigger, and bolder” featuring an enhanced dedicated area featuring new brands, 12 new stands, a line of up independently handcrafted eyewear. The organisers say this area is committed to championing the industry’s leading independent eyewear brands that honour craftsmanship, creativity and innovation.

As the show approaches, Eyestylist is pleased to share some brand new eyewear collections from international independent eyewear brands, showing at the London event for the first time. Above: the Italian company Blackfin will exhibit at 100% Optical – they have multiple releases, including new models in the Spring/Summer 2025 Blackfin One collection: this line embodies a bold, sophisticated vision, where modern shapes merge with a timeless aesthetic. The desire to experiment with new geometries converges with a constantly updated colour palette, www.blackfin.eu

Erker’s from the US return to 100% Optical each year. This collection is full of artisan details, heritage references, and fresh colours and patterns. Highlights include the Bay Window Collection with 27 chic eyewear frames, blending the story of the brand’s German heritage with modern style. Inspired by the charm of St. Louis and the warmth of home, the Bay Window Collection includes 20 optical frames, 4 sunglasses, and 3 additions to the limited-production ‘Special Reserve’ series. This collection also adds 18 new colourways, including unique frame shapes made of metal, acetate, or in combination, and a subdued, modern colour palette that provides flattering choices for all specs wearers. www.erkers1879.com

ROLF – model Premiere – an example of beautiful craftsmanship at the Austrian eyewear label ROLF

ROLF frames continue to be popular in the UK and with some of the leading optical retailers thanks to their quality and material innovation, in natural wood, horn, stone and 3D printed material made from castor beans. 100% Optical will be an opportunity to see their new designs in the award-winning Evolved, Substance and Fusion collections for Spring/Summer 2025. www.rolf-spectacles.com

Fused2 by FACE A FACE – the stunning burnt orange tone is paired with touches of tortoise, cream and light blue

Rich colours and artistic flourishes with playful geometric design details define the new FACE A FACE collection – on show at the Design Eyewear Group stand this weekend at 100% Optical. Avant-garde concepts, bold, hexagonal, oval and square eyewear shapes and visually exciting details all feature here, in sunglasses and opticals that are full of unique expression. www.faceaface-paris.com

Dita-Lancier has just launched a new collection designed for performance and everyday wear, where eyewear functionality meets “superior style and comfort”. The frames in the collection offer ergonomic design, lightweight silhouettes, and durable yet elegant structures that benefit from particular features for comfort such as flex-fitting temples and adjustable anti-slip notepads. www.dita.com

Mykita Lite – model Jada – the frame style features acetate rings fitted inside steel rims

MYKITA will exhibit at 100% Optical this year. Among their popular collection is the Mykita Lite range, defined by modern silhouettes and pure constructions. This concept has been developed to offer super lightweight frames that also offer a refined and sophisticated aesthetic that is a pleasure to wear. www.mykita.com

100% Optical is a trade-only event for optical retailers taking place from 1st-3rd March 2025. To find out more visit www.100percentoptical.com

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Eyestylist

Australian independent brand OTIS Eyewear launches in UK

VAVA Eyewear: concept store, Porto

LOFT 2025, New York City

Colour notes: super soft

100% Optical, London – new must-see collections