Eyestylist

‘Handmade for your face’

16th August 2013 Exhibiting in Paris last month, buffalo horn specialists Rigards from designers Jean Marc Virard and Ti Kwa, showcased the entire process of handcrafting a pair of their frames from buffalo horn, from the raw material to the traditional tools used, whilst also showing how the by-products are used as nose pads or recycled for fertilizer. The design process was also highlighted, starting from a sketch, created in the traditional way, with pencil and paper. “Our goal was to highlight that Rigards is truly handmade, one frame at a time, in the traditional way.” explained Kwa.

“Produced from genuine buffalo horn, Rigards frames are made from harmonious, natural horn colours such as amber, black and onyx. Each horn plate is matched with the most appropriate design to bring out the inherent characteristics and beauty of the material,” adds Kwa, “and we work with hand tools which really comes through in the finished product, adding a one-off kind of richness and personality to the horn designs in the same way that the history of an antique can add to its value.”

Rigards frames available in London at Layers (www.layerslondon.com.) For more on Rigards visit http://rigards.com CN

Francis Klein has the Solution!

13th August 2013 Losing a pair of sunglasses is not a pleasant experience, yet it can so easily happen, particularly on holiday. Francis Klein has a fun and fashionable solution that we discovered in their Paris boutique – glass cases in which your frames slid into with ease. With its perky design (the reverse shows The Eiffel Tower) and vibrant colours, the case is an ideal way to protect your frames and keep them safe.

The Francis Klein sunglass collection this season features their signature retro shaping in wonderful colours. There are lots of bright florals, plus chic colour combinations as seen in Mel (above) in tortoiseshell and blue. Glittery and matt bronze stones highlight the front of the design, and the waffle detailing adds to the allure of the acetate shaping. www.francisklein.com JG

Summer Stunners Available on Line!

9th August 2013 Don’t leave home without your sunglasses! Two designs we’d definitely love to tuck into our suitcases include these sensational frames in gorgeous blues. Anna-Karin Karlsson’s über sleek acetate creation has a bold structure in rich turquoise, and is graphically enhanced with gold inlay on the frame top and sides. A unique frame destined to be a collector’s item. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Christian Roth magically captures the Azure blue of the Mediterranean with this striking design – Pop Power. Translucent acetate is spiked with dabs of colour, and the retro inspired voluminous shape not only offers sun protection, but great style too. www.christian-roth.com These stunning frames can be ordered on line at www.eyestylist.com – click on BOUTIQUES to easily place your order. JG

6th August 2013 Minute, handfinished detailing showing authentic artisanal skill is where things are going this year in spectacle-making. It is like we’ve come full circle.  This is thanks to a handful of independent labels who are passionate about upholding traditional traits and techniques typical of quality vintage eyewear, and exploring them in the new world of high-tech materials and technology….but still using real “work by hand” to do a variety of the production steps, and sometimes all of them. (Image above: handcrafting in England, Oliver Goldsmith bespoke, read more here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/04/bespoke-at-oliver-goldsmith/ www.olivergoldsmith.com).

References to vintage design include both new interpretations and designs featuring actual vintage elements. Antique pins, metalwork or filigree – the Japanese label Matsuda produces some very fine examples – nose pads or arm ends with tiny embedded initials – for example, at Oliver Goldsmith they are using some of their original OG buttons in their re-released aviators, Colt and Wiseguy – and other exquisite detail work are on a par, once again, with fine jewellery making. You will also notice that the materials in these collections are far from ordinary…..custom glossy acetates – we love the Italian Mazzucchelli ones as do many of the top eyewear designers, traditional luxury metals such as gold that hark back to old-school elegance, and a rise in buffalo horn and handmade works of astonishing precision in wood – Rolf Spectacles (www.rolf-spectacles.com). There are also new designs produced in pretty vintage materials that have been salvaged from former workshops; we’ve seen nice examples of vintage materials in new designs by Thierry Lasry, BlueMagicEye, Nine Worthies / FAN Optics (https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/06/summer-stories/) and Res/Rei (www.eyestylist.com/2012/04/trend-watch-new-frames-vintage-materials/)  – and there are more out there if you search them out. CN

Matsuda Eyewear www.matsudaeyewear.com

Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses www.olivergoldsmith.com

Rolf Spectacles www.rolf-spectacles.com