Lotho Paris
This exquisite colour is one of the highlights of the approaching autumn season – and it is as stunning in eyewear, as it is in clothing. Lotho is a French brand that thrives on providing beautiful frames with distinctive details. Allen 5 is aesthetically pleasing in teal acetate with its graceful angles, and is delicately piped in mocha acetate. www.lotho.fr JG
SG Wants the DJ
Suzy Glam
As a jewellery designer, Susanne Klemm understands the components of cut gemstones, and this knowledge now translates into her stunning eyewear collection. SG Want the DJ features a luxurious faceted shape, moulded in fine Italian acetate, with the frame surface round and smooth. I’ve tried on Suzy’s frames, and the craftsmanship, fit and beauty is a delight. The collection will make its official debut at SILMO in Paris in September.www.suzyglam.com JG
Tom Stevens Eyewear
Design Inspiration in The Netherlands
1st August 2013 This month, Eyestylist chats with Tom Stevens of Tom Stevens Eyewear in The Netherlands
Please give details of your background. “I used to be an optician and started my first independent optical store in 2001. Two years later, I opened a second store and enjoyed the years working with people, and always looking for new collections to fill my shops. In 2008, I sold both stores and started doing what I really wanted to do: designing frames. Together with my business partner we launched the children’s label Red Kids Eyewear. In 2011, Tom Stevens Eyewear was launched.”
What inspires your eyewear designs? “My ideas and inspiration for new designs can come from anywhere: cars, buildings, fashion, shapes I discover in objects. I start drawing shapes that I prefer or might be interesting for new models. I like to anticipate the trends too. For instance, ultra round shapes in our new titanium collection. The colours for each model are partly inspired by fashion and catwalk trends. We used neo coating on previous models, as an example. The different seasons also affect my preference for certain colours. The new collection – which will be launched in September – shows darker, sophisticated and ‘calm’ colours, such as midnight blue, matt gold, warm autumn red and soft creamy white.”
Do you have a customer ‘profile’ in mind when you design? “I don’t think of a potential customer when I design. I just draw shapes that I like; this part of the process is quite abstract actually. Clearly I think about measurements, sizes and fittings for male and female faces. But for me, my designs can be worn by all sorts of people.”
In what countries are your frames sold? “Our collection is sold in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Ireland and Denmark. We are in the process of distribution with South Korea, the U.S. and Australia.”
What are your favourite eyewear materials? “I prefer to work with acetate and titanium in the highest quality. We are experimenting with new materials, and new ideas often pop up in my mind, but it has to work in the final product too. Acetate and titanium have proven to be very solid and beautiful materials in which to produce frames.”
Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring creators? “Follow your heart, work hard, have fun and never, ever forget what started you in the first place. You will have to overcome bumps in the road, and it might be hard. But if you do something you believe in, and it’s the only thing you really want to do, keep going for it. It will pay off.” www.stevenseyewear.com JG
Accessories adventures
Join us this month for an accessory adventure – eyewear of course – plus hats, scarves, and sunwear essentials. In Reviews, there are fun, innovative frames for children. Paris is the destination for a little jewel you’ll find in Boutiques, and the location of our multi-talented Designer of the Month. Visit the French seaside for an exhibition that unites fashion and art. Click and stay with Eyestylist for summer and style eyewear expressions.
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A favourite new-season accessory
Age of Reason
28th July 2013 We have covered a few special accessory labels this month, and this one is on my “most wanted” listed for next season. Ali Taylor Mapletoft designs luxurious printed silk scarves with unique patterns and motifs, as well as other elegant accessories including hats and cushions. Dedicated to quality and integrity, Ali puts a twist on her designs that she describes as “wearable luxury with a playful punk twist.” The combination of the natural fibres such as pure silk and cool modern decorations – from abstract to slogans, to line drawings and pug puppy prints – bring a whole new modern feel to the classic scarf as we know it.
For A/W 2013, Ali’s collection includes what you see here, a brilliant world of colour and designs and motifs celebrating rebellion. Trompe l’oeil robes, chains and antique French linens are printed on the silk or wool, combined with contrasting delicate patterns and glamourous female portraits hidden through the bold stripes, deconstructed from the Union Jack flag.
We discovered Age of Reason at Kirsten Goss, London W8. www.kirstengoss.com The label is also stocked in selected fashion boutiques. www.age-of-reason-studios.com and http://age-of-reason-blog.com/ CN