Eyestylist

3 of the best: complex multi-colours in bold eyewear choices

6th November 2024

For the colder season, these multi-toned designs with interesting sculptural silhouettes are a beautiful addition to a winter wardrobe

In the independent collections, designers continue to expand their design work with exceptional interpretations of colour, only possible with the use of the highest quality coloured acetates. Frames with this character and artisan flair make the perfect antidote to cold winter weather – bringing warmth to our natural features with their spectacular details and highlighting personality through an astounding combination of interesting, solid and translucent tones. Above: model Omega in the Avantgarde series by henau eyewear comes in some intriguing combinations; the frame has a vertical gradient colour effect on the front paired with temples in a saturated darker tone – the bright berry hue on the front of this frame – a trending colour for the Autumn/Winter season – makes a striking contrast to the light crystal acetate in the centre section – www.henau-eyewear.com

The Russet style at l.a.Eyeworks is an impressive stricture in itself, with its elegant angles and bevelled edges. The frame comes in several colours we feel are particularly well adapted for Autumn/Winter wear, including Stone Pony – a glamorous patterned design in natural greys and browns and Bambi which has a two-tone palette with focus on natural hues. Outstanding is the “Rosewater Brownie” colourway, which effectively combines three distinct hues with a pretty graduated effect in the middle. As brown is a popular colour in apparel, this exciting combo feels particularly in tune with what’s going on in colour in other spheres of design. www.laeyeworks.com

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The Athena by Struktur Eyewear – pictured in the indigo colourway

The Athena is a highlight in the French line by Struktur Eyewear this season and features hand brushed finishes on the top of the frame and temples. The feminine oval shape is further enhanced in this elegant indigo gradient colourway with a rainbow colour shading effect, a distinctive choice for all lovers of bold, more experimental colour combinations for the face. Find out more at www.struktur-eyewear.fr

Design + Inspiration

Morel par Jean Nouvel: the latest collection has arrived!

5th November 2024

The latest collaboration collection studies the circular design with a minimalist aesthetic

Now into its fifth year, the collaboration between eyewear company MOREL and world-class architect Jean Nouvel, evolves their concept of circular eyewear styles. Nouvel has a predilection for round spectacles and a high quality, essential design structure achieved in premium materials including acetate and titanium. Above: perfect circles with architectural and refined lines are the focus of the glasses in the collaboration

MOREL par Jean Nouvel – a flat profile, the minimum of material

Jean Nouvel is an award-winning French architect who has designed products and furniture as well as world-famous buildings such as Torre Glories in Barcelona (Agbar), 100 11th Avenue Condominium, New York, and the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Arts in Paris. To find out more about the MOREL par Jean Nouvel collaboration collection, visit www.morel-france.com

Reviews

Equilibrio by Struktur: The Eclipse

30th October 2024

The Eclipse is part of Struktur’s new Equilibrio concept which first launched in September – the panto shape has been developed by means of a detailed study of vintage panto styles

The new concept features frames created according to the key direction of the French label which fuses craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology and refined design details. Crafted from 8mm cellulose acetate, the acetate parts of each frame are machined to create the unique shape and subsequently polished in barrels for a week to create a brilliant glossy finish. A second phase of milling is then performed to create the delicate bevels in the back and along the sides of the frames, the work that adds a sculptural look with a luminous finish. Above: the Eclipse model in a patterned acetate called “poppy field”

The Eclipse by Struktur, in “pink pink” – the temples are lightweight stainless steel

In the Equilibrio collection, all styles feature sculpted end pieces and nose pads and a narrow tailored stainless steel temple. The combination of acetate and metal achieves a comfortable balance between strength and lightness – viewed from the front, the beveled structure of the hinges aligns naturally with the temples. The Eclipse frame is available in several trend-focused colours (‘pink pink’, caramel mustard, poppy field, and rustic blue) and is one of six models in this new collection. Struktur frames are handmade in Normandy, France. Find out more about the lightweight Equilibrio models at www.struktur-eyewear.fr

Reviews

Nylor – the brand created in 1955, is back

29th October 2024

Re-launched in 2022, the iconic French brand NYLOR offers a collection of eyewear created according to the brand’s traditional values – the frames are already stocked by some of the most highly regarded opticians around the world

Inspired by the iconic vintage designs that made the brand famous, NYLOR has repositioned its collection with a contemporary flavour, selecting the finest materials in the present to recreate the unique new variations of the handcrafted designs of its past. Made in Italy, the designs come in a range of materials including acetate or metal coated in precious metals such as gold or silver. For sunglasses, the frames are fitted with Zeiss Originals tints from the 1950s, specifically reissued to fit perfectly with the style and 50s origins of the range. Above: elegant and refined, the Nylor frames of today closely observe the quality and refined details of the original collection – they frames have a particular and inimitable style

Highlights this season include the model Leopold, a tribute to the poet, Léopold Sédar Senghor. The design is all about the structure of the brow line, a thick, delicately bevelled acetate bar which curves into the temples seamlessly creating a single line which wraps around either side of the face. The frame is available in many different colours including glossy cherry red (pictured above), matt khaki, glossy dark tortoise or a very classic matt black that defines the original mood of the 1950s.

Nylor was registered as a brand in 1955 by SL, the Societe des Lunetiers cooperative based in rue Pastourelle – the Marais in Paris. The brand featured a newly patented technology at the time which allowed the lenses to be attached to the frame with an invisible nylon thread. The innovation was a huge step forward for the production of rimless eyewear – lightening the contours and allowing for new possibilities for their design and fashion appeal. Find out more about Nylor today at www.nylor.fr

Arts + travel

Latest news: Loft Eyewear Shows announce “New York Eyewear Design Week”

28th October 2024

The first edition is to be held in New York City from March 13^th to 15^th 2025

Loft Eyewear Shows has announced a new show concept for NYC in 2025: “New York Eyewear Design Week”, with the first edition to be held in New York City from March 13^th to 15^th 2025.

This initiative is being created “to foster a seamless, curated experience that brings together a diverse array of eyewear brands and industry stakeholders”. For the first edition, Loft confirms that Kering Eyewear and Thélios are participating with independently hosted showroom events to present their Summer 2025 collections while the independent eyewear showcase by Loft will present a stunning variety of independent labels. The organisers want the events to be designed to benefit eyewear boutiques, industry buyers, optometrists, opticians, and their staff, offering them a rich, immersive experience in a city they know and love.

The event promises not only to highlight the latest trends and innovations in eyewear but also to provide a stimulating environment where business and creativity intersect. There will be a full complement of Optometry and Optician Continuing Education as well as a space dedicated to machinery, software and optometric needs.

LOFT Eyewear Events has been hosting an off-site event space since 2000 and will be celebrating 25 years since their first event in NYC. Featuring brands such as Mykita, Bevel, Anne et Valentin, Theo, Blake Kuwahara, and la Eyeworks, the LOFT event has become a staple in the eyewear event calendar. The LOFT organisers have confirmed they will be adding a second space to showcase additional independent brands close to the location at Chelsea Industrial. Find out more at www.eyeweardesignweek.com

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