There is a cosmopolitan attitude and personal touch in eyewear designs by Coppe+Sid. The frames in the collections are named after major global cities, and their respective airports. Each frame is handmade in Italy, numbered, and comes with a warranty to guarantee the customer has the genuine article. Manila (above) in beautiful hues of soft turquoise with surf white sides, expresses a hint of retro with its gentle cat eye shape. www.coppeandsid.com JG
Designer Jeremy Tarian searched for two years to find a particular acetate colour to include in his collections. The Silmo D’Or winner achieved his goal with acetate that looks like horn, created exclusively for Tarian. The variance in the colourations and shadings give De Beauce a classic dignity and beauty. www.jeremytarian.com JG
In a little workshop in Barcelona, Baptiste Vuerich creates original, fun frames handcrafted from old recycled skateboard decks. Vuerich points out that only used decks – which he buys mainly from skateboarder teenagers – are transformed into frames. Cruisin is artfully designed so that the smooth wood grain is evident, and the pale blue sides add a delicate touch. www.vuerichb.com JG
Cool, fresh and pure lines keynote this lovely frame by Tom Stevens. The Netherlands based designer creates quality eyewear for men and women who appreciate refinement and frames with linear flow . Refreshing mint green is the gracious colour for Chloe in beta titanium, that is coated with a special lacquer for sustainability. www.stevenseyewear.com JG
1st June 2013 Vala 9/9 (above) is one of the Limited Edition designs in the evocative Nine Worthies Collection, the most recent launch from the British label Fan Optics. The label highlights a commitment to traditional spectacle making, producing, unusually, its frames in England, whilst bringing together some of the highest-quality materials available in the business. These include special multi-barreled hinges, Zeiss sun lenses for good UV protection, and a handmade soft leather case also produced in the UK.
For the Nine Worthies, the clean elegant shapes from FAN’s existing inaugural collection are created in a rare 90s Italian vintage acetate. Found in the old English factory where the Fan Optics designs are produced, it has a character and artisanal finish all of its own.
And the significance of the 14th century name? The nine special frames in the Edition – three shapes in three colour variants – pay hommage to the nine historical, scriptural and legendary personages of the Middle Ages – the Nine Worthies – representing the ideals of chivalry. They were a common theme in art and literature at the time, and a reminder, to those who saw these representations, of bravery, heroism and high deeds. It’s a great story and link for these frames of substance, and one that might have you leafing through dusty old history books to find out more. For more information on the Nine Worthies by FAN Optics plus superb online sunglasses shopping, visit www.fanoptics.co.uk
This is an exclusive report by Eyestylist.com. For more on the British label FAN Optics visit: https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/05/trendsetting-sunglasses/