Eyestylist

Between 12th and 14th January, the Munich event hosted a diverse range of innovative programmes for education, sales and dialogue….as well as initiatives which recognised innovation and sustainability. Eyewear exhibitors were out in force; Eyestylist observed new product releases, major new collection launches, particular innovation in the areas of 3D printed eyewear – notably from ROLF Spectacles, Gotti Switzerland with its new Bubbly Series and LEINZ Eyewear – and further refinement in sustainable eyewear design

This year’s opti kicked off the year with energy and excitement. The 3-day event offers a show for the entire optical industry, and this year attracted almost 390 exhibitors from 28 countries. Among them were eyewear designers and brands who presented important launch collections to German and North European visitors (including from the UK, Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia and Austria); this year in particular saw a whole fresh run of new innovative releases and design collections that caught our eye – a selection of which are presented below. Above: a stunning campaign launch by Pontet Eyewear, one of the emerging French brands of note at opti – designer Hermes Pontet is a young French creative who has a special following of clients in Germany. His new collection is inspired by an Italian journey and offers luxurious oversized glamorous designs in high-quality acetate and a subtle colour palette informed by different details which the designer collects on his travels, like memories, and then interprets in each design  – www.pontet-eyewear.com

The latest collaboration between MYKITA and 032c explores the intersection between fashion and sports with a high-tech eyewear design offering a cool, aerodynamic look. Alpine showed at 032c’s first Readytowear show in Paris a few days ago and is expected in stores at the end of June 2024.

The second edition from MYKITA | 032c, this model presents sleek, wraparound sunglasses fashioned from lightweight stainless steel. The MYKITA LESSRIM construction allows the ultra-fine rims to disappear into a groove of the curved lenses. The distinctive temple design follows the bottom contour of the frame, creating flowing lines complemented by specially curved side pieces. www.mykita.com

The new Fusion collection launched by ROLF represents the “fusion” of the brand’s knowledge and expertise in eyewear, with their technical capability and use of natural materials. The designs in this new series offer remarkable texture that has been expertly executed in line with the tradition of craftsmanship at the company – giving a whole new patterned aesthetic to the frame front and creating a fresh and particularly eye-catching direction within the Rolf product portfolio. www.rolf-spectacles.com

Blackfin’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection is all about colour, art and the production techniques utilised in its eyewear families. A theme that, in Blackfin Pacific, is found in the ultra-thin constructions and soft lines of the frames, where the company’s expertise adds value to its design products.

Four new Pacific styles express the line’s creative concept – minimalist Nordic design influences and sophisticated style of America’s West Coast are interpreted in an authentic made-in-Italy product. The titanium material is the common denominator throughout the entire collection but this time Blackfin’s craftsmanship transforms a solid 3mm block of titanium into ultra-light and super-strong frames. www.blackfin.eu

Among the new releases at the Italian sports eyewear company, Rudy Project’s new Astral sunglasses are affordable, sustainable and built for comfort as well as protection. The sunglasses are designed to offer the best of Rudy Project’s sustainable technology – and position it at an entry level price. The sunglasses feature an adjustable Ergonose nose pad, which allows for comfort and a custom fit. This unique design ensures to customize the eyewear fit for different face shapes and preferences, providing unparalleled all-day comfort. Astral’s frames are made of Rilsan Clear, a bio-plastic derived from 45% castor oil grown by certified farmers in Gujarat, India. To provide extra comfort and grip, Astral sunglasses have rubber-coated temples. These soft, durable ends ensure a secure fit, so the focus can be on the performance without worrying about the sunglasses slipping or causing discomfort. Astral cylindrical-based 6 lenses not only offer excellent eye protection, but also sport trendy shapes and colours. www.rudyproject.com

At Sea2see, the Pacifico model was one of several new designs by the “seastainable” brand that sums up a new level of sophistication in the design and detailing of sustainable frames made from 100% marine waste. www.sea2see.org

Italian label Look explores a whole world of new colour details in their ICONS collection with 10 contemporary optical frames for men and women. The shapes are highlighted by the particular colour choices that reinterpret the havana tones of the 1950s and 1970s and explore new gradient or colour blocked hues including the pinkish coral tone above. https://www.instagram.com/lookocchiali/

From Barcelona, Kaleos presented a huge collection of 42 new models at the show, the largest range the Spanish company has ever released, and a celebration of the brand’s anniversary and all that it has achieved through the company’s evolution during those years as well as a homage to a fundamental aspect of the brand’s identity, beautiful shapes. Also of particular note on the stand was the impressive round collaboration frame created by Kaleos with Arquitectura-GX, and first launched in November 2023.  www.kaleoscollection.com

Further content about new trends, the latest eyewear collections and innovators we have had the pleasure of meeting this season will appear on Eyestylist.com in the weeks ahead. opti 2025 takes place on 31st January 2025 to 2nd February 2025. www.opti.de