By Clodagh Norton – At Silmo, the new accessory designs were innovative, eye-catching and beautifully in keeping with the fine eyewear collections
Eyewear cords, holders, mirrors, lorgnettes, displays…multiple accessories with special design features were well represented at the Paris fair this year. Diffuser Tokyo remains the leading innovator in accessory holders and displays for personal use. Their range has expanded significantly and includes a new impressive luxury case for multiple pairs of glasses (made to order) and several neat designs for displaying frames. Above: on the Diffuser Tokyo stand, the Japanese design label Metropolitan CROSSBottle exhibited their multi-purpose wearable art pieces for “polishing, wearing and decorating”… Their concept is designed to encourage the giving of a piece of art as a gift which also has a useful purpose. https://metropolitancrossbottle.shop
Diffuser Tokyo’s eyewear storage and display accessories are created for individuals who appreciate fine materials and a quality finish – to fit with their fine eyewear wardrobe. The items are ideal for use and display in the home, to protect one’s glasses, to keep them safe, tidy, and easy to find. https://diffuser-tokyo.com
Diffuser Tokyo: eyewear display created from Italian leather
Also exhibiting at Silmo this year, the Spanish family-owned business Flippan’Look (Madrid) displayed a fun range of animal-themed eyewear pendants, lorgnettes and decorative reading pendants in bright colours and interesting materials. The Patio reading designs are inspired by terrazzo patterns and have a simple design that folds into a small leather holder. The two acetate colours available are brown/beige and black/blue. See the full range of designs at www.flippanlook.com
Colour trends: the power of red eyewear
By Clodagh Norton – The red palette is popular again this coming season, with many iterations of bright red, fuchsia and crimson tones available for different complexions and personalities….a perfect lift through the Autumn and Winter months…
The red effect in eyewear is enlivening, energetic, at times experimental, and bold. For Autumn/Winter, the variety of tones take a cue from the catwalk: electrifying lipstick-red monochrome tones are as much of a style statement as elegant warm muted scarlet, coral and cherry hues that lift the complexion and feel classic and modern. Some of the reds are closely linked to bright pink and fuchsia, with some of the more radical designs exploring red to pink gradient effects that are expressive and intense. Above: model Queen in the Volumetrica Capsule by Ørgreen Optics, pictured in Marmalade Pink – this brand new almond-shaped style blends soft, feminine shapes with bold design. The crystal colorations bring a playful, vibrant twist, www.orgreenoptics.com
The ‘Carmine’ red tone at Kirk and Kirk is one of our favourites: carmine is generally known as a slightly purplish red hue and the acrylic version by the UK eyewear brand makes a dazzling saturated frame front, combined with metal temples for a sleek and well defined contrast. www.kirkandkirk.com
OGI Eyewear’s Cabin is a fine example of an expression of layers of colour and texture in eyewear this season – offering a versatile statement look that suits many faces. OGI has developed a reputation for its vibrant colours and clever frame designs. The Autumn collection continues with explorations of many shapes including cat eye, rectangular, and rounded shapes paired with the attractive layered colours. Find out more at www.ogieyewear.com
The French brand VUE DC uses a bright fuchsia colour in their metal collection. Model M12 is an angular thick-rimmed metal style which looks modern and interesting in this bright, positive hue. www.vuedc.com
The red version of Hoxton by Blackfin is a feature of the Atlantic collection, a line offering sharp and striking 3mm titanium fronts. Features of this frame include temples cut from a sheet of beta titanium five-tenths of a mm thick, giving good flexibility. Blackfin’s patented Swordfish temple tip conveys a sense of particular comfort, because the temple length can be quickly adjusted to suit the contours of the face. www.blackfin.eu
Amaia by Gigi Studios is a large silhouette, transformed with the bright red tone from a traditional 1970s silhouette into a bold and trendy design. The Amaia is one of four bright red oversized optical styles in the Vanguard Collection. www.gigistudios.com
For previous articles on this colour palette, click on https://www.eyestylist.com/2022/02/a-neon-glow-in-eyewear/
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Hall of Frames: 2024 date confirmed
The eyewear event will return to Lucerne, Switzerland
Hall of Frames, the Swiss eyewear event which specialises in creating an intimate showcase of independent design collections and emerging brands for opticians in the region, has confirmed that the next event will take place on Sunday 15th September 2024. The show organisers say that they will return to the Museum of Transport in Lucerne, which offers an attractive light space overlooking the lake.
This year the September edition of Hall of Frames attracted a variety of designers and eyewear brands, including Rolf Spectacles, You Mawo, Ørgreen Optics, Nirvan Javan, Look, Dansharian Eyewear, Headrix, J.F. REY and Didier Voirol. Above: close up of the Nirvan Javan ‘Toronto’ series shown at Hall of Frames
Hall of Frames works with several partners for this eyewear event, including Nikon, Beck Optikhandel, Dynoptic and Studio Arenas. At Nikon’s main booth at the recent event, visitors had the opportunity to explore the latest advancements in lens technology, while visitors at the Dynoptic booth could gain insights into the new ‘Connect’ software; the architectural firm Studio Arenas, along with Contedi, a developer specializing in online tools for optical shops, also played an active role in supporting the event. The Kreuzlingen-based company Beck Optikhandel made its debut as a partner at Hall of Frames this year, showcasing three eyewear collections Milo & Me, Amalia and Danell. For more details about the 2024 edition, www.hallofframes.ch
All photos provided courtesy of Hall of Frames / Stefan Heesch, Nordfriisk Photography www.nordfriisk.com
Sea2see: new-season collection presented in photographic project
The B Corp certified ‘seastainable’ eyewear brand has featured their latest frames in a photo project in Morocco by Edouard Valette – the shoot is the first in a special photographic series where Sea2see highlights the fragile beauty of the coastal environment in an artistic and yet poignant reminder of the climate emergency
The shoot took place in and around the fishing village of Taghazout on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, an extraordinarily eye-catching location, and presents a reminder of the natural fragile beauty of the coastline and sea in this particular region. For Sea2see, these vistas have a symbolism that goes beyond fashion, representing “our responsibility towards nature and its very survival across the world”.
Capturing a mood of exploration in this extraordinary scenery, the Belgian stylist, Lisa Lapauw creates a feeling that is at once creative and colourful, with a fresh and distinctive apparel style that also highlights upcycled, pre-used items and discarded plastics from the beach – in line with the Sea2see eyewear collection which is “seastainable” and recycled from marine plastic and waste. Above and below: images from Sea2see’s 2023 photographic project in Morocco – shot by international photographer and filmmaker, Edouard Valette, (https://www.raindogsproduction.com/). A team of internationally famous models and local faces were featured in the images, including Ansar Elyacoubi, Sahal Elhaissan, Kaltoum, Siham and Mohamed Youno.
“These images are full of symbolism, reflecting our deep conviction in circularity, environmental action and the need for widespread material re-use,” said François van den Abeele, Founder of Sea2see. “Travelling to various fishing villages and coastal environments, the scenes express the essence, extraordinary colours and reality of the coastal and fishing environment, the unique biodiversity in the sea… whilst the models wear the fishing nets, plastic bottles, fishhooks and buoys…symbolic of what is discarded on beaches, polluting these spectacular natural shores…”
Model Panarea – produced in 100% marine plastic, has a large eye-catching silhouette – and represents one of the fashion-oriented designs in the 2023 collection, offered in timeless tones of black, Havana blue and graduated burgundy (pictured in image below).
All the eyewear featured in the imagery is part of Sea2see’s current “seastainable” ophthalmic and sunglasses collection 2023. Find out more at www.sea2see.org
Silmo 2023: innovation, new directions, original design
Silmo 2023 delivered a lively showcase of new directions for 2024, thanks to the creative designers and independent labels from around the globe who continue to set the innovation agenda within the world of optics.
Silmo 2023 was a positive and dynamic event for companies across the optical business. Official figures published in the last few days report that the fair attracted a total of 31,337 visitor-buyers, including 15,902 from abroad. In total 929 companies were present in halls 6 and 7 at Paris-Nord Villepinte for the 4 day event. Creative and independent designers were well represented with companies travelling from far and wide including Japan, Australia, Canada and the US, as well as Europe.
Design and colour trends offered much choice and diversity in terms of inspiration, key colour directions and frame architecture. A particular interest in the interpretation of larger architectural and 3-dimensional frames was evident but there were also many new ideas for smaller closer-fitting shapes, multi-sided and organic structures and the beginning of a re-evaluation of rimless eyewear for 2024. Colour trends included some bright blue, yellow and lilac stories while lots of new ideas for finishes and textures offered food for thought for our trend analysis coming up. Above: The stunning Ouvrage by Lafont Paris in collaboration with Maison Sekimoto – created as part of a celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary – was awarded the Prix Special Du Jury – read more about the frame here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2023/09/silmo-preview-lafont-paris-designs-with-sekimoto/
The Rigards stand at Silmo Paris was, as usual, filled with beautiful and iconic designs with new highly accomplished work including the RG1009TI finished with guilloché, a technique requiring particular savoir-faire and which was used in the past to decorate articles of beauty such as Edwardian enamel lockets. Their styles with colourful precious stone inlays were also out of this world, revisiting artistic work of the past (reminding us of the ethereal qualities and light effects of stained glass windows) to create something newly refined for the eyewear connoisseur. Read more about the RG1009TI frame here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2023/09/silmo-preview-rigards-new-work/
MYKITA won SILMO’s first ever “Responsible Company” award, which has been designed to recognise progress in social and environmental responsibility. The category was assessed by an independent CSR jury. Among MYKITA’s achievements in this field are their full switch to the sustainable eyewear material – Eastman Acetate Renew in 2022, and full circularity with their stainless steel supply since 2022. In 2023, the company has introduced a corporate purpose and new strategic platform focused around CSR topics, to guide the company through a sustainability transformation going forward. www.mykita.com
A delightful collection by Italian designer Cleto Munari – his first ever work in eyewear design – has been created in Vicenza, Italy with the collaboration of experts in the art of goldsmithing in Montecchio Maggiore.
The collection is made of premium Italian cellulose acetate by Mazzucchelli 1849. The colour combinations have been carefully conceived to create something unique: the multilayer acetate plate is custom made by Mazzucchelli exclusively for Cleto Munari. Stainless steel hinges ensure resistance and performance while the design of each element meets a commitment to a sustainable, ethical, transparent supply chain.
Cleto Munari, who was presenting the collection at the stand at SILMO, is 93. Since the 1970s he has worked in the field of design collaborating with renowned designers, architects and artists including Carlo Scarpa and Ettore Sottsass. Find out more at www.cletomunarieyewear.com
Capote Eyewear showed a captivating titanium collection that offers balance, harmony and original lens/frame colour combinations. New model ‘Ginga’ – meaning Galaxy in Japanese and “rhythmic dance” in the vocabulary of the Brazilian Capoeira dance, was an eye-catcher with an attractive undulating shape and cut-out detailing at the bridge. The line is wearable and distinctive – with precision in all the small details. www.capoteyewear.com
The small design label Minchillo Occhialeria was a new highlight for those seeking handmade one-off fantasy pieces. Minchillo frames are completely bespoke and handmade in Puglia in Italy. Find out more by checking out their page on Instagram www.instagram.com/minchillo_occhialeria
The small independent label RAPP, presented this year at SILMO by Founder Mel Rapp, had some extremely fun-to-wear styles including brilliant cat’s eye shapes; this round frame called Maggs features a raised dotted line around the rims in a contrasting tone to the base structure. The designs are made exclusively in Canada. Find out more at www.rappeyewear.com
This year the winners of the Silmo D’Or prizes were: Children’s category, Etnia Barcelona with Ba-Baang; Sport category, Marchon with Nike Fly Free; Vision Visual Health, EssilorLuxottica with Varilux XR Series; Vision Optical System: Morrow with Morrow EProgressives; Material/Equipment: Saargos with QuickSee Free from Plenoptika; Optical Frame Brands & Label: ODLM-Seaport with CC 1086 Vedo, Carven; Ecological Innovation in Eyewear: Sbrusset & Co. with Meyro-Nde; Sunglasses Eyewear Designer: Andy Wolf with Blossom; and Optical Frame Eyewear Designer: Cutler & Gross with 9126 Lunettes Cat-Eye in the After Party collection. The Premier Classe Show Award went to Veronika Wildgruber with Lane and the Special Jury Prize to Lafont Paris with their elegant Ouvrage design.
SILMO Paris 2024 will take place on 20th to 23rd September 2024. For more details about the show and the Silmo D’Or awards visit www.silmoparis.com – Further analysis, notable new launches and trend insights will be available at Eyestylist in the weeks coming up. Watch this space!