Eyestylist

Rolf Spectacles: surface structure in 3D printed glasses

2nd November 2022

The team behind the Tyrol-based natural eyewear brand Rolf Spectacles has developed a new textured surface structure for their 3D printed plant-based glasses

Rolf Spectacles is driving forward with further innovation and design “firsts” in 3D printed sustainable eyewear. Their latest addition to the 3D printed plant-based frames is a new surface structure called ‘Substance Honey’. It replicates a honeycomb pattern across the surface of the designs. The natural beauty of the pattern was selected to “pay homage to the bees”. It acts as a reminder of the values behind the ‘Substance’ bean-based collection, a multi-award winner for its green and sustainable design innovation. Above: Bernhard and Roland Wolf at Silmo 2022 in Paris, on the presentation of the new eyewear collections and ‘Substance’ Honey collection – Photography by Amanda Sellem exclusively for Eyestylist.com

A first in 3D printed eyewear: the new ‘honeycomb’ texture in the Substance collection by Rolf Spectacles

The new surface adds a discreet aesthetic look to the frame which is minimal, refined and completely different from other 3D printed frame designs. The collection also features smooth 3D printed frames and styles with a texture of “shattered earth”. The model Rigi in the Substance Mount collection features this effect. (https://www.rolf-spectacles.com/optical/substance-mount/rigi/).

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Murg by Rolf Spectacles – the original texture of the bean frames is smooth and natural looking

The colour palette Colours in the collection for the new season range from natural stone, rock and nature inspired tones of grey, grey-blue, mocha and green as well as a few brighter colours which include a bright sapphire blue. All Substance frames are made from beans which originate from fast growing castor trees. The frame hinges, referred to as the ‘Flexlock hinge system’ are 3D printed at the same time and location as the frames themselves, further reducing impact on the planet. Find out more about Rolf Spectacles sustainable eyewear at www.rolf-spectacles.com

Reviews

FACE A FACE Aalto sunglasses

31st October 2022

A new limited edition ‘art piece’ with a striking structure and ‘floating’ lens effect

With temples akin to a two-pronged tuning fork, the new Aalto sunglasses by FACE A FACE are characterised by a striking double hinge design, an exclusive feature they say required particular technical innovation and precision. By balancing their craftsmanship and technological capabilities, the resulting design is imposing and glamorous, with the lines of the frame wrapping curvaceously around the face. Above: model wears the Aalto which references music – in the unusual structure of the ‘tuning fork’ temple and the ‘musical’ name of the frame

Total glamour: Aalto by FACE A FACE – with ‘floating’ lenses was a nominated design in the Silmo D’Or “optical industry” awards

FACE A FACE is always bold and innovative with colour, and combinations are explored with flair in the Aalto design, where a broad choice of pairings include black and patterned black acetate, white and patterned ‘tortoise’ acetate and bright pink with ‘tortoise’ patterned acetate.

Close up of the double temple design of the Aalto sunglasses

Details are also interesting with the temples featuring tiny rivets which match a gold core in the elegant acetate, adding to the finesse of the shape, that is both structural and graphic.

The frames are produced exclusively in Italy by hand and come in two versions, one with a panto front and a second with a more oversized square eye shape. For more information about the new collection 2022, visit www.faceaface-paris.com

Design + Inspiration

100% hot pink!

28th October 2022

There are many possibilities for this gorgeous colour in eyewear this season…

Pink was a loud and uplifting colour across the eyewear collections presented at SILMO Paris at the end of September. The variations of the tone have been informed by remarkable flora and fauna, bold fashion and street style trends (Valentino pink), art movements and summer’s ‘Barbiecore’ obsession. Above: at the Brazilian brand LAPIMA, the bright purple tinged pink tone is called Ultra Violet, and reproduces the lively natural colour of the Manacas, a Brazilian tree with a striking bright flower – see the collection inspired by Brazil’s Serra do Mar at www.lapima.com

The “hot pink” tone is well represented in the Lafont Paris optical and sunglasses collections for all ages in 2022/23. The dazzling brightness of the tone at Lafont is explored in its full glory in models in single “blocked” tones which are fresh and striking (and always elegant), with a very subtle translucency, catching the light. www.lafont.com

Wisper 2 by FACE A FACE – part of the new collection at the French brand, inspired by the Memphis art movement

FACE A FACE had a clever way of playing with pink across its new collection, inspired by the art movement and work by Ettore Sottsass. Model Wisper 2 combines several tones; the bright translucent pink acetate is surrounded by a darker colored rim and graduates to a lighter reddish orange in the lower section of the front. www.faceaface-paris.com

© 2022 Alain Six for ID6o10 – THEO EYEWEAR’s Shoo

The creative label theo has used a very bright tone of pink for many years. In their latest collection – inspired by pinball, the model Shoo combines the punchy shade of pink with a bright tortoise coloration that makes for a particularly upbeat and eye-catching way to wear pink. The circular pink temple ends are a fun twist in the combination. www.theo.be

Padruga Pu at JISCO: a fuchsia pink/purple with patterned acetate

The Spanish label JISCO’s new line, with its palette of colours inspired by the Mediterranean, adds pattern to the pink, highlighting the bevelled browline in a contrasting acetate with a pretty marblised finish and a wide temple detail. For more details, visit www.jiscoeyewear.com

Boutiques

SALT. Optics opens first flagship store

26th October 2022

The new store reflects the strong ties with nature and its Californian home

Californian brand SALT. Optics has opened a new flagship store, offering customers the first direct experience of the brand, its philosophy and commitment to eyewear quality in its home state of California. The store is located at The Shops at Sportman’s Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604, an exclusive shopping complex open seven days a week (www.shopsatsportsmenslodge.com)

SALT. Optics: a new retail space which houses the extensive collections by the brand

The store, which has a minimal design, with concrete floors, whitewashed walls, dark blue fittings and linear wood shelves which display the glasses and sunglasses, houses the full collection of SALT. Optics products as well as offering a few limited editions only available on site. With professional opticians on staff, the aim was to offer an outstanding service at retail where a great fit and style can be achieved with in person assistance. Some exclusive custom options are available for lenses as well as bespoke coloured lenses. To find out more, visit www.saltoptics.com

Design + Inspiration

Intro | Frames Forward, Athens

24th October 2022

A special showroom event for luxury eyewear in Athens

In southern Europe’s capital of cool, ‘Intro | Frames Forward’ – the luxury eyewear event for the Greek market, offers ambiance and an attractive presentation space for previews of fine eyewear lines.

This year’s INTRO took place at SOLID, a large, fashionable event venue in Neo Psychiko, an attractive leafy northern neighbourhood of Athens. The weekend saw the presentation of 8 unique eyewear collections, including Lapima, John Dalia, Chrome Hearts and new emerging label, Pontet Eyewear. The event, which took place on 15th and 16th October, was well attended by the optical community, with clients travelling from across Athens and as far afield as Thessaloniki. Organisers Maria Angeloudi and Natalia Klimi are well-known eyewear entrepreneurs who specialise in working with interesting high quality luxury brands from around the world. Above: the owners of Kokkoris Optics try on colourful sunglasses

Hermes Pontet presented his new frames which reference Greek architecture

The young French designer Hermes Pontet, who launched his first eyewear collection in 2021, showed new optical and sunglass styles with interesting links to travel and Athenian architecture. An uncompromising attention to details and decorative finishes is seen in the models which have fascinating stories and influences.

Lapima from Brazil, above, and top image, Emmanuelle Khanh white sunglasses, among the new products on show at the event

Appealing bright statement colours, including bright pink, white and different tones of green acetate were popular at the show. Luxurious metal frames were also well represented in the collections by John Dalia, Pontet and Chrome Hearts, where fine materials such as titanium, sterling silver and 22-carat gold plate looked shiny and sophisticated with strict attention to finesse in details such as the nose pads, temples, hinges and carefully crafted luxury end tips.

Solene Ramos of Emmanuelle Khanh showed visitors the new designs

Launched in 2020, ‘Intro | Frames Forward’ organise exclusive eyewear events in Athens and Thessaloniki twice a year. For all enquiries about the next events planned for 2023, visit www.introshow.gr and write to [email protected] – Photography @dionisioskoutsis

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