If the Shoe Fits...

S�filo launches Nine West
ophthalmic collection

Nine West Group Inc. knows shoes. With its signature Nine West and Nine & Co. footwear collections, as well as its Easy Spirit, Calvin Klein, Pappagallo, and Pied a Terre footwear brands, the supplier garners more than 11 percent market share in the shoe category. Now, after signing a licensing agreement with S�filo USA, it knows eyewear as well.

Under the agreement, S�filo will manufacture a line of ophthalmic frames. In return, S�filo gets to market a powerful name. Nine West currently holds a licensing agreement with Riviera for sunwear, which is available only to department store retailers.

The 16 women's styles in the debut collection are available in plastic, metal, and combination styles, some with spring hinges. Produced in S�filo's Hong Kong factory, the frames offer clean lines and feminine shapes. Colors range from basics to brights, including polished and satin metals. Pricepoints range from $75 to $125.

Point-of-purchase materials include a 14- and 30-piece display and in-case and countertop pieces communicating Nine West's styling. For more information, call S�filo USA at 800-631-1188. 

Here Comes the Sun

Eyewear Designs expands Arden
collection to include sunwear

Elizabeth Arden, known for enhancing women's faces and eyes with her line of high-end cosmetics, has now launched a collection of sunwear that's ironically designed to cover up their faces. Eyewear Designs, which has been distributing the Elizabeth Arden ophthalmic line since 1990, recently announced its plans to offer the sunwear counterpart.

The collection includes 17 metal, plastic, and combination sunwear styles in large, glamorous shapes. Several plastic styles feature gradient laminate techniques in colors such as tiger, white, tortoise, metallic green, and peach. The metal and combination styles feature ornate metal temples and heavy logo detailing. The collection wholesales from $80 to $120.

Point-of-purchase materials include five frosted crystal displays, three-, six-, 12-, and 24-piece rotating displays, and name plaques. For more information, call Eyewear Designs at 800-645-6596.

Tower of Power

Viva relaunches Roy Tower to
emulate European styling

Inspired by its success in Europe with its impeccable craftmanship and discreet detailing, Viva International Group recently relaunched its Roy Tower Eyewear collection in the United States.

Fashioned in the style of the classic European man, the collection offers a mature and masculine look. The line ranges from the ever-classic horn rim style to the full metal P3 in rich colorations such as brown, demi amber, grey, olive, and gunmetal. Materials include stainless steel, cellulose acetate, monel, and nickel silver. A special feature on many of the Roy Tower styles include "the clip," which is located on the frame's temple to allow the wearer to fasten the frames to a shirt or jacket pocket. The line wholesales from $34.95 to $39.95.

Point-of-purchase materials include a closed nine-piece countertop display made of natural wood and glass, countercards, and a logo plaque. For more information, call Viva International at 800-221-0414. 

No Beginning, No End

Bada founder launches Sama Eyewear

For Sheila Vance, former co-owner and founder of Bada Eyewear and designer of the Bada, Okio, and Koh Sakai collections, the name of her new company, Sama Eyewear, has a lot of meaning. In Japanese, Sama means no beginning, no end, demonstrating rebirth through the integration of the past and symbolizing infinity of possibility. For Vance, the name means something professionally and personally.

Her Sama Eyewear collection integrates her past design knowledge and fashion understanding into a line of unlimited possibilities. Sama also has meaning for Vance personally. After losing her only son at the age of 19 last year, she began the Sam Vaziri Foundation to stop heroin from killing others. Proceeds from the collection go to the Foundation. In this case, an end poignantly became a new beginning.

The eyewear line, which is divided into four categories (Serenity, Balance, Clarity, and Power) offers 30 metals, plastic, and combination styles. The line includes handmade and hand polished plastic and metal frames. Some special features include three- to five-laminations in plastic styles, laser etched details on plastics and metals, and engraved details in plastics. Colors range from burgundy and copper to sky and violet, and special color details include gradient colors, brushed matte finishes, and shiny finishes. The line's various styles are offered in several different materials: pure titanium, beta and spring titanium, nickel alloy, 24 karat gold plating, Japanese plastics, and precious stones.

For more information, call Sama Eyewear at 310-545-4755. 

Crocodile Rock

L'Amy offers Lacoste styles just for women

Nicknamed "le Crocodile" by the American Press in 1927 for his tenacity and ruthless court strategy, French tennis pro Rene Lacoste was known for having a crocodile embroidered onto the clothes he wore on the courts. After retiring, Lacoste set up a small company to manufacture polo shirts with his famous crocodile insignia--which later became the signature polo shirt of his internationally recognized sportswear firm.

The company expanded its product offering to include eyewear after signing a licensing agreement with L'Amy in 1981. Most recently L'Amy launched the Lacoste collection for ladies. The collection offers three distinctively feminine styles, including an upswept oval and soft geometric. According to the firm, the line offers casual, easy-to-wear styles that are modern and chic. Colors range from soft plum and evergreen to mushroom and satin gold. The line wholesales from $49.95 to $54.95.

Point-of-purchase materials include mini countercards. For more inform- ation, call L'Amy USA at 800-USA-LAMY. EB