Technology and fashion are his strong suits. He has always experimented with high-performance textiles and even created new high-tech fabrics when what he wanted was not commercially available. And when he became dissatisfied with the quality of designs that he was working on at a men's outerwear company, he decided to go off and open his own company with only six styles to show buyers. Thus, it comes as no surprise that David Chu, head of the fashion empire Nautica, has launched an eyewear and sunwear collection with Marchon Eyewear that focuses on technology, fashion, and durability. Super-thin (and in some cases "invisible") spring hinges, titanium, and polarized lenses in every sunwear style are some of the technical highlights of the new collection, to be launched to the ophthalmic community at Vision Expo East.

"Nautica is really about fashion and performance," says Chu, speaking about the collection from his corporate office showroom in New York City. "And the eyewear line is really about classic ideas while at the same time being modern."

On the alliance between the two companies, Marchon President Al Berg says, "It makes a great match and there are so many opportunities with the collection."

THE HISTORY

Growing up in Taiwan, Chu studied architecture and spent a lot of time drawing. After taking a drawing course at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, Chu's professors urged him to take up a career in fashion. After a frustrating start at a men's outerwear company, he opened Nautica in 1983.

He named the company after the Latin word for ship, "Nauticus," and he chose a spinnaker logo as a symbol of adventure, action, and classicism. And in 1984, Nautica was acquired by State-O-Maine, Inc., a public apparel company that changed its name to Nautica Enterprises in July 1993.

Nearly 17 years after his start with six styles, Chu has based the company's roots in men's sportswear but has expanded far beyond this realm to create a "lifestyle" concept that offers many types of products to consumers with the Nautica sense of style, design, and function.

Chu says Marchon's global distribution capabilities, coupled with its experience with major fashion brands like Calvin Klein and Fendi, was why he chose to work with the company on the eyewear line.

THE EYEWEAR

The eyewear collection--to be manufactured in Italy and Japan and targeted to both men and women--features a thin, clean, and light design in stainless steel, titanium, and zyl styles.

About 80 percent of the ophthalmic line will have spring hinges. "This is the thinnest spring hinge," says Chu. "About 2 millimeters." The collection also includes rimless styles and pillowed rectangle and almond shapes.

All of the sunwear styles have polarized lenses. "Nautica polarized is a natural," says Berg. "We recognize the challenges of the pricepoint, but we know we are offering a superior lens and a good value. The challenge will be to educate the consumer."

Pricing ranges from $50 to $89 cost for the ophthalmic eyewear and $130 to $175 retail for the sunwear styles.

The Nautica line was previously licensed to and distributed by Zyloware. Berg says Marchon will continue to maintain service on all previous frame styles.  FB