Sean Combs: Design in the mix

 

 

The hip-hop mogul adds the Sean John eyewear collection to his portfolio

 

 

 

By Amy Spiezio

 

 

 

Music, entertainment, perfume, and fashion. Sean �Diddy� Combs does it all. He even runs marathons. His latest effort is a collection of eyewear from Marchon to help round out his Sean John brand. EB spoke with Sean Combs and Marchon�s senior design director, Leslie Muller, about the new line.

 

 

EB: How did you decide to make the jump from sunglass wearer to sunglass designer? 

 

Sean Combs: The decision was simple. I love sunglasses and I wanted to give my customer the opportunity to delve into another dimension of the Sean John full lifestyle brand.

 

When designing the collection, Combs� vintage sunglass collection with classic Carerra and Cazal styles helped inform his design sensibility. Leslie Muller notes: �When we started the design process, he shared with me his very large personal archive of sunwear.�  This helped inspire certain style directions of the collection.

 

 

EB:  Sunwear is a huge part of your look. How did that impact your designs?

 

SC: I love a lot of sunglasses that are out there today, but I drew my inspirations from things that I love outside the realm of eyewear.

 

Inspirations came from some of the many loves I have, such as automobiles, fashion, vintage appeal, and innovation with shapes and techniques in coloring.

 

Industrial design, automotive styling, and lifestyle were inspirations in the creation process, Muller says: �When we were starting the process, he challenged me. He asked: �What is a sunglass look that I could wear in my 2008 Porche?��

 

 

EB: With your affinity for eyewear, was designing easier than you thought? Harder?

 

SC: It�s never easy. To be honest, I really don�t like attempting anything if it�s too easy. What�s the point? It�s good to be challenged with everything.

 

The toughest part was creating a line that exemplified and stayed true to our Sean John image and stayed true to my inspirations while still contributing something unique and sophisticated to our customers.

 

 

EB: What were some of the must-have details that make the line distinctly yours?

 

SC: I wanted to make some aviator and navigator frames with a zyl/metal combination. I love putting a twist on the classic aviators by adding some rich zyl.

 

These frames have a universal fit and are great for anyone wanting to step out of the conventional styles. A lot of our frames have a hip, retro feel while still staying true to the styles of today.

 

Universal appeal was a theme for the design process. This included the logo options for the collection.�The logo was a big deal. He was really focused that we were exploring a variety of logo options.� The final result was five logo options from etched on the lens to a temple plaque.

 

 

EB:  People may perceive Sean John as hip-hop style, which often has lots of bling, something you don�t have too much of in your collection. Why is that missing?

 

SC: Actually, I really don�t think that it�s missing, you just have to look for it. It�s a subtle bling that I went for. Showing everyone that our product can be flashy, chic, mysterious, and incredibly sophisticated all at the same time was my goal. Creating a line with all that bling is what everyone expects.

 

You�ve got to keep them guessing.

 

The Sean John collection is about more than flash, Muller notes. �He was quite clear and decisive that he�s not about bling. If you look at the sunwear he wears, he doesn�t have bling all over the place. For him, it�s more about luxury�we have leather in the collection and beautiful zyls from Italy. To him, that�s more valuable.�

 

 

EB:  Who do you see in your eyewear?

 

SC: Anyone can wear these glasses and that�s what makes them so amazing. We really designed these frames not only with our typical Sean John customer in mind, but for everybody who�s interested in something classy and something new. We designed these frames not necessarily with a particular person in mind, but an image, and that feeling you get when you put something on that makes you feel sexier. FB

 

 

Sean John captures Diddy�s unique style and takes it optical. Shown above: P.O.P. materials for the collection include this image of the artist; Frames shown here: SJ101S, SJ4007. Below (l to r): SJ102S, SJ112S, SJ5115

 

 

Sleek styles in metals and zyls have thoughtful touches, rich colors, and sleek shapes. Top to bottom: SJ80S and SJ1002; SJ805S; SJ105S and SJ1003

 

 

Diddy Does It

 

Is there anything that Sean �Diddy� Combs doesn�t do? According to diddy.com, these are a few of his current projects:

 

Music: Recently released �Press Play�

 

Business: Heads Bad Boy Music

 

Fashion: Sean John apparel collections

 

Television: �Making the Band� on MTV

 

Also, if you�re hungry, check out one of his Justin�s restaurants, named after his son and located in New York and Atlanta.

 

But he�s not just about the money; his charity, Daddy�s House Social Programs, was started in 1995 to create educational programs and initiatives.