Natural Selection

Designers� Notebook

By Amy Spiezio

It�s back to nature in the fashion world, as flora and fauna influence designers to create styles with splashes of organic inspiration. Nature�s palette provides a backdrop for dramatic color, while bursts of fantastic patterns add a touch of fun. From natural material such as wood and horn to reproductions of animal skins and flowers, it�s a wild world.

�Lafont goes back to nature using natural organic materials that are luxurious and feel great against your skin. Sarong is an environmentally friendly sunglass with temples made from natural bamboo. Bamboo is not only very abundant, but it's also so strong that it's used for scaffolding in Asia.�

Ray Kahlil of Lafont Eyewear

Lafont style Sarong

�The snake symbolizes power and sensuality, which are traits that define the modern woman. I also find snakes to be especially interesting because they shed and change theirskin, which is what fashion is all about.

�This Limited Edition �Snakeskin� style 567 is a voluptuous square sunglass featuring authentic snakeskin on my signature, trademarked hinge�an extraordinary juxtaposition of the natural snake print against the print lining the interior of the frames.�

Robert Marc of Robert Marc Eyewear

RM style 567-94

�I was inspired by the desire to create something natural and earthy, a departure from the metals and plastics that currently dominate eyewear fashion.

With this approach we are able to deliver something to our customers that is green, gorgeous, and timeless.�

Ann Sacks of Amy Sacks Eyewear

Style Ta-keh

�We were inspired to use natural materials because of their luxurious look and comfortable feel. The Indonesian teak of the 800 series is hypoallergenic and is produced in certified plantations that grow this wood strictly for manufacturing and do not affect or damage Indonesia�s rainforest.�

Nicolas Roseillier of MODO Eyewear

�We are in awe of the beauty of the organic world and pay homage to it...the Koali floral �wallpaper� etching is representative of the inspiration and warmth of all that grows in the organic world.�

Thomas Castiglione of Morel Eyewear

Koali style Trumpet Creeper

�To mimic the luxurious materials used in Carolina Herrera�s apparel collection, we used a combination of fine laser and epoxy to mimic alligator skins.�

Blake Kuwahara of Base Curve

Carolina Herrera style H307