frame introductions

Amy Spiezio

1 Viva International Group

MODEL: Catherine Deneuve Lunettes styles CD-276 and CD-277
MATERIAL: Acetate and metal
SIZE: 51/17-135 (276); 53/17-135 (277)
COLORS: Brown, champagne, plum (276); black, brown, burgundy (277)
MARKET: Women
INFO: 800-345-VIVA, www.vivagroup.com

2. EASTERN STATES EYEWEAR

MODEL: Police Eyewear style 8404
MATERIAL: Monel
SIZE: 61/14-135
COLORS: Brown-gold, matte-shiny gunmetal
MARKET: Unisex
PHONE: 800-645-3710, www.eseyewear.com

3. BEST IMAGE OPTICAL

MODEL: Dolabany style Alfred
MATERIAL: Acetate
SIZE: 48/22-145
COLORS: Black, blond streak, olive streak, and dark tortoise
MARKET: Men
INFO: 800-688-7661, www.bestimageoptical.com

4 LOVELY LOOKS

The new Chanel: Lovely collection has an updated, vintage feel. Luxottica launched Chanel eyewear 10 years ago, and they have reinterpreted the best sellers from the launch collection. Reinterpreted frame, CH 4182, comes in black/tweed black, pink/transparent pink, and white transparent. Similarly, CH 4183 comes in black/ tweed black, blue/transparent blue, dark havana/tweed beige, and white transparent.

INFO: www.luxottica.com

5. SIGNATURE EYEWEAR

MODEL: Nicole Miller style Love Knot
MATERIAL: Acetate
SIZE: 56/17-125
COLORS: Amber, black
MARKET: Women
INFO: www.nicolemiller.com

ClearVision's Cole Haan Evolution

Cole Haan as a brand is in the process of evolving to become more contemporary and less decorative, with an emphasis on exceptional shapes, rich materials, functional details, and stylish colors. ClearVision's latest eyewear and sunwear collection for Cole Haan has embraced this new direction.

According to manager of product design and development Jennifer Coppel, ClearVision's Cole Haan eyewear is in the process of evolving its style, brand image, and consumer base. While the brand currently sells to a middle-aged consumer, Cole Haan is reworking its collections to expand its core consumer base and attract 30-something professionals. This style and market shift includes the optical collection.

"Our new Cole Haan product is very wearable," Coppel notes. "While fashionable and current, it is not trendy and will remain relevant for several years. We have continued to enhance the quality of the product by making it lightweight, adding more spring hinges and manufacturing custom acetate materials."

Overall, Cole Haan's new global strategy aims to attract younger consumers, expanding the customer base to encompass men and women in the 30-to-55 age range with a more attainable pricepoint, and a more contemporary design for fashion conscious urban professionals.

"We simply evolved the Cole Haan Eyewear brand to align with their vision," Coppel says. "In 2010, we are focusing on designs that are sleek, modern, and professional and will appeal to the modern, fashionable consumer. The overall style is clean with an emphasis on unique signature details inspired by Cole Haan's accessories and lifestyle images."

ClearVision's marketing materials for Cole Haan are also getting a dramatic makeover to fully illustrate the new direction. "We will be including new model shots in the P.O.P. selection to reflect the current campaign that illustrates a 30-something professional metropolitan lifestyle," Coppel adds. These visuals, and the Cole Haan new brand look will be carried through the entire campaign.

INFO: 800-645-3733; www.cvoptical.com

COLLECTION DIRECTIONS

The new Cole Haan collection by ClearVision focuses on several themes and eyewear trends:

COLOR BLOCKING: Several styles use contrast temples to the front of the frame to add a fun splash to sophisticated styles, while in other cases there is a "pop" of color on the inside of the frame or in the "middle" acetate layer.

VINTAGE: Jennifer Coppel, manager of product design and development, notes that the collection looks back in order to look forward. "We researched past influences on the brand and introduced several vintage-inspired styles," she says. "For example, as Wayfarer shapes and rounds continue to be very trendy, we introduced them in new and interesting colors and updated the shapes. We have also referenced the delicate, refined frames of the 1930s and will be introducing contemporary versions of hexagonal, trapezoidal, and rectangular shapes."

PATTERNS: Richly patterned materials are important, and the Cole Haan collection uses them on frame fronts as well as for temples.

ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS: Several styles in 2010 use wood, carbon fiber, and leather accents along with titanium and flexible stainless steel.

HARDWARE DETAILS: Details from many of the new styles from other portions of the collection, such as shoes or bags, are integrated into the optical design and, frequently, a special hinge may be the primary design detail in a frame. The product is simple and unique and focuses on form and color to make a fashion statement.