lines and launches
Organic Style
Amy Spiezio
STELLA MCCARTNEY PRESENTS OPHTHALMIC EYEWEAR COLLECTION FROM LUXOTTICA
Stella McCartney will unveil her first collection of optical eyewear this month. Drawing inspiration from the designer’s signature balance between masculine and feminine, the collection introduces contemporary and cutting-edge styles that embrace the ‘eco-friendly’ philosophy of the brand. The line features five styles in key shapes in a warm color palette of burgundy, taupe, black, teal, and tortoise including light and spotty versions of the classic finish.
The sustainable optical collection features the same bio-acetate used in the sunglasses range, and the frames are made of 54 percent natural sources.
The product’s formula combines cellulose, the most common organic compound on Earth, which is renewable and biodegradable, together with natural plasticizers, which differ from DEP (Diethyl Phthalate) as they derive from citric acid, a natural substance obtained through a fermentation process, company representatives note.
INFO: luxottica.com
| IN PERSON…STELLA MCCARTNEY |
|---|
Designer Stella McCartney recently spoke with Eyecare Business about her new ophthalmic eyewear collection from Luxottica. EB: How does your optical blend into the overall feel and sentiment of your spring collection? SMC: The main thing when you are working on eyewear is that it complements what you are doing for the show. And if it doesn’t, we don’t tend to show it. So we work very early on with the ready to wear and the sunglasses as one voice, one language. So at the end of the day they try to complement each other. EB: What are your eyewear inspirations? SMC: I don’t really have a particular one. I think I tend to look more at more masculine eyewear, really working with scale and sometimes a sense of humor, or a very classic design ethos. But it depends, I look at the same research I do for my RTW [ready to wear]. I look at everything: art, architecture, interiors, furniture. Sometimes a material can inspire you, or while developing a fabric something can come into the eyewear as well. It’s also about looking around you and feeling instinctive about what you think people want to wear. EB: Do you have plans to add a kids’ eyewear collection? SMC: I like the idea of doing children’s eyewear, but I don’t know how important it is right now, at this stage. I think it’s about focusing on the optical and sunglasses and making them as good as they can be, and perfecting them each season, and then we can look at other ways to develop them, at a later stage. EB: How does the incorporation of organic and sustainable materials influence you? SMC: It’s just part of the DNA of the brand, so it was important to stay true to that. For me, if you can make something beautiful in a sustainable way, then there is just no reason not to. But yet, if the design is being sacrificed, then you need to work around it and either change the material or change the design. At the end of the day, it really pushes you harder to be more innovative. |
| History Lesson |
|---|
Polaroid literally invented polarized lenses out of polarizing celluloid. Getting its start in 1929 when Dr. Edwin Land created the world’s first synthetic polarizer, The Polaroid company opened in 1937. His research proved that glare can be selectively blocked only by a good quality polarizing filter and that polarizing lenses selectively filter out the horizontal light, thus eliminating glare. And that research has survived through the decades—in 2012, Polaroid celebrated 75 years as the leader in polarized lens technology. Land’s creation is still the basis of all polarized eyewear, photo lenses, and screens today, and Polaroid remains a powerhouse brand with more than four million pairs of polarized sunglasses sold last year. Polaroid sunglasses are now being repositioned, reintroduced, and re-marketed with timeless technology and style by Safilo USA. |
Picture Perfect
SAFILO DEVELOPS POLAROID EYEWEAR LINE
Pulling from its history as a global leader in polarized lens technology and one of the world’s best-known brands, Polaroid Eyewear arrives in the United States this spring with a new Polaroid Premium collection developed for the American market from Safilo.
The collection features modern and functional styles while delivering high-quality polarized lenses at a desirable pricepoint, company representatives note.
“The U.S. represents a significant market opportunity for Polaroid Eyewear as we offer consumers a wide variety of polarized sunglasses based on wearable design, high protection, and perfect vision,” said Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Safilo Group. “The 2013 collection includes sunglasses that are functional and modern. Their unique technology delivers optimum UV protection and glare-free vision at a great price-performance ratio.”
The U.S. optical market launch of the Polaroid Premium Collection includes 28 styles, 10 of which can accommodate prescription lenses. Fourteen styles for men, 11 for women, and three unisex offerings comprise the collection, which features a classic color palette including blacks and torts as well as metals.
INFO: safilo.com
House of Style
MARCHON DEBUTS CHLOÉ EYEWEAR
Marchon is rolling out Chloé Eyewear, including ophthalmic and sunwear options. Embodying elements seen throughout the ready-to-wear fashion collection, the eyewear line features soft, feminine shapes in the fashion house’s classic colorations, an enhanced neutral palette.
The eyewear and sunwear in metal and acetate feature up-to-the-minute sizes and shapes to flatter many faces in a sophisticated manner that deftly continues the Chloé design history of ready-to-wear luxury.
The new models feature graceful details such as a metal zipper along the corner of the brow, the “petal” cut shape, and mirrored temple treatments with simple text logos as well as metal detailing.
Point-of-purchase materials include displays, mirror, and logo piece, and each frame comes with a case and logo cleaning cloth.
INFO: marchon.com
Nine Faces of Chloé
Since opening under the direction of Gaby Aghion in 1952 as a luxury fashion house through its current status as a global style influencer under creative director Clare Waight Keller, Chloé has been led by strong, trendsetting, creative minds.
1952
Gaby Aghion. Looking for freedom and a break with the older conservative generation, Egypt-born Aghion creates the Chloé brand as well as the concept of luxury ready to wear.
1965
Karl Lagerfeld. Fresh out of Hamburg, Germany, Lagerfeld makes Chloé a powerhouse in the 1970s fashion universe.
1987
Martine Sitbon. Rock music and soft femininity each inspire her designs.
1992
Karl Lagerfeld. Returning for a second term at the top of the design house, Lagerfeld stays for four years.
1997:
Stella McCartney. From cheeky references to bananas to a collection with equestrian motifs inspired by the horse paintings of George Stubbs, McCartney brings a youthful vitality to the line.
2001
Phoebe Philo. Starting as Stella McCartney’s assistant, Philo takes the collection into leather and the world of the highly coveted handbag.
2008
Hannah MacGibbon. Another graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins with McCartney and Philo, MacGibbon modernizes some of Chloé’s great ‘70s looks and burnishes its neutral color palette.
2011
Clare Waight Keller. Current creative director, Keller starts her tenure at Chloé with deco-inspired designs and brings fluid femininity with a splash of boyishness to the runway.
Getting Glamour
EASTERN STATES EYEWEAR ROLLS OUT L’WREN SCOTT
From her beginnings as a 6-foot, 3-inch teenage model in Utah, L’Wren Scott has worked her way through the fashion world as a model, stylist, and designer. Best known for her red carpet designs for the likes of Amy Adams, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Madonna, Scott has entered the world of eyewear. Eastern States Eyewear is the American distributor for L’Wren Scott made by Menrad. The collection of 16 sunglasses and 20 optical models comprise the initial release. Featuring oversized butterfly shapes, subtle cat eyes, and bold squares, the eyewear dresses and flatters a woman’s face in the same way Scott’s designs adorn every female body. The palette runs from black to gold, to deep red and nude.
INFO: eseyewear.com
Ready to run
FGX INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCES THE REEBOK EYEWEAR COLLECTION
Reebok International, Ltd., an Americaninspired global brand with a deep well of products catering to the running, training, and fitness world, is launching a collection of eyewear with FGX International. This 28-piece collection features lightweight, comfortable styles in metals, zyl, TR90, and combined materials. The styles are enhanced with fun, brand-inspired designs including subtle pops of color and sport and motion-inspired textures.
INFO: 800-480-4846, FGXopticalCS@fgxi.com
![]({"src":"/media/l10do1md/32013.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})