FRAMEBUYER | Lines & Launches

Brand New

The newest sunwear and ophthalmic eyewear collections from around the globe

Growing Innovation

OGI EYEWEAR ROLLS OUT INNOTEC EYEWEAR COLLECTION

OGI Eyewear has launched its newest brand, Innotec Eyewear, which fuses innovation with technology to form lightweight, yet durable frames that showcase a blend of modernism and sleek styling. Beginning as a small collection of frames within the OGI Eyewear brand, the collection has grown into its own entity thanks to its standout hand-colored patterns, lightweight feel, and durable materials, company representatives say. Formerly known as Evo-Tec Collection, Innotec Eyewear has been given a new moniker as it has evolved into its own brand. The strong, durable construction provides an ultra comfortable lightweight feel, made customizable to any face with adjustable nose pads. “The matte texture gives each frame a modern finish that accentuates the unique organic pattern. Varied shapes including rectangle, angular, and oval frames are joined by sculpted bridges for a sleek look,” OGI Eyewear representatives add. Available in a wide variety of colors as well as classic black, gray, and black-to-frost gradient fades, Innotec offers eye-catching frames that evoke sleek style. Contemporary, fresh, and modern, Innotec Eyewear blends futuristic style with classic lines.

INFO: ogieyewear.com

Fine Lines

SILHOUETTE INTRODUCES SPX SIGNIA

Offering a variety of lens shapes and colors, every masculine and feminine look in Silhouette’s new Signia collection is accessible and wearable. “The women will admire the frosted pastel shades to bring forth a luminous sheen to the face, while men will be impressed by the sleek nature of the titanium accents and darker hues,” Silhouette representatives note.

A signature Silhouette S can be viewed exclusively when the delicate temples are closed, and the SPX Signia also has a snap hinge integrated into the temple and invisible to the eye. In addition, the collection’s designs highlight a streamlined, reduced bridge in conjunction with intricate features allowing for a clean architectural line, an element that distinguishes the Signia from previous Silhouette rimless designs.

INFO: silhouette.com

Beautiful World

SAFILO UNVEILS BOBBI BROWN COLLECTION

Bobbi Brown’s new signature line of eyeglasses and sunglasses from Safilo teaches women how to select frames that enhance their natural beauty and complement their skin tones and personal style.

“We are very excited to partner with Bobbi Brown on a fresh, new approach to the eyewear category. Bobbi changed the way women think about makeup, and we are now about to do the same with eyewear,” says Ross Brownlee, president of Safilo Americas.

Brown uses her experience in the beauty and fashion industries to create the perfect mix of colors and shapes to ensure there is a frame to flatter every face and style. The launch collection comprises 16 different eyeglasses: 13 women’s styles and three unisex.

INFO: 800-631-1188, safilousa.com

ONE ON ONE: BOBBI BROWN

FRAMEBUYER: How do eyewear colors compare to makeup colors?

BOBBIE BROWN: They should never match, they would compete with each other.

FB: How did you decide on the families of shapes and colors in this collection?

BB: It all started with The Bobbi optical frame that I designed for myself and then we branched out from there, making styles that were bigger, deeper, trendier, sportier, and more conservative. As far as the palette, we developed styles to flatter multiple skin tones. I am most partial to black frames for myself but realized that black glasses may not be in everyone’s comfort zone, so we selected colors, as well as shapes, to meet everyone’s individual style and color preference.

FB: How much does your color palette change each year?

BB: I am grounded in neutrals so my core colors are evergreen, but I update the palette seasonally with fresh pops of color.

FB: How much of what goes on your face—makeup and eyewear—should be based on trend vs. your personal timeless style?

BB: I believe that both makeup and eyewear should be on-trend but not trendy. I provide the tools which I’ve personally vetted—be it an eye shadow or a pair of eyeglasses—but it all depends on the wearers and what they are most comfortable with. They ultimately need to make their look their own and update when they are ready.

FB: What’s the biggest different between creating an eyewear collection and creating a makeup collection?

BB: Surprisingly, there are actually so many similarities, it’s hard to say what the biggest difference is between the two, but  eyewear is a serious business and proper fit is extremely important; that is obviously something that I don’t have to worry about with makeup.

PHOTO BY ALICE GAO

California Lights

OLIVER PEOPLES DEBUTS WEST

The concept of WEST, Oliver Peoples’ new segment, embodies the coastal California lifestyle. The concept of WEST celebrates a complete state of mind. Historically, going west represents the promise of warmer climates, sandy beaches, and a sense of wellbeing. Oliver Peoples WEST is inspired by the active coastal life, following the Oliver Peoples consumer into their weekends filled with days spent on the beaches of Malibu, sunrise hikes through the mountains, and windswept drives along the Pacific Coast Highway. Polarized lenses are offered in every Oliver Peoples WEST sunglass in shades including the exclusive lens color Maliblu.

INFO: 888-568-1655, oliverpeoples.com

Up Close:
What Makes Them So Cool?

Framebuyer recently interviewed co-founder/creative director Larry Leight (pictured right) and CEO David Schulte about the new WEST collection.

FB: How does WEST expand Oliver Peoples’ creative roots?

LEIGHT: Our California roots influence all of our designs, and Oliver Peoples WEST is simply building on that. Where Oliver Peoples is often inspired by the more glamorous side of Hollywood, WEST takes cues from a coastal lifestyle. The collection fills a void for our consumers’ more casual weekend moments—when they are active, on the go, and need a chic option to wear comfortably throughout the day.

FB: How is West different from Oliver Peoples and Mosley Tribes?

SCHULTE: West is an extension of our current Oliver Peoples line architecture, and is intended to fill a more casual segment. From both a design and business perspective, we analyzed who our wearers are and what they need when it comes to their sunglasses. We followed them into their weekend and designed an innovative solution that embodies the Oliver Peoples brand aesthetic, while also serving a functional need for an on-the-go way of life.

FB: What makes Maliblu so appealing?

LEIGHT: Maliblu is an eye-catching, statement color that was originally created by custom dying lenses in our Malibu boutique. The radiance of the color embodies the Pacific Ocean and the cloudless sky, both of which are iconic coastal elements specific to Malibu that contribute to the overall inspiration of the new segment. Not only is the color striking, but the fact that they are Zeiss polarized lenses makes them the perfect option for any activity.

FRAME GALLERY

Smooth Sailing

OVVO FLOATS WOOD & CARBON FIBER COLLECTION

This spring OVVO Optics is launching its first Wood & Carbon Fiber collection with seven ophthalmic styles for men and women. The inspiration for this cutting-edge collection comes from Olympic-class sailboat technology. OVVO uses mahogany, oak, carbon fiber, surgical steel, and titanium to create and blend high end and high tech.

INFO: 855-393-6886, ovvooptics.com

Cool Classics

SMITH FLASHES BACK WITH ARCHIVE COLLECTION

In 1979, Smith Optics introduced its first line of sunglasses for people who live outside walls, like company founder Dr. Bob Smith. The freethinking visionary had a lust for life and wanted to provide superior quality sunglasses to make everyone’s outside experiences even better. Now Smith’s Archive Collection features exact replicas of original Smith frames from 1988, 1991, and 1993.

INFO: 888-206-2995, smithoptics.com

Fine. Feminine. Fashion.

MARCOLIN PRESENTS BALENCIAGA COLLECTION

Marcolin presents the Balenciaga collection of eyeglasses for women. Designs evoke the famous City bag and other signature looks as classic design and contemporary looks triumph in pure Balenciaga style. Large, delicate “cat-eye” shape with refined looks for the feminine acetate mount have an iguana-print leather inlay on the front and temples, bordered by an elegant metal frame.

INFO: 800-537-9265, us.marcolin.com

West Coast Chic

ALTAIR LAUNCHES ALTAIR EVOLUTION COLLECTION

Inspired by the relaxed attitude of California living, Altair Evolution is the perfect blend of retro designs, cool colors, and rich materials targeting 25- to 35-year-old men and women looking to evolve their personal style. This is a retro-inspired launch collection of three men’s, four women’s, and two unisex styles in handcrafted acetate captures the colors and textures of California landscapes.

INFO: 800-505-5557, altaireyewear.com