FRAMEBUYER | Lines & Launches

Brand New

The newest sunwear and ophthalmic eyewear collections from around the globe

Casually Beautiful

VIVID ROLLS OUT ECRU

The ecru line of sophisticated pants, tops, jackets, leathers, and suede items allow women to move effortlessly from the office to dinner, to the weekend, to a party, to vacation. The brand’s foray into eyewear begins with eight styles with Vivid Eyewear.

“These women place a premium on quality, fit, and original styling that ecru consistently delivers. As the ecru brand is growing to be one of the premier women’s contemporary casual collections, the timing is impeccable to introduce ecru eyewear,” company representatives note.

As the design team at ecru recognizes the influence that today’s popular culture has on fashion and community, an inspirational and unusual choice of names has been chosen for many ecru collections, including eyewear. Styles include The Beck, Bowie, Crosby, Daltrey, Springfield, Joplin, Clapton, and Tyler. “Once a woman tries on an ecru frame she will notice how lightweight it feels,” company reps say. “Add the impeccable color combinations and rich tones, along with the easy-to-wear shape, and they will be hooked.”

INFO: vivid.com

TO THE MARKET

Acetate, laminates, and metal are the materials of choice with color palettes that include rich tortoise, deep purples, luxurious reds, and vibrant greens. The pastel-finished colors are mint, ecru, rose, and lavender tones that flatter any skin tone. The accompanying hard shell case and cleaning cloth feature the ecru signature color with black contrasts, lending to the overall sophistication of the package. P.O.P. accentuates the frames and works well in minimal spaces.

---

American Glamour

KENMARK PRESENTS THE ZAC POSEN COLLECTION

Kenmark is rolling out the Zac Posen Eyewear Collection for men and women. Zac Posen hit the fashion scene in 2001 with modern American glamour that combines couture technique with innovation. Worn by leading women, including First Lady Michelle Obama and actresses Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Watts, his collections include Zac Posen, ZAC Zac Posen, Z Spoke Zac Posen, Truly Zac Posen, with handbags, hosiery, accessories, fur, and now eyewear. Posen also is a judge on TV’s “Project Runway” with Heidi Klum and fashion editor Nina Garcia.

Inspired by Posen’s ready-to-wear collection, the women’s eyewear includes 12 ophthalmic and three Rx sun styles in chic, feminine eye shapes. The men’s collection is also comprised of 12 ophthalmic styles and three Rx sun styles in classic European tortoises and rich metals.

David Duralde, chief creative officer, notes: “It’s an incredible opportunity for Kenmark to have a designer of Zac Posen’s stature work directly with our eyewear team at every step of development. The result is an eyewear collection for men and women that is the true essence of the Zac Posen brand—timeless, stylish, and modern.”

Mike Cundiff, CEO, adds, “We are pleased to expand our brand portfolio to include Zac Posen. This is the beginning of a long-term partnership and we look forward to the collaboration with one of fashion’s most promising designers.”

INFO: 800-627-2898, kenmarkoptical.com

TO THE MARKET

“I am thrilled to launch my collection this fall,” says Posen. “The eyewear perfectly evokes the true essence of the Zac Posen brand: timelessly stylish with a modern sensibility and edge.”

---

Bushnell Eyewear Introduces Bollé Sport Protective

New Brand and Division Provides Protective Eyewear for Children

CERTIFIED TO ATSM AND ANSI STANDARDS

Bollé Sport Protective, a new division of Bushnell Eyewear, is introducing the first full line of athletic eyewear for kids to be certified to rigorous American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1-2010, and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F803 standards.

Kids today are geared up and participating in organized sports in large numbers. As these youthful athletes take to the fields, gymnasiums, and rinks they are tricked out in an impressive selection of sophisticated safety gear for their heads, legs, and arms, however; they aren’t fully equipped for safety.

Eye injuries attributable to failure to wear protective prescription eyewear or worse—no protective eyewear at all—is still a major issue.

“With a well-established reputation as a provider of high-quality sport and lifestyle eyewear, and as a major supplier for the safety and the military industries, Bollé Sport Protective could have entered the market in an already strong position,” says Bill Yerby, vice president of sales and marketing. “Going the extra mile to build the only products in this segment certified to the highest relevant standards sends the message that we have the best products and will quickly become a leader in this category.”

Getting Technical

Complying with ANSI Z87.1-2010 (which establishes performance criteria and testing requirements for devices used to protect the eyes and face from injuries from impact, non-ionizing radiation, and chemical exposure in workplaces and schools) and ASTM F803 (which sets the standards for eye protectors in a range of popular sports) requires use of the best available materials and the following technologies.

PLATINIUM COATING. Patented scratch resistant and anti-fog technology, used successfully in industrial and military environments.

SAS SHOCK ABSORPTION SYSTEM. A new industrial process that permits co-injection of two different materials at the same time: hard material for impact resistance and very soft material for impact absorption. This process does not use chemical bonding agents, greatly reducing the risk of allergic reactions

NEW POLYCARBONATE GRADE. All Sport Protective frames are constructed with a recently developed grade of polycarbonate, delivering flexibility for comfort combined with a very high level of impact resistance.

Available early fall 2014, there will be five styles in the initial Bollé Sport Protective collection: Coverage, Crunch, Swag, Dominance, and Baller. All models will be available with plano and Rx lenses.

INFO: bolle.com

TO THE MARKET

Eyecare professionals will have the option of sourcing their own Rx lenses or ordering directly from Bollé, using the company’s e-commerce site, bolle.com/rx. Only orders fulfilled by the company’s dedicated laboratory will include official safety markings indicating proof of compliance with the applicable standards, company representatives say.

---

Child’s Play

BABIATORS TAKES OFF WITH NEW RX COLLECTION

Babiators Rx is a new line of stylish prescription glasses for young kids extending from the brand’s sunwear roots. Soft rubber molding around the eyes and nose promises a cozy, comfortable fit, and each pair of Babiators Rx includes an extra set of temples that have a unique “comfort fit” around the ear to keep the glasses firmly on younger, more active kids.

The Babiators Rx line features two frame designs, Buzz and Sally. The “Buzz” frame sports a modern rectangular design with a cool hipster feel available in Blue Angels Blue, Galactic Gray, and Princess Pink. The “Sally” frame’s cat-eye silhouette generates a classic, retro vibe available in Blue Angels Blue, Galactic Gray, and Popstar Pink.

Babiators crafts products designed to ensure every adventure is safe and awesome, company representativees note. Every product is made to be stylish and withstand the rough and tumble outdoor adventures of children.

In addition, every product is guaranteed against loss or breakage, as Babiators’ Lost & Found Guarantee applies to the Rx line.

The company gives a portion of its profits to The Children’s Eye Foundation and other organizations that help kids in need.

INFO: babiators.com

TO THE MARKET

“At Babiators, we’re all about listening to our customers, and many of our optical retailers requested that we expand into prescription eyewear for kids. We created Babiators Rx with the goal that every boy and girl can feel as excited about and stylish in our new Babiators prescription frames as they do in our classic Babiators sunglasses. Of course, we extended our signature Lost & Found guarantee to the Rx frames, because we understand children lose their Rx glasses too!”

— Molly Fienning, co-founder of Babiators

---

Badminton, Anyone?

REM CONVERSE SERVES UP JACK PURCELL COLLECTION

REM Eyewear announces the Fall 2014 launch of Converse Jack Purcell Eyewear, a carefully crafted optical collection with sophisticated styles inspired by classic shapes, traditional colorways, and modern design for the Converse kid who has grown into an adult with a carefully crafted sense of style—and a splash of wit.

“Designing the new Converse Jack Purcell collection was a natural process, as we were very inspired by the brand’s DNA,” says Nicolas Roseillier, creative director at REM Eyewear. “By using iconic elements such as the smile logo, vintage color palettes, and classic frame shapes, we created an elevated collection that truly embodies the Jack Purcell line.”

Supporting the foundation of the Converse Jack Purcell brand, the new collection features unique, curated styling that translates to the consumer’s appreciation of the ‘less is more’ philosophy. Each frame features simple, yet attention-grabbing star rivet hinges, a chic laser-engraved pattern on the temples, and the brand’s signature “smile” logo on the temple tips. Showcasing premium craftsmanship, each frame is handmade and offers maximum comfort and durability. The new Converse Jack Purcell Eyewear line boasts cutting-edge quality and design—an ideal eyewear partnership.

INFO: 800-423-3023, remeyewear.com

TO THE MARKET

Jack Purcell was a Canadian celebrity badminton star, so popular he even had a weekly badminton instruction column in Toronto’s Weekly Star newspaper. He won the champion of the world title in 1933 and retired undefeated in 1945. His trademark sneakers were developed by B.F. Goodrich in 1935 and acquired by Converse in 1972.

---

Style on Exhibit

Safilo continues to celebrate its 80th anniversary with the launch of a new limited edition inspired by the legendary glasses once worn by Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979), collector of 20th Century European avant-garde art.

For this special anniversary and its renewed ties with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum, Safilo is launching a limited edition model of sunglasses which is a new take on the celebrated model created for Guggenheim by American artist and friend Edward Melcarth.

Safilo drew inspiration from these eccentric sunglasses in 1994, when it first produced and distributed its Peggy Guggenheim model. Like the previous version, these limited-edition sunglasses will be on sale exclusively at the museum and are a tribute to this colorful, original, and generous art collector who was one of the most influential patrons of 20th Century art.

Safilo is also joining the Intrapresæ Collezione Guggenheim, a group of leading Italian and international companies that support the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, promoting the educational potential of art with the conviction that art can inspire business to embrace change and to face global challenges.

Behind the project is the bond that links the Safilo Group to Venice—the city where the first eyeglasses were born—and capital of the Veneto, the region where Safilo was established in 1934 in Calalzo di Cadore—and where today it has its corporate headquarters in Padua. Venice was also a city beloved by Peggy Guggenheim, who, in 1948, was invited to exhibit her legendary art collection at the Venice Biennale. She then acquired the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, and made Venice her residence for the rest of her life. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation), among Italy’s major museums for European and American 20th Century art, is located in Peggy Guggenheim’s former residence in Venice.

Since its founding in 1934, Safilo has promoted and enhanced eyewear as an art, as an expression of aesthetic beauty and creativity as well as an emblem of skilled craftsmanship and savoir-faire, company representatives note. Safilo’s historic archive contains original artifacts, ancient optical instruments, eyeglasses, paintings, and prints that testify to the history of spectacles and to their evolution.

Above: Peggy Guggenheim in her signature shades.

FRAME GALLERY

Okia Shines

NEW “SHINY MINERAL” COLLECTION LAUNCHED BY OKIA

Utilizing its proprietary HDA Technology, Okia’s new “Shiny Mineral” collection takes its inspiration from the idea and feeling of gold sand. Lightness, softness, and subtle tone have been carefully transferred on the acetate base, while the new frames’ temples exhibit refined, wavy patterns. Delicate shades of gold and pink—proposed in solid version or with a transparent effect—complete the harmonious graphics and give them an unmatched touch of elegance.

INFO: okia.com

TO THE MARKET: A balance between creativity and high technology, “Shiny Mineral” shows how HDA Technology can give expression to any kind of inspirational idea.

---

Personal Touch

MARCHON SIGNS ON VALENTINO ROUGE ABSOLUTE SIGNATURE

Valentino’s new Rouge Absolute Signature collection by Marchon provides wearers with an extension of their personalities. Part of the special capsule Rouge Absolute Signature, this iconic sunglass shape is available in three combinations of red tones—Valentino red, scarlet, and rubin—with three removable studs.

Customization is the key feature of this style: the left temple can be personalized by adding letters and symbols—26 English letters and eight symbols are available to create a unique signature look.

INFO: marchon.com

TO THE MARKET: Individuality is at the center of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s stylistic approach.

---

Men’s Runway Looks

SWISS EYEWEAR GROUP DEBUTS MARC STONE

Marc Stone, the international designer of menswear, launches its first-ever eyewear collection together with Swiss Eyewear Group. The collection uses design elements from Marc Stone’s apparel collection as a signature throughout the entire collection. Highlights include wood finishes on acetate frames and highly wearable panto-shaped frames with retro-inspired clip-ons as well as contemporary stainless steel metal frames with discreet side shields and slightly heavier rims for an extra kick.

INFO: marc-stone.ch

TO THE MARKET: The story of Marc Stone started in Zürich in the multicultural district circle four. Today, the award-winning Swiss brand is based in Zürich with an International presence in Paris, Milan, New York, Berlin, and Seoul.

---

Get Out!

WOOW EXPLORES ITS DARK SIDE

WOOW eyewear helps wears get happy—or provides a warning for others to watch out. To accompany wearers who may be having a case of the Mondays, the new Dark Side of WOOW eyewear collection features temple tips noting “Get Out!” “Try Again!” and “So What” engraved in black inserts, to speak for themselves, but with elegance.

Between traditional and casual, chic and off-beat with a “trendy London” feel, the WOOW style will speak to men and women with a sense of humor, representatives note.

INFO: wooweyewear.com

TO THE MARKET: The first collection of Woow was anti-crisis eyewear with little positive messages inserted in the end tips of the frame.