FRAME MATERIALS

Future Perfect

Cutting-edge frame materials are ushering in entirely new production processes, as well as a new dimension of comfort and adjustability for the perfect fit

PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID DOUGLAS
STYLED AND WRITTEN BY AMY SPIEZIO
SHOOT DIRECTION BY ERINN MORGAN

Sunwear formed from a revolutionary, high-tech powder. Optical frames engineered from ultra-strong carbon fiber and then coated in gold. Über-lightweight styles modeled in space-age titanium.

Today’s high-tech frame materials run the gamut from the brand new to the newly revived, renewed, and enhanced. The end result is a material match for every wearer’s desires, needs, and style inclinations.

Wearers can enjoy traditional, classic looks or push the design envelope while enjoying all the benefits of the latest materials on the market.

Take a trip into the Future Perfect with our visual tour of the most enticing and exciting new frames in materials that are quickly moving eyewear design light years ahead.

PAGE ELEMENTS: CARBON FIBER SHEET, TITANIUM SPONGE, AND 3D PRINTING “POWDER”

Über-Modern Manufacturing

From top: Mykita Mylon style Bennett is created from the proprietary Mylon material and taken from powder to textured 3D-printed sunglasses; Skechers style SE3175 from Marcolin is crafted in Ultem, a thermoplastic that creates lightweight, thin, and durable eyewear; Red Rose style Gia/6002 from Ogi is engineered from super-lightweight titanium with screwless hinges; and Blake Kuwahara model Mansart employs unique cutting and laminating techniques to create a frame-within-a-frame design.

Modernistic Materials

From top: John Varvatos model V799 from REM Eyewear marries vintage appeal with rock ‘n’ roll edge by blending a gold brow bar with a leather-wrapped frame front; Calvin Klein style CK5886 from Marchon embodies down-to-earth chic with a rich redwood finish; Jimmy Choo style Nita/S from Safilo pushes the envelope with a frame front wrapped in sleek black leather; and Miu Miu style MU 07OV from Luxottica blends technical know-how and fashion-forward design to create eyewear with inset suede, studs, and crystals.

High-Tech Elements

From top: 3D printing creates lifelike textures in an array of colors in BCBGMAXAZRIA style Marlowe from ClearVision Optical; Ovvo’s model 3049 is made from layered white oak, zebra wood, surgical steel, and titanium to produce an adjustable wood frame; and Bottega Veneta BV0010 from Kering Eyewear crafts leather with its sleek, signature Intrecciato for a highly modern, woven look.