Anyone obsessed with celebrity would have had a field day at Vision Expo East in wet and windy New York, writes Rory Brogan.
There aren't too many optical shows where your interview with a frame company comes to a halt because Mickey Rourke needs the booth for some 'R and R' after a marathon photo and autographing session.Anyone obsessed with celebrity would have had a field day at Vision Expo East in wet and windy New York.
He was a guest of Revolution Eyewear which also had a lively catwalk show with models (male and female) wearing varying amounts of clothing inspired by the American tattooist Ed Hardy's tattoo designs. Revolution's director of key accounts Ray Geerloff assured me that Ed Hardy eyewear - vast sunglasses sporting Swarovski tattoo-like detailing - would be coming to the UK further down the line, although there was no mention of celebrity involvement.
Not to be outdone, Gripping Eyewear secured the services of Paris Hilton, who after some build up pouted her way through a photo session to announce the launch of her sunglass range with the company. Paris, as I can now call her, also put in an appearance at a launch party at Bungalow 8, a palm tree-filled venue in New York's Chelsea. When it comes to the sunglasses, expect lots of pink packaging and the company's patented magnetic temples that secure the frames to clothing, as well as a clever range of magnetic accessories. No wonder Paris, who did some sketching for the line, was smiling.
There was also a vote of approval for American Idol's ebullient Randy Jackson who has his own range of eyewear at Zyloware. He seemed genuinely pleased to be at the show and Optician magazine was on hand to record it.
