With a sea of new styles and designs bursting from every tradeshow booth, it is always exciting to find pieces that shine a little brighter than the rest. This report highlights a few such gems; brands and designs that caught our attention at 100% Optical and are paving the way for 2023.
House of spectacles
What a delight to stumble across the House of Spectacles at the Excel, the brainchild of Natalie Edwards and Matthew Lambert. The duo own a workshop in East London where they have been making and designing bespoke frames since 2016. Their mission; to reinvigorate UK eyewear manufacturing, handmake and sell beautiful frames, as well as training people in this forgotten craft. The company’s made-to-measure service is brilliant, as we know, one size does not fit all, and its template system was devised to create a handmade, bespoke service for is clients and opticians. With 28 different size templates to choose from, which cover width and bridge, beautiful colour options and endless shape templates, the result means a supply of incredible eyewear to service even the most challenging of faces, and with that comes no returns and no dead stock.
David Beckham at Safilo
David Beckham’s recent collection feels like it’s really found its own vibe. A sleek and smart curation of vintage and retro-inspired designs that still have a lovely modern and particularly British flair. The frame DB7108 is a perfect example of just this; a box aviator with gold detailing across the bridge, which complements the crystal acetate perfectly. This range of sunglasses and optical frames are inspired by David Beckham’s own style and global travels and with that, a very wearable and stylish collection has been created.
Nirvan Javan
Behind the Nirvan Javan brand stands the eponymous designer and optician of Persian origin. With luxurious optical collections, inspired by the metropolises of this world, the brand expresses its cosmopolitan flair through modern and structured eyewear designs. The Toronto is beautiful; a heavy acetate profile with modern lines and beautiful bold colourways. Nirvan Javan is inspired by cities that have culturally vibrant atmospheres and strong architectural elements, all of which you can see in the collection. Made from premium acetate and titanium materials, the clean and modern collection feels fresh and exciting.
- nirvanjavan.com
Carolina Herrera at Safilo
Carolina Herrera’s collection of sunglasses are brilliant. A real cross section of fun and flirtatious silhouettes that feature pearl and crystal embellishments, partnered alongside more sophisticated styles, such as geometric and oversized shapes that really stand out. A firm favourite was this crystal covered sunglass; it is Barbiecore personified. Also available in Black, but this bubblegum pink would be perfect for summer and any teenagers dream frame. Equally, the more ‘grown-up’ varieties, featuring pearls and larger crystal detailing, have really managed to find the perfect balance, being neither too novelty nor niche.
Johann Von Goisern at JS Optical
Hailing from the world heritage area of Bad Goisern in Austria, eyewear brand Johann Von Goisern presents a collection of beautifully
crafted, hand-made frames. Made from a bonded, biodegradable acetate, and a slogan that reads ‘Dare to be different’, this collection stands out due to its special lamination technique, allowing up to 20 raw materials to be combined in one single frame. These vivid, clashing colours and patterns manage to find harmony on the frame, creating a collection that is both playful and grown-up.
Caroline Abram
Caroline Abram’s collection of sun and optical designs is always a pleasure. Rich, decadent colourways, elegant, elevated designs; there is such an understated French chicness about the collection. Clarrissa (pictured, left) and Jenny (right) from the Jalouse collection personify the spirit of the brand perfectly; fresh, bold and colourful. They are oversized, yet have a delicacy about them, and the combination of regal purple against the deep forest green is incredibly flattering on many different skin tones. Caroline’s intention is to make women feel beautiful in her frames, and she is an expert at her craft.
Ridgway Optical
Sustainable eyewear is of course taking an ever-growing share of the industry, and so it should. The collection by Allegro Eco ticks many sustainability boxes and the brand uses all possible ways to reduce its environmental impact to reach its sustainable development goals. The bio-degradable cellulose acetate uses 100% natural additives, resulting in a formula that is mostly composed of renewable sources. Even its pigment and packaging reaches all environmental standards, including recycled fabric and certified FSC wood. With timeless and classic styles to satisfy a broad cross-section of customers, it’s a great sustainable brand to explore.
Vysen
The word Vysen delineates from Old English, meaning to be unique or different, and the collection certainly lives up to its name. The incredible construction of this collection make the frames unique. Handcrafted through a meticulous process, with over 40 stages, the frames have an almost Formula 1-type engineering about them. The Boby was particularly special; the geometry of the frame is balanced perfectly with the distinctive, signature 3D stainless steel profile. The frames are brilliantly striking and Vysen’s commitment to craftmanship is most definitely evident in the feel of the frame.
Taylor Morris
Established in 2013, Taylor Morris has a long line of devoted supporters. A collection of simple, timeless designs that provide classic styling for both men and women. The Cambridge is a lovely re-interpretation of your traditional panto. Subtle cutaways across the top of the silhouette provide a point of difference and it really is the perfect unisex frame. London plays an important part in the brand’s design ethos and the company’s aim is to ‘bring accessible luxury eyewear to the discerning global explorer.’
Danielle Rattray
Danielle Rattray is an independent women’s eyewear, clothing and lifestyle brand based in Stonehaven, Scotland. The founder and creative director honed her experience in graphics, fashion design and branding, before building her reputation in international eyewear design. The collection has an indisputable rock and roll vibe about it, with bold shapes, a confident use of colour and that perfect juxtaposition of chic and edgy. Rattray’s trademark romance-meets-rock aesthetic is inspired by the many strong and independent friends, musicians, artists, colleagues and women she knows, and the Vada frame provides a lovely representation of the vibe of both her and the collection.