Features

100% Optical: Style statements

Emma Spencer and Lucy Patchett explore the latest frame launches at the London Excel show on March 1-3
Chains for frames on the catwalk

EssilorLuxottica

Diesel Model DL1013 (right) forms part of an extensive new sunglass and optical collection launched with EssilorLuxottica.

The Trini-d-y metal futuristic style features a bold rectangular front with oversized lenses and a distinctive wrapped design, completed with the D wordmark in a custom metal bead at the temples. 

It comes in powder matt black with dark green lenses or brushed matt grey/brown with brown gradient blue lenses. Created by Diesel’s design director, Glenn Martens, the collection was said to offer bold shapes, edgy details and a genderless approach with a forward-thinking mindset.

essilorluxottica.com

 

Safilo

Limited edition model DB 7131/S (right) is a celebration of David Beckham’s professional licence with Safilo and showcased with the rest of the collection at 100% Optical.

The bold and chunky, square acetate style is available in black with black/crystal temples (2) and blue shaded gold mirror lenses; black/Havana with green mirror lenses; brown horn with green mirror lenses; transparent green/green marble with green mirror lenses or grey/crystal grey with green mirror lenses.

Three dimensional bevel architecture is enhanced by a new construction with bent lugs and premium riveted hinges. Visible on the temples is a distinctive Talisman, while the DB monogram is lasered on the front lens.

safilo.com

 

Wolf Eyewear

Ten new models join the Alpha optical range, said to embody a harmonious fusion of British elegance, Italian flair and Japanese precision and feature an Alpha triangle at the frame’s tip in lime, burgundy, grey and teal.

The frames are characterised by classic clean lines with vibrant colour combinations on the reverse sides and each acetate style features a unique core wire design displaying the Alpha triangle along the lengths.

Japanese titanium adds ‘elegance, quality, durability and craftsmanship’. Stand out styles include titanium optical A061 in teal, navy or purple, and acetate optical AA013 in red, teal (right) or black.

wolfeyewear.com

 

Mondottica

Key frames in the Christian Lacroix Sun 25 collection include the full bespoke acetate CL5136 in a deep tangerine colour. The wearable round frame features a new, vibrant lamination on the organic-inspired chunky temples.

A signed ‘CL’ and signature butterfly on the temple tip completes the look. Geometric optical combination model CL3110 (right) in bespoke acetate has a metal front and displays a delicate frame-in-frame effect. 

The tangerine colour is boldly flecked throughout the acetate, while the wavy temple incorporates the ‘CL’ signature. A butterfly ‘floats’ onto the temple tip.

mondottica.com

 

Mykita

Mykita’s latest full acetate sunglass styles in bold, chunky silhouettes are paired with lightly tinted or gradient lenses for an ‘effortless look with just the right amount of shade’.

Colourways range from warm brown tones to cool neutrals, such as model Kilenda (right), described as a chilled raw blonde silver frame with raw brown gradient lenses.

The individually adjustable frames are made from Eastman’s Acetate Renew and feature patented endura hinges plus tinted sun lenses offering 100% UVA and UVB protection and an anti-reflective inner coating. Other models include Lamin, Kiene, Dakar, Teshi and Lome.

mykita.com

 

Design Eyewear Group

Wave and Walk are the latest optical styles from Alium – designed, crafted and produced in France – said to blend masculine refinement with a ‘confident urban twist’. Wave features a multi-dimensional hinge, evoking the lever of a gearbox, and offers a variety of templates and colourways.

Walk (right) combines modern elegance and retro inspiration, featuring bold lines and smooth curves to ‘gently embrace the contours of the face’ and strike a balance between character and comfort. 

These softened square and rectangular-shaped additions were said to add style that always ‘walks the talk’.

designeyeweargroup.com

 

Chains for Frames

Featured on the 100% Optical catwalk, the handcrafted Concept Collection from newcomer Chains for Frames features three styles: Liquorice, Marrakech and Prism (right), boasting unexpected textures and a palette of modern colours.

Transparent Prism is made with various sized beads to add texture and flair, while Marrakech features hand-painted wooden beads in shades of red for an authentic look. Liquorice consists of larger beads in pale pink, blue and black to make a statement.

All chains measure approximately 60cm in length and are finished using gold plated, stainless steel or sterling silver findings. The Nottingham-based company offers five other chain collections, including Elegance, Elements, Noir, Botanical and Inspire.

chainsforframes.co.uk

 

Kirk and Kirk

British brand Kirk and Kirk has added two new styles to its Kaleidoscope collection and two styles to its Contour collection.

Chunky yet lightweight Joel (right) and gently curved, feminine Ruth, both crafted in Kirk and Kirk’s K-Lite sheet material, join the Kaleidoscope collection.

Within the Contour collection, gently angular Yvonne features a matted front, hand-crafted in K-Lite, while statement piece Thomas can be played down with a gentle colour tone or accentuated with some more vibrant tones within the collection.

kirkandkirk.com

 

Coti Vision

Winner of the Accessory of the year category at this year’s Love Eyewear Awards, the Vita Ombré chain collection is handcrafted in Italy and blends innovation, style and sustainability. Building on the popularity of the company’s model Vita, the chains feature an ombré gradient to add a vibrant touch to eyewear or double up as a necklace for outfits.

The chains are made from upcycled acrylic, repurposed from surplus materials like those used in button production, ensuring each product is both sustainable and unique as no two chains are the same. Colour options include Sassi (tones of grey), Rainforest (tones of green), Cappuccino (browns)  and Rose Bouquet (pinks).

cotivision.com

 

Modo 

The House of Modo exhibited its third collection from Italia Independent’s SS25 collection, ‘The art of being human’, which includes subcollections: Shaded, 3D Sculptures, Crazy Layers, Denim, Velvet, Brave and Bond frames. The 13 optical styles and 19 sunglasses, consist of a total of 112 variants, mainly developed in the brand’s traditional materials of acetate and metal.

Each frame family has a different take on art icons and artistic techniques, with a background theme of nature and human nature. The Crazy Layers’ sunglass Chic is an expressive angled cat-eye, where shapes and thickness variations are altered by overlapping of lenses for a dramatic effect, inspired by visual artist Ryoji Ikeda. Available in four colourways, including black, blue/lilac gradient (right), green, and magenta/lilac gradient.   

The Shaded family includes the rounded rectangle Chiave frame featuring gradient and bold shades influenced by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, with colours ranging from black fading into blue to sand, blue tortoiseshell, transparent green and caramelly rust. The temples are an ombred stainless steel that improves their lightness and fit, with a subtle i.i brand symbol embossed at the top.

international.modo.com

 

Woodys

Spanish brand Woodys new spring-summer collection, Anima, includes 38 designs focusing on structure and bright colour combinations. It includes five new models for petite female faces and introduces the Vani, an all-new beta titanium frame with photochromic lenses in colours that adapt to light. Meanwhile, the premium Atelier line (right) has added six new models, four optical and two sun, which embody designs that fuse geometry, vibrant colors, highly worked volumes and laminates.

Frame styles across both lines range from oversized, soft geometric silhouettes to more delicate round glasses, with a slight butterfly shape illusion created by the contrasting colours on the side rims that angle naturally into the hinge. This season focuses on two-colour concepts, layering acetate with elements such as horizontal white lines and 3D block colours.

Men’s models feature additional laminates that combine solid and transparent acetate, as well as a metal design piece that reaches from the front to the temples. For Atelier, attention to detail brings added luxury with personalised gold hinges engraved with the logo on the inner temple, complemented by Mazzucchelli acetate and Carl Zeiss lenses.  The Anima collection uses materials such as German OBE hinges, Japanese beta titanium, Carl Zeiss lenses, and bioacetate or recycled acetate.

woodyseyewear.com/en

 

Millmead Optical Group

Millmead Optical group launched Vibe by Cameo after identifying a growing demand for bold, expressive eyewear that allows wearers to showcase their personality. Popular blues and purples feature mottled or striped acetate designs (right) in rectangular shapes.

The range was designed for those who want an affordable, bold statement frame featuring bright, funky acetate combinations and modern shapes to reflect a fearless spirit.

Millmead says: ‘Our goal was to inject a sense of fun and confidence into everyday eyewear, making high-quality frames more accessible to those who love to stand out.’  

millmeadopticalgroup.com

 

Good Karma

Good Karma’s ultra slim optical glasses feature the introduction of hyperoallergenic, recyclable stainless steel. The lightweight, petite wire frame features round, geometric, butterfly and square shapes, with vibrant pops of colours.

Each model has a female motivational quote on the temple, such as ‘Let it go’ or ‘Mindset is everything’, aligning with the brand’s support for the King’s Trust, as every frame sold donates to the charity for disadvantaged women.

Colours include bright pink, rose gold, matt lime (right), matt gold, matt dark orange with shiny black.

goodkarmaeyewear.com

 

Eyespace

Eyespace launched its Rockstar Smart-fit collection aimed at children to teens (five to 15-year-olds), featuring a smart-fit frame constructed in line with new industry guidelines and informed by the company’s extensive R&D into correct paediatric frame fitting.

This research concluded many children’s frames are designed around trends and mimic popular adult designs, rather than focusing on appropriate fit. The designs of these Rock Star releases ensure correct fitting based on how a child’s facial features age and the dimensions suitable for myopic management lenses. This includes dropped bridges to sit comfortably on young faces, 180 degree hinges for extra durability and optional silicon nose pads on selected frames to accommodate both high and low nose bridges.

The Sonny style (right) is popular with boys as colours reflect the Xbox console brand’s black and neon green, with an injected neon core wire highlighted by transparent, black lined acetate in the temples, as well as two other colourways. The Doja style shows off crystal acetate in varying shades of pink with silver core wire detailing and the signature Rockstar logo on the temple tip. Mean-while, the Sabrina style has more vibrant colour combinations, including a crystal transparent frame and rainbow temples.

eyespace-eyewear.com

 

Rebel Eyewear

Rebel Eyewear, founded last year, released the 2025 collections from its two brands Kühl and Parker & Payne, which aim to bridge the gap between affordable and luxurious, quality eyewear to allow better accessibility for the everyday wearer.

The Parker & Payne line is inspired by the quintessential British style with classic shapes, such as pantos, cat’s-eye, rectangle and butterfly, elevated with a contemporary twist. Mixing premium acetate and lightweight stainless steel, these frames combine traditional elegance with innovation and are named after well-known London streets for an extra British touch, such as Bloomsbury and Chelsea.

The Kühl brand has a versatile style, ranging from bold statement frames to subtle, well-crafted classics, with colours including popular gradient acetates in trending colours such as blue fading to grey (KU037C2) and clear to lilac (KU029C1) (right).

rebeleyewear.com

 

Vasuma 

Swedish brand Vasuma was full of celebration at 100% as the gold Cerastes frame (right) won the Unisex Frame of the Year at the 2025 Love Eyewear Awards on its 20th anniversary. The frame was recognised for its elegant take on the classic ’70s aviator with a sleek double-bridge silhouette.

Unique artistic engravings of ‘anchor iron’ symbols embellish the top brow bar and temples, which are associated with the architecture of Stockholm’s historic Old Town – Gamla Stan – the brand’s hometown. As their 20th anniversary has coincided with the Year of the Snake, Vasuma has incorporated bold snakeskin-patterned acetate temple tips with a 3D-cobra symbol in gold for a modern flair.

Crafted in Italy and Japan using titanium and Mazzucchelli’s Eastman Acetate, the Cerastes also has Ergofeel nosepads for better adaptability to different facial features and are available in gunmetal and gold finishes and optical and sun lenses.

vasuma.com 

 

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