Simon Jones: What initially attracted you to Ronit Furst eyewear?
Prue Leith The colour. I wanted brightly coloured glasses and all the big opticians had very little quirky or brightly coloured specs, so I went into my local independent optician and had a good grouse to him. He promptly pulled out a Ronit Furst brochure and that was that. He ordered in the two I liked the best and I bought one.
SJ: How was the collaboration with Ronit Furst established?
PL: When I won Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year, I immediately had a flood of questions about where I’d got my glasses. And comments from women saying things like ‘You are so brave. I’d love to wear specs like that, but I wouldn’t dare’ or ‘Ever since I turned 50, I’ve hardly worn any colour at all. I miss it.’ And messages suggesting I produce my own range of colourful eyewear.
SJ: What was your role in the design process?
PL Ronit and her husband came to my house and Ronit and I clicked at once. We spent many hours talking about style, art and design, colour, etc. We walked round the house looking at my pictures, the bathroom ceiling I’d painted so it looks as if you are lying under a fruiting apple tree when you are in the bath, my walls of necklaces and earrings so that she could understand my style. Ronit is a true artist.
She designs jewellery, ceramics, and is a painter. I was a bit nervous that she’d be unwilling to include me in the design process, and I expect she was expecting me to want to take over her job. But we were both relieved that we got on so well. The whole journey has been a collaboration. The basic colour blocking is all Ronit, but the shape, the design of the optical case, the cloth inside it, was a true collaboration.
Sometimes she’d suggest something that I didn’t think was quite ‘me’ and sometimes I’d suggest something that would not work in the manufacturing process or she didn’t think was quite right. We both wanted to stay near the designs of her beautiful hand-painted glasses, which I’ve been wearing for many years, but which are sadly out of the reach of many customers, so we settled on a similar look, but factory-produced. I think of spectacles like other people think of handbags or pairs of shoes. They long to own more than one good one. Frankly, I’d like a different pair for every outfit.
SJ What advice would you give to someone thinking of trying a statement frame for the first time?
PL I think bold colourful glasses give you confidence and make you feel happy. I’d say to anyone tempted by a new pair of specs, ‘If you like the look on me (and for heaven’s sake, I’m not a model and I’m in my late 70s!) they are almost certain to look better on you.’
SJ You’re known for bold jewellery and colourful separates – where do you think eyewear ranks in terms of a fashion wardrobe?
PL Right at the top! After all, when you meet someone, they look into your eyes, not at your feet or your handbag. I love necklaces and earrings too and I think of specs in the same breath. I’m lucky enough to be able to pick and choose from my own range, so in the morning, when I’m dressed, I pick first glasses, then necklace, then earrings.
SJ Have you ever had any glasses-related mishaps in the kitchen?
PL No mishaps but have experienced steamed up glasses when opening an oven. I have that very soft blue recycled kitchen paper on a huge roll on the wall and I use that to clear them. I dare say opticians would not approve.
For wholesale enquires contact MAC and PURE Eyewear, 01993 822038
