Brits abroad

British brand Booth & Bruce used the German show to launch a range of new titaniums. Large eyeshapes for younger people are again the order of the day with one model, the T005, featuring a lens height of 34mm.

Peter Booth, pictured with the titanium frames, said that Opti was a tremendously important show for B&B. He felt that larger, more brightly coloured eyewear was gaining acceptance in the UK and that practitioners were becoming more adventurous.

Continental Eyewear's sales manager Richard Day agreed. 'It would be fabulous to see more Britons out here. It's great for getting product ideas and learning the trends. Plus the people are so friendly and the show so well organised.'

X-eyes is the product of a wealth of knowledge gathered from various exhibitions, said Day. 'This is the product that is ahead of the UK.
Two new styles from the British-based company were the 'chunky rimless' 0.15 and 0.16 ... 'exact opposites of the typical rimless model,' said Day. They feature chunky titanium bridges, gaps at the hinge, plastic sides and split temples. 'Colours are suited to the UK ... deep wine shades that are more likely to appeal,' he added.

Day said that the company's core business is traditional because the UK is traditional, although he thinks that more patients now want something a bit different and are getting a second pair of spectacles for the evening.

'Opticians should try to have more whacky frames to accompany traditional frames. It would be a lot more fun for dispensers too.'