When details of Tom Rebl’s Protos line landed in my inbox, something seemed familiar - an odd feeling given that the press release claimed that the oxidised acetate used in the collection was a first for the eyewear industry.
A (deliberately) rusty exterior may be something new for eyewear, but not in cult motoring circles. Rat style or patina has been around for decades and began as a counter culture statement against big-budget modified hot rods, which were never really driven and effectively became large-scale models.
[caption id="attachment_942" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Rat Style 1950s Chevy pickup Credit: www.hypecreative.co.uk[/caption]Rusty or run down exteriors were mixed with solid mechanicals, and over the years, the style spread from hot rods and old pickup trucks, to air-cooled Volkswagens and even modern day cars.
Whether or not Tom Rebl was influenced by rat style is unclear, but the similarities are obvious. Maybe the Protos range is a statement against ultra-high end eyewear, maybe it’s a coincidence? Either way the range has brought something different to the table.