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LAUNCHES
Luxottica Launches New Giorgio Armani Eyewear Collection
Quick Take: Luxottica has launched Giorgio Armani Eyewear beginning with the Frames of Life collection.
Wearer: The Giorgio Armani eyewear collection itself offers a model for every look, from glasses with details and crystals inspired by the brand’s eveningwear and classic unisex models reworked, to modernized retro-style glasses.
Specifics: Luxottica will reintroduce the brand to its best accounts beginning with the Frames of Life group, characterized by Armani’s strong design heritage reinterpreted in a contemporary way.
Selling Points: “In North America, we’ve decided to pre-launch into the wholesale channel, specifically to the best accounts, the Frames of Life collection first because the statement for us is the passion, energy and quality we put back into the top collection of the Armani portfolio,” Fabio d’Angelantonio, chief marketing officer and head of the retail luxury and sun business for Luxottica Group, explained to VM. “Over time we will follow with an extension of the Giorgio Armani collection into the best doors.” According to him, Luxottica will follow that launch between May and July with the introduction of Giorgio Armani into Sunglass Hut (SGH) and LensCrafters’ best doors. Highlights of the new introductions include the AR7002, an ophthalmic frame with a rounded front in a classic unisex design available in standard colors, as well as streaked grey, aquamarine and transparent pink. For sun, the Kaleidoscope glasses express the spirit of the Giorgio Armani spring/summer RTW and accessories collections. The AR6005BZ, an aluminium-colored tinted aviator sunglass in ultra-light metal, is embellished with handmade Nappa leather and silk blinders entirely covered by sequins and small crystals.
Price Guide: $$$$-$$$$$
www.luxottica.com
Tura Debuts Geoffrey Beene Eyewear Collection
Quick Take: Tura Inc. has introduced the Geoffrey Beene Eyewear collection inspired by one of America’s design pioneers.
Wearer: “Our goal is to translate the designer’s inventive styling into modern, wearable silhouettes for fashion-savvy, value-conscious and socially-aware patients,” said Eileen Estrada, Tura’s brand manager for Geoffrey Beene.
Specifics: The launch features 12 men’s and 12 women’s ophthalmic frames in an assortment of plastic, metal, semi-rimless and combination styles in classic and modern shapes with contemporary, jewelry-inspired details. The collection has three main design themes; Signature Simplicity, a timeless and understated sub-collection distinguished by modern details; Attainable Luxury, wearable styles inspired by Geoffrey Beene’s jewelry and geometric patterns; and Distinctive Individuality, modern, clean-lined designs.
Selling Points: Tura’s collection unites Geoffrey Beene’s playful, unconventional spirit with wearable designs for men and women. Additionally, Geoffrey Beene donates 100 percent of its net profits to philanthropic causes that support innovative research in the fields of medicine, education and social issues. The launch is supported by an assortment of merchandising materials, including counter cards, logo ID, 4-piece display, dual sided banner and GWP. Each frame comes with a case, cleaning cloth and an insert explaining Geoffrey Beene’s philanthropic message.
Price Guide: $$-$$$
www.tura.com
SECOND LOOKS
Viva Bows Guess Spring 2013 Eyewear Line
Quick Take: Viva has launched the Spring 2013 eyewear collection from Guess Eyewear drawing inspiration from high tech luxe and edgy glamour.
Specifics: The season features chic ophthalmic shapes with unique accents. The women’s collection gets bold with metallic hardware embellishments and engraved animal prints, while the Guess guy has smart, sleek, and wearable styles.
Selling Points: Metallic and crystal rhinestone studs adorn the temples of the GU 2344, GU 2346 and GU 2347 and these optical styles are finished with satin metal hardware. Traditional feminine silhouettes take a walk on the wild side - each frame has unique laser-engraved zebra print on the outside of the temple – for the GU 2354, a modern metal oval; the GU 2353, a rectangular metal; the GU 2352, an acetate rectangle frame; and the GU 2351, a classic acetate cat eye. For men, the full metal frame front constructions of the GU 1768 and GU 1770 feature rectangular silhouettes paired with color-fade temples, spring hinges and handmade acetate tips. The thick, handmade acetate of the GU 1775 and GU 1777 feature matte-textured temples and screw-head rivets on the metal hinge plaque logos.
Price Guide: $$-$$$
www.vivagroup.com
REM Releases the Tumi Spring Sun Collection
Quick Take: REM Eyewear has released the Tumi Sun Collection for Spring 2013.
Specifics: Infused with design and innovation, the latest sunwear collection from Tumi features four new styles and come equipped with Carl Zeiss Vision polarized lenses developed exclusively for the Tumi Sun Collection, the TUMI ZR3.
Selling Points: Named for bridges around the world, the new Sun Collection includes the Bolte, a grown-up wayfarer featuring the trademark Tumi ballistic pattern applied by acid etching to the temples and bridge. The Dumbarton is inspired by a 1970’s aviator silhouette with a bold shape and signature Tumi details like the Rings of Saturn temple tips. The Fremont is a wayfarer with a twist featuring a square lenses and classic lines with the acid-etched ballistic pattern on the bridge and temples. Lastly, the Talmadge has a metal front and hand-wrapped, fine Italian leather details and trademarks like the Rings of Saturn temple tips.
Price Guide: $$$$$
www.remeyewear.com
L’Amy America Unveils New Nicole Miller Optical Styles
Quick Take: L’Amy America is launching new ophthalmic styles for spring in the Nicole Miller brand.
Specifics: Four new models that take their cue from Nicole Miller’s Celtic theme, a theme which plays an important role in the Nicole Miller collection, and is used as an inspiration in the Nicole Miller jewelry and accessory collections.
Selling Points: Celtic elements are woven in the temple of the eyewear, from a subtle Celtic cross to a modern interpretation of the ancient symbol. Three raised metal Celtic crosses in descending size are a modern interpretation of an ancient symbol, and the feature of the Nicole Miller Broad style done in rich acetate with a modern eye shape. The Bowery style features a distinctive metal plate with raised Celtic cross topped by a shiny crystal and a matte metal front combined with textured acetate temples The Downing highlights the outline of the Celtic cross translated as textured abstract raised metal crosses that play across the temple, complemented by the matte metal front. Lastly, the Mercer, in acetate, embodies the Celtic theme with a raised abstract Celtic cross topped by a clear crystal and the balance of the temple studded with matte metal straight through the center of the beveled temples.
Price Guide: $$$
www.lamyamerica.com
ALSO NEW
Marchon Adds Valentino Sun Styles for Spring
Marchon has released the spring styles from the Valentino Eyewear sun collection. The Valentino men styles express masculinity with a collection that features sleek shapes and distinctive contrasts. The Rockstud V652S is a curved acetate frame with two small studs on the frame front; while the Frost V109S are an oversized square metal enameled frame with a contrasting line along the edge. The Valentino women’s collection features exquisite craftsmanship, luxury and a contemporary blend of past and present. The Frost V108S is a curvy, wrap around metal frame with tone-on-tone injected inserts on the front. The VLogo V646SR is a compact blend of curves and angles with a subtle row of tiny crystals along the acetate brow line and an iconic “V” at its center; while the Pop VLogo V638S is the Pop version of the iconic acetate frame with a metal trim that runs along the brow lie and forms a “V” on the front in vibrant colors. The Rockstud V112S is a vintage-look acetate frame with metal studs that form a dotted line along the brow line and a “V” on the temple that works as a functional hinge; while the Pop Rockstud V641S features the metal studs on a cat eye acetate and tone-on-tone crystals on the brow line.
www.marchon.com
Modern Optical Intros New Styles to Modz Collection
Modern Optical International has added nine new unisex styles, seven acetate, one metal and one combination frame, to its Modz Eyewear Collection for Spring 2013. Each style is named after a well-known city and all have unisex appeal. The Akron, Jackson, Lubbock, Pocatello and Provo all are full-rim acetate styles with unique design details that include metal trim, spring hinges, and/or a keyhole bridge. The Rockford and Talladega use TR-90 for comfort and durability. The Bronx is a rectangular semi-rimless stainless steel style available in matte finishes of black, brown and gunmetal. The Camden, also a semi-rimless, is a combination frame using stainless steel on the upper rim and handmade acetate on the temples where inside surfaces feature pops of color in red, camel or lilac.
www.modernoptical.com
Villa Eyewear Offers New Rye&Lye Styles
The new Rye&Lye models, distributed by Villa Eyewear, reflect the style of the brand characterized by “future retro” vision where traditional elements and classic shapes are portrayed in a modern way. The Aida is a refined female model in a cat-eye shape typical of the 50s updated with a velvet application on temples and front. The ladies’ Swala is re-presented in new contrasting acetate colors with a zebra effect inside the temples inspired by the African savannah theme of Alessandra Soresina, the photographer, biologist and journalist who lives there. Leather treatments are the basis of the new women’s Tosca frame, a broad and squared frame with woven leather details; while the men’s Nabucco features stitched leather covering the temples.
www.villaeyewear.com
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