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LAUNCHES
New Kingsley Rowe Line Inspired by Fashion and Art
Quick Take: Born from a passion for quality craftsmanship and innovative design, Kingsley Rowe has launched their eyewear collection. Romy Kurlansky is behind the creative direction for the brand, as well as the eyewear design, working alongside designer, Blake Kuwahara, and well-known photographer, Mark Squires, shot the campaign.
Wearer: A unisex collection which cites “the spirit of avant-garde fashion, art, design and all avenues creative” as inspiration.
Specifics: The company has released a collection of 12 styles, three of which are available in optical and sun styles; the Beckett, Sierra and Rowan, though all of the styles can transition between optical and sunwear upon request.
Selling Points: Shapes include classic round, square rectangle, cat-eye and aviator, and are available in rich hues of black and tortoise, with colorations in rose, olive, grey, eggplant and ombre shades. The frames are made of Italian Mazzucchelli acetates and stainless steel metals, all featuring the Kingsley Row hexnut. The brand’s signature is hexnut, found on the frame front and temple tip. The precise and equal points of the hexnut detail represent the symbolic balance between the brand’s classic heritage craftsmanship and effortless avant-garde style, the company said.
Price Guide: $$$$
www.kingsleyrowe.com
Kingdom Eyewear Launches ArtLife Collection in U.S.
Quick Take: Kingdom Eyewear will debut ArtLife Eyewear’s Comic Paper Collection at the upcoming International Vision Expo in New York. The ArtLife frames are currently available in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Sweden and Holland, but new releases will be made available state-side through its U.S.-based distributor, Kingdom Eyewear who will service all U.S. clients from their California location.
Wearer: The collection features women’s, men’s and teen sizes.
Specifics: Made entirely in Spain, this season the collection of ophthalmic and sunwear frames are inspired by and made from old comics. Local artists and expert optical designers designed and created the collection for women, men and teens.
Selling Points: The paper-based styles are preserved through a manual production process and unique paper treatment. Using a special type of glue and three different varnishes created by ArtLife, the frames are waterproof and highly durable in extremely hot or cold conditions. Frames are named after world-renowned famous people, with personal quotes featured inside the frames’ temples. The collection is paired with a unique marketing philosophy; ArtLife Eyewear provides employment opportunities to the unemployed or homeless, promoting a creative, work relationship with local artists to produce art-inspired eyewear.
Price Guide: $$$
www.kingdomeyewear.com
SECOND LOOKS
McGee Expands Ducks Unlimited Sport Collection
Quick Take: The McGee Group has launched its latest Ducks Unlimited Sport Collection for the outdoor enthusiast.
Specifics: Two styles, called Ignite and Interlude, will be added to the collection.
Selling Points: The Ignite frame has a flexible rubber temple with an inlaid wood veneer. Its powder coated titanium frame front has an angular shape, and nose pads enable a more customized fit. The Ignite is available in slate and midnight blue. The Interlude style is a full titanium frame with a defined rectangle shape and has a flexible rubber temple with an inlaid, laminated wood veneer. Adjustable nose pads allow for a more comfortable fit. The Interlude is available in black and olive.
Pricing Guide: $$
www.mcgeegroup.com
A&A Adds Styles to Alexander Collection
Quick Take: A&A Optical has expanded its Alexander Collection with sophisticated styles that are designed to complement women of all face shapes.
Specifics: Two new styles called Aimee and Vivian.
Selling Points: Shaped like a bow tie, the Aimee frame features a rope pattern on its upper temple that merges into elongated acetate temple tips. The style is available in brown, burgundy, green and purple. The Vivian frame has an oval-shaped, triple laminate frame front that combines hued blocks of color in its temples, accented with metal pins. The burgundy Vivian is married with burgundy, pink and grey. The brown frame is combined with brown, mauve and red-orange. The navy frame is matched with navy, mint green and blue-grey. The purple frame merges with purple, mustard yellow and marsala wine. Aimee and Vivian are available in petite, average and perfect fit (extended fit) styles that are available in eye sizes 47 mm to 57 mm. The Alexander Collection merchandising materials include a logo plaque and counter cards, and each frame comes with a hard eyewear case.
Pricing Guide: $$
www.aaopticalco.com
Morel’s Koali Aega Concept Butterfly-Inspired
Quick Take: Morel Eyewear’s latest Koali Collection features the Aega concept, a new design inspired by the Morpho Aega butterfly found in South America.
Specifics: The Aega concept is available in six different models.
Selling Points: Aega styles have aluminum that give “three dimensions with a twist to reflect the triangular wings of the butterfly which is emphasized by a contrasting line as a reminder of Aega’s shape,” the company said. Frames have a concealed flex-hinge system and their metallic tones mimic the scales that cover the butterfly’s wings. The collection features four stainless steel models, three semi-rimless and two full rimmed, and two models with double-layered handcrafted acetate fronts.
Pricing Guide: $$$
www.morel-france.com
ALSO NEW
Silhouette Bows the Titan Contour Collection
Silhouette’s new Titan Contour Collection allows its wearers to express themselves through a completely customizable design experience. The collection features a mix of eight rimless eyewear models in eight colors with eight different lens shapes for a seemingly endless number of options, the company said. The collection is defined by clarity, openness and a minimalistic design that allows for ultra-light wearing comfort. A distinctive SPX design element accentuates the flat titanium temple; while the titanium bridge and side parts complement each other with clean form and a harmonious mix of materials. The linear design of this unisex offers neutral tone-on-tone variations that are complemented by radiant nuances.
www.silhouette.com
Götti Switzerland Unveils Genuine Horn Collection
Götti Switzerland has expanded its collection with five new models made from buffalo horn. The design of the new models was based on the most popular acetate frames from the current collection. They now join the 15 frames made from horn that are currently available. The masculine Babar model has straight edges and rounded corners, while the Bano offers a classic retro look in a square shape that complements both feminine and masculine facial shapes. The Bardot features soft, feminine lines in a square retro look and the feminine Baeo is perfect for narrow faces with rounded corners and slightly elevated lines. Lastly, the Betty is a round buffalo horn frame with a 70s look in a feminine shape.
www.gotti.ch
Dioptics Releases Six New Products for 2015
Dioptics has introduced new products for 2015. The Quick Fit ClipOn features a new mechanism that attaches similarly to a flip-up mechanism but eliminates the four exterior prongs and existing spring bridge to expand the fit range. The Transformer ClipOn uses popular sunglass shapes like the aviator and wayfarer in a standard clipon format so wearers can have the appearance of fashion sunglasses. The Crystal Accents ClipOn is modeled after the Designer Fits Over collections with crystals and jewels added to the rimless clipon. The Designer & Sport Fits Over sunglass collection features new temple treatments, colors and patterns. In the Semi-Rimless Fits Over sunglass line a new wayfarer design extends the fit range over eyeglasses with a more modern look. Lastly, the NightDrivers Fits Over sunglasses enhances contrast and helps to eliminate glare at night and/or while driving with a yellow lens that helps to block out blue light.
www.diopticssunwear.com
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