Eyeglasses.com Blog

Articles for October, 2009

Nike Sunglasses

It was a who’s who of the world of sports as Marchon partnered with Nike Eyewear and ESPN giving personal eyewear makeovers to the star athletes and sport celebrities attending the 17th annual Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, better known as the ESPYs.

Showing off their new Nike frames are Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens in Vomero (Link: Nike Vomero sunglasses), Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart in Skylon Ace (Link: Nike Skylon Ace sunglasses), ESPN announcer Stuart Scott in style NK7044 (Link:Nike 7044 Sunglasses) and basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Irving in Zonda (Link: Nike Zonda Sunglasses).

On the women’s end of the draw are a bevy of Olympians wearing Nike styles: Olympic gold medal swimmer Dara Torres in Skylon Ace (Link: Nike Skylon Ace sunglasses), Olympic gold medal volleyball player Misty May-Treanor in style N4179 (Link: Nike N4179 Eyeglasses), figure skater Michelle Kwan in Vomero (Link: Nike Vomero sunglasses), gymnast Courtney Kupets in Skylon Ace and gymnast Alicia Sacramone in Precocious (Link: Nike Precocious Sunglasses).    --Article reprinted from 2020 Magazine,  with permission from Jobson Publishing.

SUSTAINABLY STYLISH

09-2009

Modo Eyewear launches ECO (Earth-Conscious Optics), a collection of eyewear that brings environmental responsibility to the forefront. The line uses recycled stainless steel to create frames that fuse fashion and sustainability for the stylish and earth-conscious consumer. The collection, consisting of 22 ophthalmic and 15 sun styles, offers a diverse range of classically inspired shapes and colors. Elegant to edgy, flat to curved, and round to square—the variety of designs complement an array of personalities from the eco-conscious urban fashionista to the suburban dad. ECO works to repurpose, recycle or reuse materials through every step of the product life cycle, boasting a 360-degree approach to sustainability without sacrificing quality, design or price. Even the packaging consists of recycled materials and each new pair is accompanied by a mail-in recycling kit for old frames. Each frame will be identified by a circle on the outer temple, subtly marking its authenticity as a pair of sustainable frames.

Photographed by Matthew Lambros/Black Box Studio

PHILOSOPHY:
“More than 120 million Americans use corrective eyewear and approximately 90 million wear sunglasses. This is a huge opportunity to make a difference,” said Alessandro Lanaro, Modo CEO. “The power lies with the retailers to make sustainability attainable for all and that means offering a desirable, quality collection at a fair price.”

INSIGHT
“This is the most exciting collection I have ever done since founding Modo,” says Alessandro Lanaro. “I have been proudly wearing a prototype and it has been remarkable to hear the comments on the design and the revolution we are starting in the industry.” --Article from 2020 Magazine, reprinted with permission of Jobson Publishing.

Essilor Launches Definity Fairway Transitions SOLFX DALLAS—Essilor of America and Transitions Optical have launched Definity Fairway Transitions SOLFX, a new progressive sunwear product designed to meet the visual demands of golfers needing multifocal prescriptions. The new product combines the patented Dual Add 2.0 technology and Ground View Advantage of Definity lenses with the photochromic technology of Transitions SOLFX sunlenses to provide golfers with the right color and darkness for optimal performance in varying light conditions, according to the two manufacturers. “Golf is a visually demanding sport. From tracking the ball to reading the greens, golf requires the use of near, peripheral, intermediate and distance vision—and changing light conditions can often create an added visual burden for golfers,” said Grady Lenski, director, Transitions sunwear. “Whether in the sun or in the shade, this new product will accommodate these needs, helping golfers play better and enjoy their game more.” Definity progressive lenses use Dual Add 2.0 technology to create a fourth zone of vision, called the Ground View Advantage, giving wearers clearer vision when looking down. In a golf study cited by Essilor, players preferred Definity lenses 7:1 during course play – reporting less peripheral distortion, a 30 percent wider intermediate zone and smoother transitions between distance, intermediate and near vision. Like all Transitions SOLFX sunwear products, the new golf product helps to enhance visual performance by automatically adjusting its degree of darkness to changing outdoor light conditions. The lenses will change from amber to a darker brown outdoors, improving contrast and depth perception to help golfers see the contour of the greens, and better see the ball. The lenses also help to protect against the harmful effects of UV rays and come systematically with Crizal Sun Mirrors which reduce back side reflections, and improve scratch resistance and cleanability. “Players have already shown a strong preference for Definity lenses on the course,” said Carl Bracy, vice president of marketing, Essilor of America. “We’re confident that wearers will appreciate the added benefits and versatility provided with the Transitions SOLFX sunwear technology and the additional glare protection provided by Crizal Sun Mirrors.” ? --Article from 2020 Magazine, reprinted with permission of Jobson Publishing.

The Pez Just Peachy frame with rubber daisy on temple from A&A Optical.

A&A Optical has released four new frames in their Pez Eyewear collection just in time for the back-to-school season. The new collection features three frames for girls and one unisex frame. The girls’ frames consist of the Show Off, Just Peachy and Sweetheart. Each of the girls’ styles is accented with feminine touches like a raised, rubberized daisy on the Just Peachy frame or multi-colored hearts on the inside of the Sweetheart frame, while the Show Off frame has a slightly rounded eye shape with a laser etched swirl pattern. The unisex frame, Red Rover, is made with A&A’s Twisterz memory metal and can be described as a classic style for both active boys and girls. Each frame is available is a variety of colors and comes with A&A’s “No Questions Asked Lifetime Warranty.” --Article from 2020 Magazine, reprinted with permission of Jobson Publishing.

The Lacoste optical merchandising imagery for 2009 from Charmant.

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.—For Fall 2009, Charmant USA presents a collection of Lacoste opticals that twist classic shapes with contemporary, sporty details in chic colors. The men’s collection starts with the LA 12039, an aviator-style half-rim frame with metal tips on the temples. The LA 12041 is an acetate version of a classic frame made modern with a subtle gradation print. The collection concludes with the LA 12040 featuring a titanium milled front and acetate temples in contrast colors. For women, the Fall 2009 opticals offer a sneak preview of the Summer 2010 sun collection, with fresh logo treatments and an elegant yet still sporty attitude. The LA 12239 has a titanium front and thin temples in contrast-colored acetate. The LA 12240 features the round letter Lacoste logo in inlaid cloisonné with the frame and temples in acetate.

Leathertouch frame from Silhouette Optical..

COLONIE, N.Y.—Silhouette Optical has introduced two new collections featuring leather accents. The Luxury Leatherdrops collection includes four feminine styles with soft genuine leather inserts on the temples that contrast yet complement the metal decorative elements in four colors featuring rhodium or gold plated bridges and temples made of nibrodal. The second collection is the more unisex Luxury Leathertouch collection. Four luxurious models in four colors also feature soft genuine leather as an accent detail insert in the nibrodal temples. --Article from 2020 Magazine, reprinted with permission of Jobson Publishing.

The Chesterfield 06XL (top) and 05XL (bottom) from Sàfilo USA.

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Sàfilo USA has added two new styles to the Chesterfield XL collection of big eyeglasses. The Chesterfield XL collection now consists of six metal ophthalmic styles including the new CH05XL and CH06XL. Both offer larger eye and bridge sizes, as well as longer temples, than many men’s ophthalmic offerings and just like the Chesterfield eyewear collection, are geared toward men ages 25 and older looking for affordable all-American styling that suits an active lifestyle. The CH05XL is a flat metal, semi-rimless style with a rectangular shape while the CH06XL is a fully rimmed rectangular style made of regular metal. Both new styles feature acetate temples with comfortable flex hinges in classic masculine colors. --Article from 2020 Magazine, reprinted with permission of Jobson Publishing.

The Baby Phat BP2053 sun style (top) and the BP144 optical style (bottom) from Modo.

NEW YORK—Modo is offering five new optical frames and six new sunglass models for its Baby Phat Fall/Winter 2009 Collection. The ophthalmic collection features two metal/acetate combination and three plastic frames. Cut-out decorations on fronts and temples are prevalent, and odd shaped rhinestones complement the set. Color schemes include cranberry and pinks, in addition to the more classic blacks and browns. The sunglass collection consists of six plastic styles, three of which are RX-able. The assortment features shapes and designs such as round, rectangular and butterfly and colors like eggplant and transparent olive.

The Guess Optical the GU1585ST (top and bottom) and GU1584ST (center) part of the House of Rock grouping from Viva International.

SOMERVILLE, N.J.—Viva International has debuted the Guess Eyewear Fall 2009 optical collection for men and women. The new optical styles consists of four models for women and eight for men in a mix of metal, acetate and combination materials. Glam, rock and bohemian-inspired elements influence the new designs, while bold shapes and handcrafted materials are prominent in the three design motifs: House of Rock, Old Hollywood Glam and Vintage Boho. The House of Rock grouping features detailed graphics and hard-edged designs with finishes in matte and shiny treatments and decorative hardware trims. Old Hollywood Glam is classic Hollywood fashion re-interpreted in a fresh new way with styles incorporating exotic skins, bold, flashy colors and vivid jewel tones inspired by red carpet glamour. Lastly, Vintage Boho uses floral accents and patterns inspired by the hippies of the ‘60s and ‘70s with retro styling, military motifs and heirloom inspired designs.

 

The Maestro from the Smith Ophthalmic collection.

  KETCHUM, Ind.—Smith Optics has unveiled its new Fall 2009 Rx releases, a collection of models which reflect the brand’s integration of performance and style. Nine new styles and seven new color ways in existing models comprise this season’s collection. Highlights include the Maestro, a vintage silhouette that blends the classic cat eye with a modern angular feel for men, while the distinctly feminine Eve is a graceful and slightly smaller piece with graphic detailing. New also is TiFlex, a patented frame technology which features micro-grooves machined into titanium temples so frames freely flex and meld to a broad range of faces. Offered in the TiFlex Vapor and Vapor 2, the frames are extremely lightweight and wearable.