Eyeglasses.com Blog

Articles for September, 2010

Strip Search: Temples to excess... Huge expanses of artificial shade with sounds of money being won and (mostly) lost. Yup. That’s Vegas. And without much tinkering that’s sunwear in Las Vegas as well. So 20/20 is ever grateful our star StreetSeen photographer Christie Walker takes some time out from her Expo Convention Center gig to snap fun worshippers as they squint worshipping the sun. Come on... Do the logo-motion with her.    (Article reprinted with permission from Jobson Publishing at 20/20 Lenses & Technology. By James Spina)  

Marchon Eyewear launches its Nike Vintage Vision Collection, the first collection available through Nike Sportswear (NSW), a new category for Nike Eyewear that specializes in bringing performance product icons from Nike’s past back to life for contemporary consumers. Taking its cues from both sport and cultural icons from the company’s early days in the 1970s, the six-piece sport sunglass line blends retro styling with modern, updated optics. All of the designs feature classic sport eyewear shapes, materials and colorations reminiscent of their original inspirations, whether they be skiing, jogging or motor sports or images of European skiers or such Hollywood icons as Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Subtle product detailing and lens treatments hint at modern performance updates. (Article reprinted with permission from Jobson Publishing at 20/20 Lenses & Technology.) 
PHILOSOPHY:
“The Nike consumer understands the deeply routed history of the Nike brand. Our first NSW collection is rooted in the 1970s heritage and retains the authenticity from that vintage era,” says Andy Skitmore, senior vice president Nike Vision. “Individual style, bold colors, logos and details are all intricate parts of the debut collection. Nike has taken the bold and classic shapes from the time period when the Nike brand was first established and has reinterpreted them with a modern twist.”

MARKETING:
Merchandising materials include a six-place bleacher display, large cardboard window display and large and small countercards. Additional materials are still being finalized. Each style comes with a case reminiscent of a vintage bomber jacket.

PRICE POINT:
$$$$ to $$$$$. For additional information, contact Marchon Eyewear, (800) 645-1300; web site: www.marchon.com

INSIGHT
Though designed to align with Nike’s heritage product, the retro styling and contemporary optics make the Vintage Vision Collection eyewear relevant across Nike’s many consumer categories.   

Marchon Eyewear launches the Lacoste Eyewear Collection. Included are 49 ophthalmic frames and 36 sunglasses, each piece reminiscent of the long established Lacoste brand. Inspired by the Lacoste design legacy, the frames and sunglasses include vibrant color blocking, striping and piping, the brand’s signature pique texture and the ever recognizable croc logo. Precise style, which maintains an effortless fluidity and chic elegance, is translated to the eyewear. High-tech, functional details, such as interchangeable temples and temples with magnetic tips that extend to form a combination headband and neckband further enhance the collection. (Article reprinted with permission from Jobson Publishing at 20/20 Lenses & Technology.) 
PHILOSOPHY:
“The entirely new Lacoste Eyewear Collection is a fresh perspective on sunwear and ophthalmics, offering new technology, functionality, design techniques and an exciting experience for consumers,” says Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste S.A.

MARKETING:
Merchandising materials include one- and four-place displays, a12-place, open countertop display, window materials, color story display, posters, double-sided banner, mirror, pique logo cube and croc window clings in two sizes.

PRICE POINT:
$$ to $$$. For additional information, contact Marchon Eyewear, (800) 645-1300; web site: www.marchon.com

INSIGHT
Founded in 1933 by legendary tennis player Rene Lacoste with Andre Gillier, the owner and president of the largest French knitwear manufacturing firm at the time, Lacoste is an apparel company that sells high-end clothing, footwear, perfume, leather goods, watches, eyewear and most famously tennis shirts. In recent years, Lacoste has introduced a home line of sheets and towels. The company can be recognized by its green crocodile logo, a reference to the nickname “The Crocodile” given to Rene Lacoste by the U.S. press.   

Gotti Switzerland Eyewear consists of ophthalmic frames and sunglasses made of the finest materials: three-dimensional, processed titanium, specially manufactured acetate and genuine buffalo horn. The entire collection is produced by specialists in their respective fields of expertise: titanium frames are made in Japan and the acetates are manufactured in Germany. The finishing touches of every pair of Gotti frames are done by hand. A ceramic coating is applied to the titanium styles and the acetates are hand polished. Gotti Eyewear is conceived and designed, from the beginning, to be the consumer’s favorite glasses. The colors and shapes complement each other and make every look in the mirror more pleasant than the last, the company says. PHILOSOPHY: “Since our company began, our philosophy has remained consistent. We create eyewear that is simple and elegant and made of the highest quality materials,” says Sven Gotti, Gotti Switzerland, founder, owner and designer. “Our eyewear is reduced to the essential, enhanced with harmonious shapes and comes alive with a consistent signature. These eyeglasses are intended more as jewelry than as an accessory. They are valuable and enduring objects that make the wearer look and feel great.” MARKETING: Marketing materials include frame and logo displays, posters, several different postcards with cube holders, small branded gymnastic balls, newsletter and look book. PRICE POINT: $$$$$. For additional information, see the web site: www.gotti.ch INSIGHT Based in Wadenswil, near Zurich, and founded in 1993 by Sven Gotti, a master optician, Gotti Switzerland releases a new eyewear collection every six months. Products are sold in nearly 40 countries. Gotti also manufactures a fragrance.�

Strip Search: Temples to excess... Huge expanses of artificial shade with sounds of money being won and (mostly) lost. Yup. That’s Vegas. And without much tinkering that’s sunwear in Las Vegas as well. So 20/20 is ever grateful our star StreetSeen photographer Christie Walker takes some time out from her Expo Convention Center gig to snap fun worshippers as they squint worshipping the sun. Come on... Do the logo-motion with her.  

Prada (Link: Prada Eyewear) launched its new Swing Sunglasses Collection with an intimate jazz concert at legendary New York club Joe’s Pub. This collection features sophisticated silhouettes crafted to echo the sensual aesthetics and modern femininity of the Autumn/Winter 2010 Prada clothing line. The Swing Sunglasses are ripe with inspiration drawn from smoky 1950s shapes and the subtle minimalistic aesthetic of Prada’s 1990s fashions. Get ready to swing into style with Prada.

(Article reprinted with permission from Jobson Publishing at 20/20 Lenses & Technology. By Patrisha Zabrycki)

 

It was a star-studded outing that culminated in a nice pair of shades. Esprit recently opened its largest U.S. flagship store on West 34th Street in Manhattan. The 18,000-square-foot, three-level store features a new interior design and carries the casual and collection lines for men and women.  The environment is different from other Esprit stores in that it aims to convey an air of authenticity.  Replacing the red portals and shiny white surfaces, the new store features paneling made from recycled wood as well as images and props borrowed from the spring ad campaign that has a theme of a road trip through the desert. 
(Article reprinted with permission from Jobson Publishing at 20/20 Lenses & Technology. By Jackie Micucci)
To celebrate the grand opening of the new store, more than 400 guests including celebrities, press and fashion influencers were invited to a private party held at the store. Singer Macy Gray did a special appearance performance of her new single “Beauty in the World.” Also at the event were actresses Jennifer Love Hewitt, Erin Lucas and Emmy Rossum, and stylist Robert Verdi. To cap off the evening, an Esprit sunglass by Charmant (Link: Charmant Eyeglasses) was included in the goodie bag that guests received at the end of the event.