Style news - April 2019

April 12, 2019 Staff reporters

We’re seeing more exciting news from spring and summer collections released in the Northern hemisphere, plus we’re delighted to introduce the new optical range by Le Specs and Etnia Barcelona and Fatheadz, which have both found new homes with new New Zealand distributors.

 

Hoya

Hoya has launched an addition to its photochromic Sensity lens range, Hoya Mirror, offering mirrored prescription sunglass lenses available in gold, silver or blue mirror. If you’re after a lighter effect, there’s also silver, copper, blue and violet to choose from.

 

Etnia Barcelona

Fun and colourful Etnia Barcelona’s 2019 spring and summer collection and related promotional campaign are inspired by California, the seventies, swimming pools and endless blue, sunny skies, said the company. The four collections include acetate and exclusive metal combinations, “daring” new shapes and futuristic end pieces that “stand out from the rest”.

 

Fatheadz

US-made Fatheadz Eyewear offers optical and sun for big heads which can’t find a comfortable fit from standard-width glasses. Fatheadz’s sunglass lenses are injected-polarised polycarbonate lenses, creating exceptional clarity, said the company. The lenses are thick and durable and have an anti-reflective coating to the back side, eliminating glare from sunlight reflecting into your eyes when the sun comes from behind the wearer. All Fatheadz sunglasses are rated UV400 and have interlocking hinges.

 

Carter Bond

Inspired by the rugged Australian countryside, Carter Bond’s new Wanderlust collection offers “classic styles with a modern approach”. Mando is made using hard density cellulose acetate, has a bold look but is also incredibly light-weight to wear, said the company. Grey crystal, featured here, is also available in tortoise and dark tortoise.

 

William Morris

William Morris’s Black and London labels released new collections at Mido. For the men, BLHopkins has a distinct metal double bridge paired with Mazzucchelli acetate temples. For the ladies, the London collection strikes a “perfect balance between fun and colour,” said the company, showcased here by the LN50123 C1 metal and acetate frame with tortoise and rose gold textured rim. Each style is intricately branded with the WM logo embedded in the nose pads and temple tips.

 

Le Specs

Building on the success of its sunglass range, Le Specs launched its optical collection in January. Designed in collaboration with renowned eyewear designer Blake Kuwahara, the handmade collection includes a variety of styles in stainless steel as well as hypoallergenic cellulose acetate, and includes details such as German OBE hinges, 3D-contoured temples and screw-in PVC adjustable nose pads for maximum comfort.

 

Man U dons Maui Jim

Maui Jim has signed a multi-year partnership with Manchester United, to become the official vision partner of the famous football club.

Maui Jim will supply the first team, academy and women’s teams with glasses from their sun and optical ranges and later this year the two brands will launch a limited edition co-branded eyewear collection, available for fans to purchase.

Richard Arnold, Manchester United’s managing director, said, “Maui Jim is a revolutionary global eyewear brand that is one of the largest and most innovative producers of sunglasses in the world. I’m delighted that they will be joining the United family and creating a range of exclusive eyewear pieces specifically for our fans.”