It was hard not to be drawn to the small, upbeat crowd gathered happily around one of Eyes Right Optical’s central display tables at O=Mega19, chatting amiably to the enthusiastic French man who was showing such obvious passion for the eyewear displayed in front of him.
Denis Bellone, head designer of well-known French frame company Morel, had just finished an Eyes Right masterclass, sharing his knowledge and inspiration behind some of the latest designs in Morel’s Koali, Lightec, Oga, Nomad and Marius Morel brand portfolio.
It was an honour to be at O=Mega19 with the Eyes Right team, he said humbly, especially given the long partnership between Eyes Right and Morel – both passionate, family-owned companies dedicated to the independent optometry market, now being led by the younger generation of their families.
Being here was about sharing the passion, he said. “We provide material with technical specifications, but the passion has to be live.” He also valued the opportunity to talk openly with optometrists and opticians in this part of the world, demonstrating and sharing the inspiration behind Morel’s frame designs.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, he said – from the fashion world, the technical world, what we see arounds us. But for Morel, making frames is more than that. It’s also about understanding the end user, the comfort, the weight, and the opticians who sell the frames. Bellone asks, “How can we make their lives easier, so that nose pads and lenses etc. can be fitted and fixed more easily?” Adding, “We like to claim we understand you, that we are at least trying to walk in your shoes. The eyewear maker and the optician – it is one world and we want to step in.”
