Featuring frames Best of British UK-based designers are responsible for some of the more striking The latest example of Kirk’s creativity is the Saturn Collection, frame styles on the market. Mike Hale reports on a selection of which features seven colourways on a famous names making the most of a very British heritage classic retro crystal frame. Handmade using an acetate exclusive to Kirk Originals, the collection boasts a he UK does not boast a The retro designs will be available to a vibrant line up of blue, flame red, fashion capital with the limited number of optical practices in anthracite grey, green, cherry and clout of Paris or Milan, but the UK over the coming months. clay colours. With a classic but bright there is a proud tradition Jason Kirk of Kirk Originals is exterior, Kirk says the simple façade of British design that another British designer who produces gives way to an interior of laminated ranges from fashion labels unique eyewear. ‘Being a British glitter that reveals itself playfully likeT Vivienne Westwood and Burberry company has been a bonus for Kirk through small sparks of light. to individualist designers like Terence Originals,’ he says. ‘British design ‘The inspiration behind this Conran and Peter Saville. This tradition has always been respected and, at the collection came from the type of person extends to eyewear, with some of the very least, it makes opticians receptive who would wear Kirk Originals, subtle most striking products on the market and curious towards our work,’ he and completely unique, with an ability coming from the imagination of comments. ‘It goes without saying that to choose whether or not to show off British designers and brands. one’s cultural identity influences one’s their individuality that day.’ A definitively British frame designer work, especially in creative fields and In addition to offering people the is Oliver Goldsmith, who started while we do not consciously overplay chance to design their own frames his career in optics as an apprentice the “British” card, we are delighted to through its Bespoke service, TD Tom in 1959 before spending the 1960s be associated with British design, both Davies has recently launched a new providing iconic eyewear to luminaries contemporary and historical.’ range called Limited Edition. Frames in including Grace Kelly, Audrey this collection are limited to either five, Hepburn, Michael Caine and Sophia 50 or 100 pieces and are individually Loren. After finding recent success in numbered. ‘Angelina Jolie has been Japan with his frame designs from the wearing a pair of our Limited Edition 1960s and 1970s, Goldsmith is now sunglasses recently and we also have a bringing these authentic retro frames new Ready to Wear collection available to the UK. as well,’ says Tom Davies. ‘In Japan, my identity as one of Jaeger is an iconic name within the few original British designers the British fashion industry. Since still going is a big help as they love its inception in London 125 years anything with a British heritage,’ says ago the label has gained a reputation Goldsmith. ‘My retro frames are built for quality, classical clothing. The to match exactly the original designs corresponding eyewear collection, I did in the 1960s and 1970s. Because which focuses on style and high younger designers did not live through quality construction, is formulated by those times they can’t replicate the Continental Eyewear in the UK and is original retro looks and instead produce distributed throughout the country and a modern version of retro. Original to their overseas markets. retro is far superior to the modern ‘Styles for men, women and unisex version.’ options have been selected using some Some of Goldsmith’s retro frames of the world’s best manufacturers,’ says have benefited from modern advances Neal Grimason, sales and marketing with titanium replacing aluminium. director of Continental Eyewear. 1 ‘Jaeger is a world-class, contemporary British fashion and lifestyle brand, with a rich history and dynamic future.’ Brulimar Optical Group produces eyewear for two popular British brands in Lee Cooper and Bench. These mid-range collections incorporate a broader colour palette, inspired by the military and street wear influences behind these distinctive brands. Stylish cut-outs and retro-inspired acetates also feature strongly in the designs.

14 | Optician | 16.07.10 opticianonline.net Featuring frames

3

4 1 Corona Black by Nueu 2 Kirk Originals’ Saturn 3 Religion 01-2 from Galaxy Optical 4 Jaeger from Continental Eyewear 5 OR299 by Orange 2 Eyewear

5

Trade in and trade up! with these great Budget busting offers

Beat the VAT rise and spread your payments over the pre increase months. Plus trade in any Non Contact Tonometer before the end of September and save up to £1,500 on a great new Pulsair Tonometer!

Pulsair Desktop Pulsair intelliPuff List Price £5,795 £5,250 Offer price £4,695 £3,950 Trade in price £4,295 £3,750 Offers end 30 September 2010 Deposit £1,500 £1,300 Prices exclude carriage (UK Mainland £20) and VAT. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers Extended payment terms Still too expensive? subject to approval by Keeler Ltd. *Stage Then simply make the Deposit payment as shown and spread the remainder payments will be collected on the monthly equally over the months up to and including December 2010*. Beat that Mr Osborne! anniversary of the invoice date Full payment must be made by December 31st 2010. For further information Freephone 0800 521251 Keeler Ltd Clewer Hill Road Windsor Berkshire SL4 4AA Tel: 01753 857177 Fax: 01753 827145 [email protected] www.keeler.co.uk

opticianonline.net 16.07.10 | Optician | 15 Featuring frames

Bench eyewear offers a spectrum of pink shades for women and tonal shifts between dark and light gunmetal shades giving influence to the men’s range. Lee Cooper focuses on wearable, classic styles as well as rimless frames that feature temple artwork to create a look that is both subtle and distinctive. ‘British brands such as Bench and 9 Lee Cooper are perennially popular in other countries including Germany, Spain, Asia and the Middle East, and this says a lot about the brands and the enduring appeal of British-born designs,’ says Brulimar managing director Howard Librae. ‘We are very proud of our heritage and strongly believe this country delivers the cream of fashion and design. We’ve forged the template for commercial success in international 10 markets, and are confident we will continue to enjoy universal consumer appeal in Europe and beyond with the pulling power a truly British brand provides.’ From Luxottica’s vast stable, 6 Burberry stands out as a prime example of an elite British brand. The new autumn/winter collection references iconic detailing from the Burberry archives and reflects the Burberry heritage with modern yet classic design, echoing the regimental styles of the ready-to-wear fashion collections. All styles have Burberry logo branding on the temples. 7 New styles for women include oversized faceted acetate sunglasses and key styles for men include rectangular sunglasses with the Burberry check printed on the temple. The colour palette for the eyewear collection includes trench, light straw, white, highland green, grey, dusty lavender, 11 taupe pink, red, oxblood, dark blue, 8 anthracite and black. Also from Luxottica is the new Stella McCartney sunglass range, and featuring genuine pins on the Independent optical supplier which is said to offer a modern and frame front and temples. The temple Dunelm has a strong tradition of sensual approach with clean lines to tip features a four-leaf clover plaque supporting British design. create a distinctive collection featuring inspired by one of Smith’s sketches. ‘Paul Costelloe and John Rocha, a mix of both vintage inspired and As a fashion label Hackett is closely although both Irish designers, are well more directional styles. The collection aligned with British values and this respected on the British high-street contains five frames named after season’s Hackett Eyewear collection for their fashion ranges, and through the astrological signs including the from Mondottica has a vintage feel their exhibitions at London Fashion Virgo SM 3003, which features a flat with bold blacks and mellow tortoise Week,’ says Peter Beaumont, director mask with plastic bar on top and a shades reflecting the inspirations of of Dunelm Optical. ‘Likewise the Janet customised thin metal temple featuring Hackett’s own tailored collection. The Reger brand, based in London, is a firm the stepped design. acetate collection offers a range of favourite with Dunelm customers. Influential and long-standing models that are reminiscent of London’s Dunelm has worked with all three British fashion designer Paul Smith’s smart fashion scene of the early 1960s. brands to create a range of optical eyewear collections are available from Heavy, bold shapes offer a distinguished frames that sell well in Britain, being Luxottica. A highlight is the optical look and are mixed together with unique, stylish and always on-trend.’ frame Gibbons, which is said to be the addition of brushed metal sides The Jeff Banks eyewear range from the quintessential Paul Smith optical on some models to soften the bold Norville Eyewear, has followed the frame, hand-sculpted in bold acetate impression of the pure acetate models. direction set by Banks in his clothes

16 | Optician | 16.07.10 opticianonline.net Featuring frames

12

13

17

14

18

6 Hackett London by Mondottica 7 Autin Reed R06-102 from Inspecs 8 OR300 by Orange Eyewear 15 9 Stella McCartney Virgo by Luxottica 10 Burberry 24 from Luxottica 11 Booth & Bruce England 12 An example from the Tom Davies Ready to Wear collection 13 Jeff Banks 11001 from Norville 14 Paul Smith Gibbons from Luxottica 15 WM558 by William Morris 16 Karen Millen C2/3 from Optoplast Actman Eyewear 16 17 Serendipity by Oliver Goldsmith 18 Lee Cooper 9011 from Brulimar collections, notably fashion aware, tailoring with houndstooth, pinstripes are said to reflect rock music influences affordable and wearable in all walks of and herringbone patterns throughout. and the frame design is informed by life. New models include the JB-11001, The related frame collection, available this. In the sunglass collection Model a fresh light supra frame with metal from Inspecs, features new aluminium 01-2 features Union Jack prints that front, plastic sides and metal detailing temples which allow the profile of make the frame a true dedication to at the hinge with signature styling. temples to be chunky-looking while everything that is British. The Optoplast Actman Eyewear remaining lightweight. Lipsy is a young British fashion Company established a dedicated Also from Inspecs is Animal, a brand founded in the heart of London Design Centre in Surrey last year, design-led British freesports lifestyle and is aimed at people with a love which is headed by design director brand that features bespoke patterns for the celebrity lifestyle. The optical Janice Mico. The company designs, and top quality manufacturing. collection has been designed for the manufactures and distributes a Aspirational eyeshapes are combined smaller face, so younger customers will significant portfolio of leading names with prints and top quality spring not be disappointed. including British brands Karen Millen, hinges with strong visible logos. A different take on the British Oasis, and Lotus, which sit alongside Galaxy Optical is embracing British identity is skate eyewear brand nueu. the signature brands of Actman + Mico heritage with new ophthalmic and nueu works with professionals and and Andrew Actman Eyewear. sunglass collections designed alongside up-and-coming individuals to provide a This season’s fashion collection from British fashion brands Lipsy of London style that is suited to the most extreme Austin Reed draws its inspiration from and Religion. Religion’s fashion designs sports people. ● opticianonline.net 16.07.10 | Optician | 17