No, you can’t ignore the hipster quotient, but what really makes these two new-to-town eyewear brands stand out is their dedication to craftsmanship. We break them down.
What: Two-year-old, wholly web-based British brand that started shipping to SG earlier this year. Jude Law’s a fan; ditto the slick fashion label Allsaints, which had its first eyewear tie-up with it in 2015.
Who’s behind it: Columbia-trained founder/chief executive Rohan Dhir, whose London-based creative team includes a toy designer.
The look: Simple, vintage-tinged shades and opticals that recall Johnny Depp’s brand of debonair quirkiness when the actor was cool.
The craft: Each pair is handmade upon order by artisans in Fukui, Japan, using lightweight Japanese titanium and acetate (the entire process involves more than 200 steps). The lenses, meanwhile, are of the high-index variety, and reportedly 40 per cent thinner and lighter than most, while being anti-scratch, anti-reflective, water-repellent.
Where to buy: www.archibaldoptics.com; every order is shipped out of Japan after production, and takes eight to 12 days to arrive.
Price: From $310
What: A Swiss favourite that’s been around since 2011, is available in 50 countries, and debuts its widest range here at In Good Company this season.
Who’s behind it: The chief designer is South African-born, industrial design-trained Kate Lupinsky, who co-runs the business with her beau Chris Mastalerz.
The look: Playful renditions of classic silhouettes ranging from tea shades to Steve McQueen-style aviators, thanks to the likes of reflective lenses and coloured frames.
The craft: Lupinsky and Mastalerz’s obsession with materials would impress any glasses geek. Think vintage acetate from Japan’s Takiron Rowland, coloured acetate from Italy’s Mazzucchelli 1849, or coloured lenses created in collaboration with the Teramo-based Barberini. Oh, and every pair is crafted in Japan and Italy.
Where to buy: In Good Company (#B1-06 Ion Orchard)
Price: $380-$550
An adapted version of this appeared in Female‘s June 2016 issue.
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