Marcolin: Tom Ford Eyewear

Sporty chic

Marcolin USA launches Tom Ford Eyewear, a collection comprised of 20 men’s and women’s styles. Influenced by eyewear icons—the aviator, sporting glasses and oversized, glamorous Hollywood designs—the line features exaggerated frames with curved silhouettes, aerodynamically contoured to shield the eyes. Some of the plastic colorations were developed exclusively for the collection. Lenses are tinted in solid and gradient shades, including smoky black, brown, wine, eggplant and silver. An elegant metal “T” set into the temple on many styles is a key design element. An ophthalmic collection will be available shortly.

Base Curve: John Varvatos Eyewear

A fusion of vintage and modern

Base Curve, a new independent division of Rem Eyewear, launches John Varvatos Eyewear. Targeted to men between the ages of 25 and 55+, the line, which consists of ophthalmic and sun styles, reflects Varvatos’ appreciation of old world luxury and attention to detail combined with modern functionality. All frames are handcrafted in Japan using special manufacturing techniques. Vestiges from the past such as fine filigree details, coining and guitar motifs are incorporated into fashion-forward shapes with clean, aerodynamic lines. Materials include block and laminated zyls in amber, black, cream, horn and tortoise and metals in brushed antique and shiny finishes. According to creative director and eyewear designer Blake Kuwahara, the styles are geared toward “the guy who appreciates all aspects of design—from fashion and architecture to industrial and graphic—and has the quiet confidence and sense of style to carry it off.”

ClearVision: Ellen Tracy Eyewear

Sophisticated and timeless

ClearVision Optical launches Ellen Tracy Eyewear, a women’s line consisting of 20 ophthalmic styles and four sunglasses. The frames are offered in a combination of metal and plastic and focus on touch-me textures and a color palette that includes rich plum, olive and tortoise tones. One style has genuine leather-wrapped temples. Frame features include safety rim lock screws and spring hinges. The style names follow a “heaven and earth” theme, which is reflected in such product names as Borealis, Riverstone and Astraea. More than 50 percent of the collection is suitable for progressive lenses.

Sàfilo: Juicy Couture Ophthalmics

Dripping with juicy colors and intricate details

Sàfilo USA launches the Juicy Couture ophthalmic collection, comprised of 10 women’s styles—six plastics and four metals. Designs are predominantly rectangular shapes in traditional, soft and shallow silhouettes and modified ovals. Frames are offered in a spectrum of colors, including green tea, deep merlot, tobacco and ocean blue. Details consist of intricate logo designs, playful charms and witty Juicy sayings such as “Viva LA Juicy” on the temple interiors.

Altair: Sigrid Olsen Optics

Inspired by nature’s inherent beauty

Altair Eyewear introduces Sigrid Olsen Optics Collection. Constructed from Italian zyl and stainless steel, the 10-style line takes its inspiration from nature and from designer Sigrid Olsen’s artwork. Included are soft rectangles, pointed ovals, bowties and almonds in full-rimmed and semi-rimless options. The frames incorporate colorful layering and natural textures balanced by such earth tones as bronze leaf, black azure and purple petal.

A&A: VeraCruz

Sizzling with color

A&A Optical introduces VeraCruz, targeted to
energetic, spirited women between the ages of 35 and 55. The new collection contains 10 styles in a wide array of strong colors ranging from deep blues and teals, bubbling reds, sizzling oranges and vivacious purples to striking black and white mixes. Frame materials include flat metal and zyl/metal combinations with such decorative accents as bold engravings and split temples. All styles accommodate progressive and bifocal lenses. Six additional frames will be added in the third and fourth quarters of 2006.

McGee: Vera Bradley

For the young and young at heart

The McGee Group launches Vera Bradley Eyewear and Sunwear featuring eight ophthalmic frames (four zyls and four metals) and six sunglasses (four zyls and two metals). Targeted to a wide audience of girls and women aged eight to 80, the frames are designed with colorful prints inspired by the patterns and colors of the Vera Bradley luggage and accessories lines. Shapes include variations on ovals, rectangles and upsweeps.

Viva: Magic Twist

A metal suited for life’s twists and turns

Viva International Group launches Magic Twist. Consisting of eight men’s and women’s frames and four children’s styles, this new collection, which is made from strong, hypo-allergenic memory metal that is 25 percent lighter than standard metal, focuses on comfort, fit and style. Because of the material’s properties, the eyewear can be twisted and turned and still go back to its original shape. The collection is offered in an assortment of eye shapes including ovals and rectangles in both full-rimmed and semi-rimless designs. Frame colors range from graphite, khaki and pewter to blue-gray, burgundy and pink. Some temples are double injected, resulting in a two-toned, sleek look.

Styleyes: Pink Cadillac Collection

An enduring pop culture symbol

Available from Styleyes USA, the Pink Cadillac Collection, Cadillac Eyewear’s newest line, reflects the bold, trendy design of its 1950s namesake. Frames are cut and sculpted from sheets of monel or stainless steel in sleek, modern rectangular and bowtie shapes. Metal fronts are colored in rich hues of black, bronze, burgundy and gunmetal with coordinated temples handmade from laminated zyl. Features include lenses floating away from outer eye rims and wide metal or plastic endpieces. Twelve styles are currently available.

Menizzi: Menizzi Eyewear

For kids, teens and petites

Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Menizzi makes its debut with a line of fashion-oriented eyewear targeted to children from three-and-a-half through teenage. Half of the 18-style collection is also appropriate for petite women, the company says. Shapes are variations on rectangles with such trendy details as extended browbars, split and dropped temples, open outer eye rims, interior accents and semi-rimless designs. One frame has an interchangeable bottom rim. Materials include monel, stainless steel, titanium, zyl and metal/zyl combinations in eye sizes ranging from 38mm to 44mm. Each frame comes in three colors in striking mixes of mustard and green, burgundy and blue, black and purple and black and green.