Designer Rx Wraps, Sun Readers, Fading Fashion Lenses
Sàfilo USA and
Carl Zeiss Vision team up with the PrescripSun Certified Sunwear Program, a complete range of certified lens solutions from Carl Zeiss Vision, designed for Sàfilo brand designer wrap sunglasses. Carl Zeiss laboratories will replicate the lens of the original Sàfilo designer frame matching the color. The program offers over 100 specific Sàfilo styles that Carl Zeiss Vision has pre-certified for its proprietary Spazio lens technology. Spazio lenses deliver a wide field of clear vision and are held securely in the frame.
Hilco has released stylish Sun Readers in three styles for fashion-conscious customers who like to read outdoors. Sun Readers combine traditional reading glasses with sun glasses. The new readers have contemporary styling and feature ophthalmic quality lenses that are available from +1.00 through +3.50 in one-quarter diopters.
Vision-Ease
Worldwide releases LifeRx, polycarbonate lenses with photochromic technology. When the wearer is indoors, the lenses are clear. When the wearer steps outdoors, the lenses fade to black and protect against UVA and UVB rays. Lenses are available in single vision, aspheric single vision, Illumina progressive and D28 bifocal.
OptiSource ventures into lenses with fashion photochromic lens colors in gray, blue, purple, aqua, orange and pink. Also available, polarized fashion-photochromic lenses for specialty sport use in four color combinations; lenses darken from yellow to gray, purple to violet, gray to black and brown to deep amber.
Clutch Cases Offer Convenience with Style
Corinne
McCormack turns back the clock with her latest collection Eye Candy–a line of accessories and eyewear inspired by 50s and 60s fashion. The collection includes three clutch cases that match Eye Candy sunwear styles. Both eyewear and accessories target fashion conscious women ages 35 to 65.
Black and white Astucci clutch cases pair perfectly with this season’s trendy white sunglasses. Besides the black and white cases pictured here, Astucci offers graphic paisley patterned clutches, floral clutches and bright colored quilted clutches. Astucci also makes double case wristlets that hold both large sunglasses and reading glasses.
The
latest in construction, shapes, materials
and color
Whiteout
What is a spring
wardrobe without white? Now spring garb can
be rounded out with a pair of big white sunglasses, as designers
across the board have embraced this trend. This season’s
white sunglasses can be found with various temples (thick, thin
and split) and paired with dark lens hues. Regardless of wardrobe,
white also contrasts nicely with sun-kissed skin.
Dorothy, Badgley Mischka
General Dutch, Von Dutch Originals
Givenchy SGV-162
A Model Campaign
Luxottica is promoting Vogue eyewear this year with international supermodel Gisele Bundchen in a marketing campaign called “Gisele Plays with Vogue.” She also appears on posters and counter cards, available to dispensers.
“As the new face of Vogue 2006, Gisele’s naturally elegant good looks and worldwide fame as a fashion icon makes her the ideal choice for the launch of the new Vogue collection,” said Vittorio Verdun, vice president of marketing at Luxottica.
The collection is feminine and fashionable and frames incorporate the latest in styling in every model, according to Luxottica. Sun styles have oversized lenses with wrap styling. Some are embellished with rhinestones, metal studs and Swarovski crystals. The line targets fashionistas of all ages and includes 24 sun styles in metal and plastic.
What profitable retailers do to succeed with sun
Doctor's
Orders
When patients
go into Optical Illusion in Middletown, R.I., they get two prescriptions
from the doctor—one for their glasses and one for Polaroid
sunglasses. “We have started trying to educate patients on
polarized lenses and how important it is for eye health,” said
Barbara Ross, optician/manager. This education
is not only helping people to become aware
of eye problems like cataracts and macular
degeneration, it is also helping the store
with Polaroid lens sales too. She added, “The
doctor speaks to them in the exam room first
and lays down the ground work for polarized
lenses.”
Optical Illusion also has displays that let customers see for themselves the effects of these lenses. For example, A KBco light box, for polarized prescription glasses, helps patients see how glare is diminished with polarized lenses. Maui Jim, a brand with polarized lenses, and Polaroid also have displays that change color when polarized glasses are on to demonstrate the effect. Ross also takes her customers outside with the glasses and explains the difference between brown and gray lenses so customers can choose the best lenses for their lifestyle.
Money-making tips for merchandising, POP and display
Brand Recognition
L’Amy offers a new comprehensive in-store point-of-purchase program for Columbia Sportswear to all retailers. Logo plaques, counter cards, posters and new 24-piece above-the-counter lockable displays and 36-piece lockable stand fixtures are available.
"The Columbia Sportswear brand is a highly recognized name among active men and women. Our sunglass and ophthalmic collections offer state-of-the-art materials only along with all the technical features outdoor enthusiasts expect. Our latest sporty collection features integrated flex hinges, a streamlined active design and an exciting combination of colors. We are extremely pleased to bring this unique level of function to a wide consumer base," says Laurent Raynaud, Columbia Eyewear Brand Unit Manager.
CSI
Style
Rex Linn
in "CSI: Miami" makes
crime solving look cool. Here he
wears Ray-Ban style RB2132.
Kate
Moss in Paul Smith
Kate Moss
darts through the city in Paul Smith
sunglasses, style PS-344.
Ready
to Rumble
The New
York Rangers pictured here wear Robert
Marc sunglasses during a photo shoot
for Gotham magazine.
The feature appeared in the February
2006 issue.
Jessica
in Juicy Couture
Pop singer
Jessica Simpson goes incognito with
a stylish pair of Juicy Couture G/S
Shades of Couture sunglasses.
Back
Stage
Party girl
Lindsay Lohan wears a fun pair of
Bling Bling Lunettes (BBL001) by
Revolution at the American Music
Awards.
On
the Big Screen
Handsome
man Michael Douglas dons Safilo’s Ralph 7542S in the
movie "You, Me & Dupree," which hits theaters
in July.
Bai
Ling Likes Oakley
Bai Ling
checks out Oakley’s Spike style at the Moto on Main
house at the Sundance Film Festival.
Ludacris
Looking Fly
Hip hop singer
Ludacris (Chris Bridges) looks fly in Giorgio Armani 330S.
The
trendy Beausoleil
eyewear line, popular with the
rich and famous, adds new styles
with fresh colors and textures
for classic and elegant middle-
and upper-class men and women.
Sun styles are made with metal
and acetate and come in various
shapes from multi-geometric styles
to wraps. Sunglasses have polarized
gradient lenses.
Bulgari
Bulgari
expands its Flower Special Edition
sun collection this spring with
four new styles. The six-piece
line was inspired by Bulgari’s
Sapphire Flower jewelry line comprised
of diamonds and sapphires. Smooth
oversized acetone frames are adorned
with spectacular temple baubles
in floral shapes and made with
Swarovski crystals or colored stones.
The sunglasses are available in
four colors: tortoise, bordeaux,
black and camel.
Burton
Morris
Signature
Eyewear’s Burton Morris collection
features four sunwear styles with
bright colors and retro shapes
that are inspired by the pop artist
Burton Morris and his love of retro-American
design. Lasers are used to create
his signature designs on eyewear
such as “energy marks” on
the temples. Two of the sun styles
are made with zyl and are paired
with CR-39 gradient lenses. The
remaining two styles, a zyl and
aluminum style and a monel style,
are paired with polarized lenses.
All styles are Rx-able.
Columbia
Sportswear
The
new 2006 sun styles from Columbia
Sportswear are targeted toward
active men and women who are looking
for functional products with an
edgy and sporty design. Some sun
styles are designed specifically
for vigorous sports, using Columbia’s
Diagonal Secure Fit System, a technology
that holds the temple tips securely
to the head, even during extreme
athletic activities. Many styles
have Columbia Carbonium lenses,
which are high impact resistant
lenses with a scratch resistant
hard coating. Polarized lenses
are also available.
John
Varvatos
Base
Curve’s John Varvatos eyewear
blends vintage elements with modern
silhouettes. Sun styles are made
with metal (monel) and high quality
Mazzucchelli zyl and Italian acetate.
All have solid gradient CR-39 sun
lenses and provide 100 percent
UV protection. The line targets
men ages 25 to 55.
Lulu
Guinness
Tura’s
new Lulu Guinness collection includes
10 sun styles in metal, zyl and
metal and zyl combinations for
glamorous, passionate and independent
women of all ages. The collection
includes rimless, semi-rimless
and full-rim styles that incorporate
fun, whimsical and retro chic elements.
Fun frame details include clear
or colorful crystals, glitter epoxy
and laser engraved scrolls.
Revolution
Revolution’s
new magnetic sun clip technology
called “Mag N Socket” hits
shelves in 60 new styles. The patented,
bottom-mounted treatment allows
for an endpiece with a built-in
magnet for a sleek appearance.
The new magnetic sun clip offers
a secure and tightly-aligned fit.
Styles are available in metal and
metal/zyl combinations.
Shagreen
Robert
Marc released a Limited Edition
Shagreen collection, which includes
one sun style featuring a Shagreen
temple accent; the mosaic-like
pattern is embedded in stingray
leather and is melded on a Robert
Marc signature hinge for a stunning
textural contrast.
The
sun style is aimed at customers
who value quality and exclusivity.
Tommy
Bahama
Altaire
Eyewear released 13 new Tommy Bahama
sun styles for sophisticated and
cultured men and women ages 35
to 60. The collection has a nice
balance of titanium, stainless
steel and multi-layered Italian
acetate pieces in a variety of
shapes, from oversized rounds and
narrow rectangles to modified ovals.
Most frames also have spring hinges
and can accommodate fashion lenses,
polarized lenses and prescription
lenses.
Wolverine
The Kenmark
Group adds five new styles to the Wolverine Polarized Sunwear
collection.
The collection
targets outdoorsy and sporty men between 35 and 55. Most styles
are Rx-able and are available in masculine colors. Styles are
made with metal and plastic and shapes range from sporty wraps
to traditional rectangles.
Luxottica is promoting Vogue eyewear this year with international supermodel Gisele Bundchen in a marketing campaign called “Gisele Plays with Vogue.” She also appears on posters and counter cards, available to dispensers.
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