Unusual times call for unusual actions. So, I’m going with the opportunity and taking this space granted me most every month and devoting it to… the next issue of 20/20, our SECOND issue for this month of September.

May I first note though how truly proud I am of the eyewear feature photo shoot created by the edit/art/photo team of editors Victoria Garcia, Jillian Urcelay, art director Michael Di Ioia and photographer Stephen Mark Sullivan. Sorry to note I was not present and by my calculations, it is one of only a handful of feature photo shoots I’ve missed in my 45 year career as an editor at 20/20 and art director at W and WWD. I missed a few because I was recovering from open heart surgery, and I missed this one because certain health issues put me at deep risk where it concerns COVID-19. I’m very down about that but… I’m not out of this glorious photo feature scenario forever and that makes me smile, albeit a bit silently.



And now for a glimpse of the “stuff” coming up in our second September issue anchored by a host of What’s Brand New collaboratorial pages created by Associate Editor Jillian Urcelay.

I basically took the opportunity of the debut of American Optical, now under the creative and productive domain of Europa/State Eyewear with a feature delivering the facts on this incredible new “Made in America” collection with a true tale from my own past relationship with the brand dating back to the time my father wore AO sunglasses in the heat of flight combat during World War 2.

You can consider an intro to the brand from one of the pages in our photo feature in this issue on p. 34 and also get some solid facts on the debut from the What’s New feature on p. 62.

I’m keeping the suspense up for my tale by including a picture here of the case I treasure from my Dad’s sunglasses. As with that story, this column is intensely personal. I’m equally positive that as we move forward, our commitments and quests will thrive based on how positive and personal we can be.

James J. Spina
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]