New York / Vision East Expo Day 6

Wow! Our sixth day in NYC, this trip has turned into quite some marathon!

With yet more appointments, though, it was time to dig deep and find the energy and enthusiasm to keep going.  All packed up, a quick coffee and muffin at the Yotel does the trick and we head off back to the Loft to meet with Claire Goldsmith.

Classic style - OG Sunglasses

You may have seen some of our previous blogs featuring Claire, or even our YouTube video from Paris last year.  Claire has an enviable heritage in eyewear design, being a fourth generation eyewear creator, but she is not one to rest on her laurels.  With celebrities like Lady Gaga wearing her pieces, you know that you really are working with some of the best contemporary eyewear design when reviewing her collection.  More than that, though, is she is a thoroughly lovely person with a great sense of joy and independent spirit!

More caffeine fuel is added, well it would be rude not to when they have a bean to cup espresso machine on hand, we sit down to first review the ophthalmic collection.  There are many beautiful pieces to choose from and throughout the collection there is an overall sense of consistency and design elegance which comes through in the individual pieces and adds to the sense of a collection as a whole.

Then the fun really begins as we review the Oliver Goldsmith sunglass collection.  Halifax definitely has fallen in love with our OG sunglasses, so adding to them is a simple decision.  They are fun, classic, stylish and, it has to be said, sexy!  When you want to feel glamorous, nothing is better than a pair of OG sunglasses.

Time very quickly passes and it's hard to believe that our moments in the Loft are now over.  We make a last round visiting the many friends that we've come to know and can't believe that in this one space there is such an international gathering of people who all have such a passion ... such a love ... for the eyewear business.

It's not over!

Lindberg Spirit

Back to the main convention centre, we head to the Lindberg stand.  Stylish elegant, minimalist, classic and many other words which seem to capture the essence Danish design.  Visiting their stand confirms this as Lindberg always has a very unique stand that they use at exhibitions and New York is no exception.  It is a bright stand, with crisp lines, integrating hi-tech displays and radiates a sense of calm and quiet in a sea of busy-ness.  It's a pleasure to arrive there!

It seems funny sitting down with Matt, from Lindberg, almost exactly a year on since we last met.  There has been so much activity over the last year and Matt has been a steady resource for us by e-mail and telephone ensuring that we are working well with Lindberg and that they are working well for us.  While there are many other rimless eyewear ranges available, none have the quality, history and elegance of Lindberg.

We quickly update ourselves with the new models and styles available and look at what other options are available within the Lindberg collection.  It's also an opportunity to review their precious metals collection.  Not something which we currently carry, however, it is lovely to see fine eyewear made from such fine materials.

And is that it?

We have another appointment to attend, which didn't lead to us purchasing.  When we review any collection there are many different factors we have to consider and this collection is one which is right on the wire when it comes to stocking it or not.  It is perhaps unfortunate, but coming at the end of such a good show, with so many wonderful orders, it is just not to be at this time.  We will re-visit it, though.

Quite exhausted, we head to the bus for the airport.  It feels very good to be finally heading home after such long days, but we are also a little sad.  To be able to immerse ourselves in a world of eye related products, information, technology, education and enthusiasm is really wonderful feeling.  To know that it will be the Fall before we do so again, in Paris, is just a little disappointing.  To know that it will be another whole year until the next New York is very disappointing!  The life of a true eye geek is a hard one ... so stay tuned to find out just how much harder it then gets! What could possibly go wrong?!

Green with envy?

Green with envy?

With spring just around the corner what better way to celebrate than wearing a frame which shines with the hue of the season....green. I know what your thinking...sure...yeah...ok green looks great on other people - but not on me. Are you sure?  Have you tried the many different shades and textures of green? Green can be bold and exciting or soft and subtle.

Think of mother nature's palette and you will realize that there is, indeed, a green out there for everyone - and we are here to help you find it.

Drift Eyewear Atticus

Is it possible to be soft and bold at the same time? The 'Atticus' by Drift certainly is. A warm green matte front is balanced perfectly with smooth, sleek temples handcrafted from the deck of a 70's racing yacht.

A frame with a story where you could be the next chapter. Where will it take you?

TD Tom Davies Bespoke

Choices, choices so many choices!  With TD Tom Davies you become the designer. Take your new found love of green to a whole new level and create your own masterpiece.

Change the size, colour and finish of your favourite style. Then - put your name on it (or handle, or mantra) and call it your own.

Bellinger Turbulens

Danish designed Bellinger screams sleek, sexy and sophisticated. Vibrant, bright colours such as this uber shocking lime green transform your glasses from an accessory to a statement.

Yet -the easy to wear style compliments the bright colours and makes for a perfectly balanced piece of eyewear.

Oliver Goldsmith Lord

Green isn't just for the frame. Why not try green lenses in your sunglasses to create a unique and fashionable look? While still dark enough to provide great sun coverage they take your style to a whole new level. 

This combination looks especially striking against tortoiseshell frames such as this Oliver Goldsmith beauty.

Claire Goldsmith Hollander

Retro meets modern, jade meets crystal in this stunning combination by Claire Goldsmith.

Sharp angles coupled with non-descript temples create a unique and wonderful style. Reminiscent of the fashion icons of the 50's and 60's this frame will turn heads and spark conversations.

gӧtti Winny

Sharp design made with ultra-light titanium this frame by gӧtti has solid style while feeling virtually weightless.

Classically beautiful this timeless piece will elicit rave reviews for years to come.

SALT. Clark

California style & California cool - does it get any better than this? SALT. optics are superbly well made frames with a style that is perfectly on-trend.

With SALT. green is never just green - its 'olive gradient' or 'tweed moss' and it's stunning.

Seeing Red?

Last week we took a peek at some fabulous blue eyeglasses that may have made you rethink what colours will work for you.

This week it's reds turn...

ic! berlin - Nameless

A true vibrant, bold red - ic!berlin 'Nameless' combines a powerful colour and shape. Not for the faint of heart this frame is a real head-turner.  Very often when choosing glasses people may shy away from the bolder and more vibrant colours, thinking "I can't wear that".  It is not until you try the frame on, though, that you get a real sense of how the colour works for you.  The bold and dramatic Nameless completely works if you are brave enough to try it on:

Another way that the brightness of the frame can be altered is with the finish of the material, take Dasha for example:

SALT. - Dasha

Precise finishing, a soft matte tone and a combination of red and black makes this SALT. frame  perfectly wearable as either an ophthalmic frame or sunglasses.  The warmer colours incorporated in this frame natural complement many skin tones and creates a bold, yet professional, look.

Rock Optika - Blue Note

Solid style, solid construction Rock Optika knocks it out of the park with 'Blue Note' in Red Zeppelin. How to make a statement without saying a word. 

The strong angles complement the fiery colour of the Rock Optika model.  Release your inner rockstar when you choose this model!

Claire Goldsmith - Wing

Not ready for a full on set of red? This pair by Claire Goldsmith combines subtle architectural details with just a whisper of red throughout the inside of the frame.

Classic, elegant lines, married together with the finest quality Italian acetates and timeless craftsmanship.  A timeless model like Wing manages to be modern, while capturing a vintage spirit of bygone Hollywood glamour.

ic! berlin Boombox!

BOOM!

There you have it, explosive styling, intricate details and an attitude as fierce as the wearer.  Here red takes centre stage in the lenses, proving its versatility and vibrancy.  Big and bold this frame is completely wearable ... if you dare!

Silmo 2013 - Part 3

Our third and last full day in Paris.  We are up early, keen to maximise our time there and really get the most from the show possible.  We travel to the show using the RER rail system, we feel that we've become quite the experts in this (or at least for the small section of it that we travel), but this morning it is different.  It is a Saturday and instead of being surrounded by smart commuters and office workers we are accompanied by families heading in to the city to enjoy all that Paris has to offer.  Unfortunately, this is not for us, we're headed to a big hall full of eye stuff ... I think I know what we'd rather be doing ... eye stuff!!

Espresso to start the day

We were at the exhibition so early that only the exhibitors were allowed to enter, ah well, time to grab a double espresso and prepare ourselves for the day's appointments.  We were scheduled to meet with Bellinger, Claire Goldsmith and Salt - all wonderful collections which offer something unique and special to the world of eyeglasses.

Finally nine o'clock comes around and we head for our first appointment with Bellinger.  Bellinger has a completely different approach to manufacturing eyewear, the acetate materials they use are completely unique to themselves and they have developed different ways of working the material (almost like kneading dough) which creates lively, flowing and dynamic colour patterns throughout their ranges.  As well as viewing the latest collections it was wonderful to spend some time with Claus Bellinger as he talks us through the various manufacturing processes involved.  It all seems to be a wonderful mix of engineering, science, art and creativity; the thought process applied to each frame in every collection makes sure that Bellinger is anything but a cookie cutter product.

Bellinger demonstration box showing different states of acetate right from cotton!

We now have a little time before meeting with David, one of the designers with Salt, and this window of opportunity makes for an ideal time to go and organise our second find of the show.  Another great eyewear range, which we will again tease you with by not telling you who!  Let's just say that this collection really Rocks!

Salt Optics was next on our agenda and we really do love Salt frames at Ocean Optometry, in fact, not only do we love them but our patients do too.  We have been blown away by the positive feedback about this range and it was great to go and sit with one of their designers and to be able to pass back so many good comments.  It was also great to find out more about David, similar to our own Dr John Wilson, his path into optics has not been the most straight forward.  In saying that, John was never a pro-surfer, like David, so perhaps there the comparison ends!

The new Salt pieces are quite simply beautiful.  We put together a great collection to bring back to Halifax really showcasing the best shapes and colours available.  Then it is an easy switch to our next appointment - Salt Optics had shared some of the Claire Goldsmith stand space!  So we moved one table over and lost ourselves in a world of classic, vintage and incredibly chic eyewear.

Claire is a great character and it was lovely to catch up with her again.

John, Claire Goldsmith, Euan

Given Claire's family history in eyewear design it would be far too easy to talk about things in terms of vintage and retro, however, the collection really would be better as being described as stylish, elegant, modern and classic.  However you want to describe them, these frames are fab!

We are done!

We walk around the show for another few hours, but with the appointments taken care of and some new finds in the bag both of us are starting to flag and the last few days are starting to catch up with us.  We head away from the show.  On our way back to hotel we decide to break the journey at Gare Nord and poke our heads above ground to catch a glimpse of Paris.  It was busy, with plenty of hustle and bustle, but we manage to grab a café and watch the street scene for a while.  A great time to go over all of the sights and experiences of the show for the two of us and consider how we want to bring back our own little bit of Paris to share with Nova Scotia!

Corn roaster on a busy street

One last inspiring sight was a street seller selling corn using a brazier in a shopping cart to roast it.  I couldn't help but think it would be lovely to have some fresh corn from the Valley to cook just in this style!

We knew that our time in Paris was drawing to a close, tomorrow morning we had an early transfer to the airport and then we would have to leave this European city behind.  It had been a great few days, very focused on the business of Ocean Optometry, selecting eyewear, being inspired, gaining knowledge and just generally immersing ourselves in all things eye geekery.  It left us wanting more and perhaps just regretting a little bit that we hadn't managed to do any of the great sights of the city while we were there.

We hope you've enjoyed reading all about our travels and sharing our visit to Silmo Paris.  For videos from the show, you can also visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/OceanOptom.

One final comment ... that night the dinner was French!

Interviews with a designer ... Claire Goldsmith

Earlier this year, in a New York loft, we were privileged to meet with Claire Goldsmith, so we are really pleased to be able to post her answers first in this series.  Now, we have tried to stay completely impartial in our reporting, however, Claire supplied us with digestives and haggis flavoured crisps (chips) - how can you not be impressed!

Here's our interview with Claire:




What was your inspiration to become an eyewear designer?

1966 Press Cutting

With three generations of eyewear designers in my family, and the heritage that comes with the Oliver Goldsmith brand, it was a vocation that was hard to ignore! But aside from that, I love design and the beauty in well-designed products, whether it glasses, cars or architecture.  I work alongside a fantastic design partner, Jesse Stevens, who has worked with me on the Goldsmith collections for the past 5 years. We make a good team. We tend to be on the same page with stuff and agree on the majority of things. I guess you could say we are a design team pair! I think that our healthy partnership is visible in the collection itself. I love the collaborative process of designing the way Jesse and I do.

Do you have an all-time favourite frame that you designed?

It’s hard to say – sometimes it’s hard to separate your emotions between popularity and passion, it sounds a little fickle, but if a certain frame is selling well and everyone is gushing about it, it soon becomes your favourite! It like always supporting the winning team! 
That aside, I have always been enamoured with the Carters and Irwin, they seem to encapsulate the ‘future vintage’ aesthetic I wanted to create.

Which city would like to travel to next?

I travel to a lot of cities for work – which is great fun.  But I would love the time to escape from cities and explore remote islands in Asia! I've also never been to South America so that is on the ol’ bucket list too!

Is there a particular material that you like working with or that you would like to work with?

OG was made predominately only from acetate, in fact, they were one of the first (if not THE first) companies to use it for making eyewear.   In acknowledgement to this, we have always worked exclusively with acetate.  This year is the first time that we have introduced metals, and it’s nice to have a contrasting material to add a new dimension to the collection.  There are many wonderful materials out there, and who knows what we may start producing in the future, but whatever the material we work with, I want to be confident that we are always producing the best quality frame, and to do so, I need to trust the material and the factory who produces it and this takes time. 

How long does the process take from initial design to finished eyewear?

The time can vary, but I would say an average of 6 months.  The production side of eyewear is a tough job! The devil is in the detail and that it always the hard bit to get perfect!

What influences do you draw on when creating your ranges?

I always struggle to answer this question in interviews, not because of lack on inspiration, simply because it’s never one thing, or the same thing(s).  The market obviously has an initial input; what has been selling well, what hasn’t etc., but as we all know, trends, style, what’s hot, what’s not changes on such a regular basis that I often go with my gut.  Living in London (and travelling as much as I do) I am surrounded by so many beautiful influences; art, architecture and design.  I find looking back incredibly inspirational – looking at what worked in the past and looking for ways on how I can improve on it!

Thank you Claire for taking the time to answer these questions!

More details about Claire Goldsmith eyewear can be found here:

www.clairegoldsmith.com
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and of course ... by coming in to Ocean Optometry!