Durability in fun forms

Accessories: Fashion-forward function

Dutch-Australian brand, Sunny Cords, is bringing its reimagined glasses chains to the UK. The brand launched in 2016 with the aim of bringing back the vintage accessory to help prevent lost and broken glasses, but with a modern and fashionable approach for a high-fashion, ‘no fuss’ feel. Available online in the UK, the brand is seeking stockists for its stylish cords.

Sunglasses: Sea, sun and sustainability

Sea2see has presented an expanded collection of sustainable ophthalmic frames and sunglasses. The frames are formed from recycled plastic collected through Sea2see’s programme to collect waste from marine environments, and recycle it into raw pellets. Each pair of glasses purchased contributes to the collection and recycling of 5kg of plastic waste. The collection includes two sunglasses including ‘Carmen’ (pictured), which offers a retro-design with colours including black with black gradient lens, and Havana pink gradient with brown gradient lens.

Spectacles: Play-proof frames

Esprit has released a new A/W collection for kids, designed to be “perfect for boisterous, playful days.” The collection features four styles in a vibrant range of colours, including reds, blues, purples and browns with colourful accents on the tips. Designed to offer durability along with a light and comfortable fit, the frames feature a removable silicon ear-clip (called ‘the grip’) which is positioned behind the ears to ensure the frames keep in place.

Spectacles: Vintage styles 

Eyespace has developed a new menswear spectacle collection in collaboration with Aspinal of London, bringing a modern interpretation to retro styles. The ‘ASP M514’ frame features a vintage acetate half-rim paired with metallic lower rims, while the branded temple front also features a super-slim metallic element. The arms are accented with the Aspinal of London logo, while the tips feature its cutwork branding. The spectacles come in two colourways; a tortoiseshell with gold accents (pictured), or black with matt gun hardware.

Equipment: Ease of cleaning

Ultrawave, a UK manufacturer of ultrasonic cleaning equipment, has launched a new sanitising solution which it believes could benefit businesses including optical practices as lockdown restrictions ease. To support its Sanitiser Ultrasonic Cleaning Baths, the company has developed a cleaning disinfectant, Ultraclean Disinfect+. The company, which supplies its equipment to healthcare sectors including dental, believe the product could benefit optometry practices by cleaning and disinfecting spectacle frames in approximately six minutes.

Spectacles: Bio-based beauty

Austrian eyewear brand, Neubau, has launched what it has described as Europe’s first 100% biobased line of eyewear. The collection uses a new material, natural3D, formed using the oil extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant, which is then merged together in layers by a laser during 3D printing. The collection features four new models, named after environmental activists: ‘Greta’, ‘Erin’, ‘Bill’ and ‘David’. The unisex frame, ‘Erin’ (pictured), offers a round shape in four colour combinations, from burned red and gold, ocean teal and silver, olive and graphite, or black coal and graphite.

Sunglasses: Strength and grace

Caron Eyewear has introduced its debut optical and sunglasses collection, created by eyewear designer Caron Kraitt. The frames draw influences from texture, geometry and architecture and aim to present a balance between femininity and strength, while blending contemporary and timeless styles. The collection is currently hosted at a select range of independent practices.