Arts & travel

The next edition of LOFT takes place 23rd to 24th September 2023 – expect design products “hot off the press” and an artsy vibe in a stunning sunny eyewear venue 

The popular independent eyewear fair LOFT confirms its return to Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in San Francisco. Key partners for the event include a good proportion of independent brands who attend the NYC event,  including BEVEL, Blake Kuwahara, JF REY, Nathalie Blanc, ROLF Spectacles, Masahiromaruyama, MYKITA, SALT. Optics and Silhouette. Above: the venue for LOFT San Francisco – Fort Mason Center

The award-winning designer Blake Kuwahara, from Los Angeles, will show his eponymous eyewear collection at the event, with its unmistakable signature and style that has garnered global attention. Kuwahara frames, and particularly those in acetate, explore lamination techniques and complex cutting and polishing steps to create special nuances in the look and feel of each frame design.

The French designer Nathalie Blanc has sights set on growing her presence in the USA in 2023 and going forward. The luxury brand’s attendance at the LOFT fair represents an important step in this development, and will offer US retailers a unique opportunity to discover the French brand’s style and creative philosophy for themselves.

ROLF Spectacles, from the Tyrol Mountains will exhibit at LOFT, with new releases following their recent win at the New York Product Design Awards. Their wooden Aronde frame, which has an elegant panto inspired shape, is from the evolved collection and won a silver medal at the awards (2023).

LOFT will also be an opportunity to view the latest work from Japanese ‘artist of the frame’, Masahiro Maruyama. His most recent collection ‘Broken’ was inspired by broken parts of glass and pottery, which, once in pieces are never the same again, explains the designer. The frames make a special artistic impression with their handmade appearance and asymmetrical shapes and details.

Gotti Switzerland’s showcase for the event will include a taste of their various collections produced in stainless steel, titanium and 3D printed material with attention paid to lightness, stability, innovation and design. In their latest release, the Perspective collection sees the addition of a new and even thinner LITE temple design, representing their pursuit for the ultimate comfort and minimalist style in this state-of-the-art collection.

Vivid colours and patterns characterise the collections at J.F. Rey for 2023. The company has just released its new models in the Petite collection, where an artistic fusion of shapes and materials offers exciting eyewear for those requiring a smaller, perfectly proportioned fit.

LOFT Eyewear Shows are the premier independent luxury eyewear events held annually in New York City and San Francisco. Since 2000, the LOFT events have showcased a mesmerising selection of exclusive and cutting edge designers from around the world. LOFT is the longest running independent eyewear show in the Americas. To find out more and organise your visit, go to www.lofteyewearshow.com

In its ongoing support of the arts, Ørgreen presents its latest art-related showroom event, a striking new installation curated by design duo GamFratesi, showcasing the Koyori Collection

The installation drew inspiration from the tranquillity and elegance of Japanese traditions, reflecting the essence of the Koyori brand. The space was adorned with a collection of chairs and tables designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and GamFratesi, transforming the functional products into exquisite wooden sculptures. The installation aimed to create an immersive experience that evokes a profound sense of calmness, meditation, and tranquillity.

“This installation truly captures the essence of KOYORI and brings together the harmonious fusion of Japanese aesthetics and contemporary design, which is a fundamental aspect of ØRGREEN OPTICS as well….” Henrik Ørgreen, Founder of Ørgreen Optics

Copenhagen’s internationally renowned design eyewear company, Ørgreen Optics, is an avid supporter of the creative arts and takes pride in opening the doors of the Ørgreen Studios to art, design and fashion-related events throughout the year. Their product philosophy and Danish design roots are closely aligned to design disciplines beyond the optical sphere including contemporary art and architecture. For more information visit www.orgreenoptics.com

Spectacular costumes worn by Maria Callas, CHER, Elton John, Janelle Monae and Marilyn Monroe to go on display in major exhibition, DIVA

A major new exhibition called DIVA will open this month at the V&A, designed to celebrate the extraordinary power and creativity of iconic performers who have made their voices heard from the 19th century to today.

The exhibition will showcase over 250 objects drawn from the V&A collection and loans from across the world, spanning fashion, photography, design, costumes, music, and live performance. Through theatrical staging and a sonic headset experience, DIVA will celebrate the powerful and personal stories of creativity, ambition, and resilience of some the best- known divas, from opera goddesses and silent movie stars to sirens of the big screen and today’s global megastars. The exhibition also looks at how the performer has intersected with society and driven change through their platform and profile for social good and political change, including global civil rights and feminism. Image above: Cher, Elton John and Diana Ross at Rock Awards Santa Monica Civic Auditorium 1975; Various Locations; Mark Sullivan 70’s Rock Archive Photo: Mark Sullivan/Contour by Getty Images – reproduced by kind permission of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

The exhibition runs in Gallery 40 (V&A) from 24th June 2023 to 7th April 2024. For more details visit www.vam.ac.uk

Davide Monaldi has created an installation in the Kuboraum Flagship Store in Milan

Created to coincide with the Mido event in Milan, Kuboraum have curated a new installation in their flagship store, in collaboration with the Milan-based artist Davide Monaldi. Monaldi works primarily in ceramics, a material that belongs to the Italian artisan tradition and that requires much time and dedication as an art form. His sculptures and installations originate from the need to tell a story about his own life through the objects that surrounds him.

“Challenging the banality of the ordinary Monaldi represents everyday objects with a hyper-realistic approach, in turn elevating and dignifying them. With subtle irony he reflects upon the evils of contemporary men, resulting often in little perversions. A thread of melancholy runs throughout his colourful and playful sculptures, sometimes also autobiographical, or giving a picture of today’s society, but never in a judgmental way…..” To find out more about the artist, visit  https://www.davidemonaldi.com/

Photography by Pier Carlo Queccia – DSL Studio

An Athens showroom event for eyewear aficionados takes place this October

‘INTRO | Frames Forward’ organisers have announced their next Athens event which will take place on 15th and 16th October 2022. An exclusive (trade only) ‘Personal Edition’ for the optical community in Greece, the event will welcome just 9 unique luxury eyewear collections, including Lapima, Pontet Eyewear and Etudes.

“The second INTRO event to be held in Athens, the signature of this edition is casual and simple,” say co-founders and eyewear entrepreneurs, Natalia Klimi and Maria Angeloudi. “Our philosophy is to host our clients in a comfortable and tasteful environment and offer them a selection of brands that capture the essence of the market, including recent trends.” Above and below: SOLID EVENTS will host the Athens event

First launched in Athens in 2021, INTRO | Frames Forward also arranges their event in Thessaloniki in Northern Greece on an annual basis. The co-founders Maria Angeloudi and Natalia Klimi, who are both experts in the field of eyewear, are passionate about bringing the latest and best in eyewear to the retailers of Greece, with whom they have created a unique and well established network.

‘INTRO | Frames Forward’ takes place at SOLID EVENTS, 1 Omirou Str, Neo Psychiko 15451 Athens. There will be an open bar on both days, starting at 8pm!  For more details visit www.introshow.gr For enquiries contact [email protected]