So said African writer and philosopher Mokokoma Mokhonoana. But then again, who says non A-listers cannot wear and collect fashionable eye pieces?
“Why don’t you have an eyewear collection for every mood or to pair it with your look, or just because?,” fashion enthusiast Neelam Gopwani told BusinessWorld, when asked why people own more than one pair of sunglasses.
“They are like clothes for your face,” she added.
Ms. Gopwani is the daughter of businessman Lal Gopwani, the president of Branded Lifestyle Inc. (BLI), a 25-year-old business that supplies luxury brand sunglasses and eyeglasses to the country’s leading shopping malls. One of BLI’s business partners is The Eye Society, of which Ms. Gopwani, 23, is the president.
“What’s the number one thing you see on people? It’s their face, and what is the number one statement you can make?” asked Ms. Gopwani, rhetorically.
While BLI retails and supplies luxury eyewear brands to malls, The Eye Society, with a flagship store in Bel-Air, Makati City, carries exclusive collections unavailable in department stores.
On Nov. 12, The Eye Society showcased the latest collection of its brands that range from the high end -- like the Belgian-based brand called Theo -- to more affordable luxury brands like US-original Ray Ban, which happens to be the most common target of knock-offs. But Ms. Gopwani was quick to say there’s no competition from these fakes and the sales are not affected. “[A] knock-off is flattering because it means that your stuff is good. It’s inevitable but it doesn’t affect our sales. When you wear fake, you’ll not be proud to have it. Our customers are very loyal and discerning,” she said.
Presented were the brands’ newest innovations and designs, just in time for the holidays.
While all the brands carry the standard lens shapes -- aviators, cat’s eye, Jackie O., Wayfarer, and round -- Miu Miu’s latest collection called Wink and Noir focused on rimless glasses. The shades have no rims on top or the bottom, which initially looks weird, but they reclaim their charm once they are tried on.
The other brands were not to be left behind. Like peacocks on parade, they featured intricate details, trimmings, and handmade craftmanship. Prada’s Raw collection, for instance, highlights wooden frames. One pair even has hand-stitched leather on its upper lens rim.
For those who’ve scored tickets to Madonna’s concert next year, why not wear Versace’s latest collection, aptly called Madonna, to the concert? The Queen of Pop collection lives up to its name as there are 3-D popping gilded emblems patched on the temples.
Those who want to match their outfits can opt for Burberry’s Gabardine collection, inspired by its iconic trench coat fabric. The shades have golden wiring on the side mimicking the fluidity of a trench coat.
Just in time for holiday vacations, Dolce and Gabbana’s latest collection travels to Sicily. The collection, called “Spain in Sicily,” is inspired by Spain’s baroque architecture which can be seen in the Italian island.
While the other luxury brands presented eyewear which was smooth and slick, Ray Ban went the opposite direction. Among its latest are glasses that suggest distressed, ripped jeans. The shades are deliberately made to look worn out and with scratches, evoking a hand-me-down nostalgia, but Ray Ban management said they were newly made. --Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
“Why don’t you have an eyewear collection for every mood or to pair it with your look, or just because?,” fashion enthusiast Neelam Gopwani told BusinessWorld, when asked why people own more than one pair of sunglasses.
“They are like clothes for your face,” she added.
Ms. Gopwani is the daughter of businessman Lal Gopwani, the president of Branded Lifestyle Inc. (BLI), a 25-year-old business that supplies luxury brand sunglasses and eyeglasses to the country’s leading shopping malls. One of BLI’s business partners is The Eye Society, of which Ms. Gopwani, 23, is the president.
“What’s the number one thing you see on people? It’s their face, and what is the number one statement you can make?” asked Ms. Gopwani, rhetorically.
While BLI retails and supplies luxury eyewear brands to malls, The Eye Society, with a flagship store in Bel-Air, Makati City, carries exclusive collections unavailable in department stores.
On Nov. 12, The Eye Society showcased the latest collection of its brands that range from the high end -- like the Belgian-based brand called Theo -- to more affordable luxury brands like US-original Ray Ban, which happens to be the most common target of knock-offs. But Ms. Gopwani was quick to say there’s no competition from these fakes and the sales are not affected. “[A] knock-off is flattering because it means that your stuff is good. It’s inevitable but it doesn’t affect our sales. When you wear fake, you’ll not be proud to have it. Our customers are very loyal and discerning,” she said.
Presented were the brands’ newest innovations and designs, just in time for the holidays.
While all the brands carry the standard lens shapes -- aviators, cat’s eye, Jackie O., Wayfarer, and round -- Miu Miu’s latest collection called Wink and Noir focused on rimless glasses. The shades have no rims on top or the bottom, which initially looks weird, but they reclaim their charm once they are tried on.
The other brands were not to be left behind. Like peacocks on parade, they featured intricate details, trimmings, and handmade craftmanship. Prada’s Raw collection, for instance, highlights wooden frames. One pair even has hand-stitched leather on its upper lens rim.
For those who’ve scored tickets to Madonna’s concert next year, why not wear Versace’s latest collection, aptly called Madonna, to the concert? The Queen of Pop collection lives up to its name as there are 3-D popping gilded emblems patched on the temples.
Those who want to match their outfits can opt for Burberry’s Gabardine collection, inspired by its iconic trench coat fabric. The shades have golden wiring on the side mimicking the fluidity of a trench coat.
Just in time for holiday vacations, Dolce and Gabbana’s latest collection travels to Sicily. The collection, called “Spain in Sicily,” is inspired by Spain’s baroque architecture which can be seen in the Italian island.
While the other luxury brands presented eyewear which was smooth and slick, Ray Ban went the opposite direction. Among its latest are glasses that suggest distressed, ripped jeans. The shades are deliberately made to look worn out and with scratches, evoking a hand-me-down nostalgia, but Ray Ban management said they were newly made. --Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
No comments:
Post a Comment