Putting others in the shade

Tag : 100% acetate

Make them hip, make them fun, but most of all, make them smart.
Eyewear designers today are getting more innovative not only indesign but also in function.
Eyewear guru Alain Mikli has teamed up with world-famous architectand interior designer, Philippe Starck, to produce an exciting linecalled Starck Eyes. The collection features what it calls'Bio-Link' temples, enabling you to move the arms a full 360degrees without breaking them. The result: shades that hug yourface just so.
Also, 'double injection moulding' frames are infused with acetateand an interior rubber lining. Stroke the inside of a pair andyou'll find an almost cloth-like texture that ensures comfort evenwhen you're perspiring.
Another recent discovery under the Mikli Studio umbrella is duoVanessa + Mehdi. They have created a line with adjustable templeheights for those who find that their glasses don't sit properly ontheir faces. Twiddling with the small screws on the inside lets youmake small height alterations on either side of your temples,leaving the main lenses untouched.
From luxury accessories maker Porsche Design is a line ofsunglasses made of titanium. This corrosion-resistant metal fusedwith high-tech plastic makes the frames unusually light. These canbe used with prescription lenses as well.
Transitions Optical is renowned for lenses that darken and lightenautomatically, saving you the trouble of carrying around twoseparate pairs.
Oakley says on its website that its Plutonite lenses filter out 100per cent of all UVA, UVB and UVC rays, and that 'it's not a coatingthat can wear away'.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times onJuly 24, 2008.