Oko by Oko

oko

oko

Les créateurs de lunettes

« New York New York … »

par Ana Sedes

Before leaving Paris, a friend of the Turtle, which was coming back from there, told us about the cold, snow and bad weather in general in this city often considered as the capital of the world … so, we fulfill our bags of winter clothing, not forgetting, of course, the big coat!!  Big surprise, we land in New York under the sun at 23°!!!!! Well, not a big issue, shopping session very early the next day!!

A truly memorable experience, we were pampered by our historical customers from the USA and Quebec ; in order to thank them for their unconditional loyalty through years to the Turtle we had on our side a nice surprise for them: the “avant-première “ presentation of our newacetate premium line New York collection, the ‘pure’ retro!!!.

To create this line, David Beddok, our designer, optician and co-leader of the company, has collaborated with an Italian optician who has old frames from the 50’s and has relooked real vintage.

New-York collection, 100% made in Italy, declines all forms of retro in around 20 different models for men and women; acetate (Mazzucchelli) frames in audacious mix of colors.

Discover through images the most emblematic frames …

No, we have not forgotten to show you the photos of the show (which was really beautiful), as well as the Turtle team in action … here you are …

New website update to The AgenC

The AgenC: United Kingdom, Ireland & South Africa

The AgenC: United Kingdom, Ireland & South Africa

That is right.. In 2011 we will have a brand new and updated AgenC website..

With a lot of new extras.. All with the direction of constantly trying to improve and give better service..

The AgenC  Team..

Andy Wolf presents its first sunglass collection

Andy Wolf

Andy Wolf

Austrian handcraft is taking over the design market Hand work made in Styria is increasingly demanded on the international market for glasses. In 2006 Andy Wolf started with its first collection of timeless modern glasses, which not only fulfils highest aesthetical criteria but also provides ultimate functionality. Within the last year sales more than doubled while Andy Wolf is not targeting mass production but handmade luxury articles. “In contrast to numerous companies, who produce their glasses in low-wage countries in the Asia-Pacific-region, our products are entirely made in Austria”, comments Katharina Plattner, designer and managing partner of Andy Wolf. Beside stars like Hugh Grant and Eric Clapton, this philosophy convinces customers all over the globe. In that sense the Styrian designer and manufacturer of glasses emerged to an exclusive high-end brand. The label is present on all main international trade fairs ranging from Milan, Paris to Las Vegas. “At the moment Andy Wolf achieves its biggest turnovers in France and Italy. The products target a particular group of people for whom their eyeglasses are precious accessories. Therefore Andy Wolf products are only available at selective distributors”, states Plattner. Due to the rising success of the male collection Andy Wolf will soon expand its collection. Handmade in Austria Within the production process every item has to pass a series of manufacturing steps and quality cheques, which turns every Andy Wolf product into a unique piece of handcraft: „Finishing a pair of glasses takes several weeks as every single piece is handmade. The spectacle frames not only stand for style and elegance but also make you completely forget that you are wearing glasses“. The spectacle frames are made of acetat plates and prevent tension with the glass, they are hard-wearing and long-lasting. 

Andy Wolf präsentiert am 15. September die erste Sonnenbrillen Kollektion

Andy Wolf präsentiert erste Sonnenbrillenkollektion Mit den optischen Brillenkollektionen hat sich Andy Wolf einen festen Platz am Design-Brillenmarkt geschaffen, nun präsentiert das steirische Brillenlabel die erste Sonnenbrillenkollektion. Nach der Präsentation am 15. September 2010 in Graz folgen Hong Kong, Paris, Las Vegas und Wien. Die Modelle sind exklusiv und einzigartig, sowie das Andy Wolf Kochbuch mit dem Titel „It´s all about taste“, das zeitgleich präsentiert wird. Prominente Persönlichkeiten wie Schauspieler Hugh Grant, Kiowa Gordon, Sänger Eric Clapton, Dalal Bruchmann oder Burlesque-Star Miss Dirty Martini tragen sie –Brillen handgemacht aus Österreich. Am 15. September 2010 wird nun die erste Sonnenbrillenkollektion des Hartberger Labels in Graz präsentiert. Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Paris und Wien (Vienna Fashion Week) folgen demnächst. „Die acht Modelle unserer ersten Sonnenbrillenkollektion bestechen vor allem durch die raffinierte Farbgebung und die verspiegelten Gläser“, erzählt Katharina Plattner, Designerin und geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin von Andy Wolf. Fünf Farben dominieren die Kreationen der jungen Steirerin – neben Grau- und Brauntönen sind es vor allem kräftiges Blau und Violett. Ein Katalog wäre zu wenig Zugleich mit den Sonnenbrillen wird das Andy Wolf-Kochbuch unter dem Titel „It´s all about taste“ präsentiert. „Ein normaler Katalog war keine Herausforderung. Ich wollte ein Buch in dem es um Geschmack geht, um Lebensfreude, die man mit allen Sinnen spürt. Wir sind sehr stolz auf das Ergebnis, und alle die uns für das Buch ihre Rezepte geschenkt haben, sind auch Andy Wolf-Träger“, meint Plattner. So kochen beispielsweise Sommelier Albert Kriwetz vom Szenelokal Eckstein über Verwandte und Freunde aus der Kunstszene bis hin zu DJ Yoshiva von boogeebasement ihre Lieblingsrezepte aus der ganzen Welt.

Jeremy Thomas for Oko by Oko PARIS

Vintage reworked
Italian designs from the 1950s have been given a makeover by French firm Oko Eyewear Paris,
joining the company’s more modern Moko Besicles line
The French frame firm
Oko Eyewear Paris has
introduced a new premium
line of acetate frames
inspired by vintage Italian
designs of the
1950s. Prototype designs
for the New-York
collection, part of
its OkobyOko-Paris
brand, were introduced
at Vision Expo East in
New York earlier this
year and the new designs
will be on show at the
Silmo exhibition (September
23-26).
Designer and optician David
Beddock, one of the founders of Oko,
collaborated with an optician and
family friend from Rome, having been
inspired by her stock of vintage frames.
These original designs have been
reworked and the resulting collection
is 100 per cent made in Italy, with 20
models for men and women in bold
acetate colour combinations.
Beddock explains that he wanted to
recreate old glamour, taking inspiration
from New York city and the cinema of
the 1950s and 1960s. This can be seen
in the feminine cat’s eye and butterfly
shapes for women. Some of the frames
use original production methods, such as
the metal bridge with filigree detailing
in models NY01/NY02 and NY03.
Oko Eyewear was set up in the heart
of Paris in 1999 by a group of optician
friends and its frames are now stocked
by some 2,000 practices in France.
The company’s first collection, was
OkobyOko
which uses
the company’s
trademark logo of a tortoise. A
large range, this includes frames in
surgical steel and others in hand-made
Italian acetate, with a choice of
over 80 designs in vivid through to
sober colours. The collection is being
extended by some 20 new models in
acetate and metal for Silmo.
Material choice
Beddock explains the thinking behind
his eyewear: ‘I like the idea that our
spectacles are an indicator of trends; the
Oko models represent a kaleidoscope of
materials, the aim being to express the
joys of living. Even though I’m looking
for originality, I don’t wish to go as
far as obliterating the personality of
the wearer. Successful eyewear should
express the person’s character without
stealing the show.’
The New-York and OkobyOko
frames contrast with the
company’s chemically cut steel
‘Moko Besicles’
line of modern
looking styles
which are
made in Jura
region of France. These
light, flexible frames are screwless,
using a mechanical hinge system with
interlocking pins instead of a hinge
and come in a wide colour palette from
reds to gunmetal. The base-4 designs
feature interchangeable earsocks in
different shapes, colours and material
options of silicone, rubber and acetate.
Adaptable acetate inserts allow for the
use of thinner lenses than the grooved
Trivex or polycarbonate options and
enable consumers to personalise their
spectacles. Moko Besicles frames are
named after Greek mythology, from
Zeus through to Phoebe, with six new
designs for Silmo.
There is also a Kidoko collection of
children’s frames, with 17 illustrated
models aimed at children as young
as four through to 10-year-old
pre-teenagers. Oko describes Kidoko
frames as original and unusual, with
well-crafted details. New for Silmo are
four models in acetate, a first for the
collection, along with two in metal.
● Oko frames are distributed in the UK
by the AgenC. Contact Jeremy Thomas on: 07825828252.

Andy Wolf Eyewear

Austrian handcraft is taking over the design market Hand work made in Styria is increasingly demanded on the international market for glasses. In 2006 Andy Wolf started with its first collection of timeless modern glasses, which not only fulfils highest aesthetical criteria but also provides ultimate functionality. Within the last year sales more than doubled while Andy Wolf is not targeting mass production but handmade luxury articles. “In contrast to numerous companies, who produce their glasses in low-wage countries in the Asia-Pacific-region, our products are entirely made in Austria”, comments Katharina Plattner, designer and managing partner of Andy Wolf. Beside stars like Hugh Grant and Eric Clapton, this philosophy convinces customers all over the globe. In that sense the Styrian designer and manufacturer of glasses emerged to an exclusive high-end brand. The label is present on all main international trade fairs ranging from Milan, Paris to Las Vegas. “At the moment Andy Wolf achieves its biggest turnovers in France and Italy. The products target a particular group of people for whom their eyeglasses are precious accessories. Therefore Andy Wolf products are only available at selective distributors”, states Plattner. Due to the rising success of the male collection Andy Wolf will soon expand its collection. Handmade in Austria Within the production process every item has to pass a series of manufacturing steps and quality cheques, which turns every Andy Wolf product into a unique piece of handcraft: „Finishing a pair of glasses takes several weeks as every single piece is handmade. The spectacle frames not only stand for style and elegance but also make you completely forget that you are wearing glasses“. The spectacle frames are made of acetat plates and prevent tension with the glass, they are hard-wearing and long-lasting.