Prabal Gurung x Linda Farrow

The past few collections with Prabal Gurung have been very exciting and have created a large amount of publicity to both brands, due to the unusual designs. Here are a few over the passed few years;

For their s/s 16 collection i was asked to start producing some ideas from the very basic, incredibly Prada-esque design they had given us. With this i decided to build it up very slowly, changing each section so that i could go back on each design if i needed. 

After creating these designs i was then informed we shall not be working with them until they start doing some proper designing on their side, rather than leaving it all to LF to deal with.

Religion Clothing

I have been set the task of creating a few designs for the brand Religion. Their clothes are usually monotone and quite drapey, most well known for their mens' t-shirts with quite x-rated imagery.
I created a moodboard from their recently most visually exciting prints and details within their collections.

The collections can inspire different ways of trapping elements into acetate, such as sequins or glitter. This is quite an expensive method and cannot be done through injection moulding, the method most companies use.

The brand would like a range of very simple eyewear pieces to add to their collection for ss16, their initial thoughts are for a wayfarer style in monochrome colours, nothing that pushes the boundaries too much, but will make a classic style that will suit most faces.

I felt this acetate swatch really represented the brand well, however it shall not be used as the company need very simple, inexpensive materials, and the ideas should mainly kept to monochrome gradients and dip dye effects.

On this image i use the sample from above on the temples, and keeping the front simple by only using just black acetate and monochrome gradient acetates in typical and more unusual ways.

Here are a few quick designs i produced from the brief that Religion set me, using the classic wayfarer shape and incorporating the moodboard materials.

Reception

For the morning of today i had to be the receptionist and showroom host. All qualities most would need for this job title do not lie within me, as proven today. I completely embarrassed myself infront of the big boss and embarrassed the brand, i had no idea how to work a switchboard telephone and managed to hang up on various clients. The only reason this is my current job role is because the last receptionist left with no warning and i am sharing the role with fellow interns. I enjoy greeting clients into the showroom and offering beverages etc.

At the same time as this i am also uploading info into Sage, the database. terribly mind-numbing and usually need 2 seconds before picking up the phone to put my mind straight. Other than this my day has been alright, being on reception means that i can greet the employees and they have to greet me back, even though gritted teeth! (sometimes just a mere filthy look, sometimes with no look at all) either way i feel fortuitous that the chance has arisen where i can easily talk to others.

Anyway, even if i was crap at answering phones and stuff.. it is my job for tomorrow morning too.

Today i was set the task of creating a new aviator for the Matthew Williamson collaborative brand. I took the original lens shape from a recent collection. I also went to the showroom to look at the Linda Farrow and collaborates pieces to gather a little inspiration. Here are some of the aviator styles that are the most visually exciting;

Matthew Williamson are well known for their colourful designs, this also includes their eyewear range. MW always request bright shades but simple shapes. For this design i also didnt want to go too heavy on the detail but wanted something that is different to the typical aviator shape. 

These are a few very brief designs. They shall be pitched to Simon soon, however so many designs are created that this image does not represent any slight forecasting and is mere mind vomit.

Atelier Vingt Deux

I have just discovered this brand on the Harvey Nichols website;

Atelier Vingt-Deux (AVD) are a brand that class themselves at the top of luxury eyewear. 

'the dedication and the skills to combine the best materials with innovative technologies to deliver outstanding EyeTech Art' 

A statement taken from their website. 

The brand is founded on the principles of precision, excellence and performance. They believe they produce revolutionary products which are made from complex materials. The use of diamonds are mentioned on their website, though none of the designs show them.

I think the designs are very elementary considering their price range of over £900. I understand they use titanium throughout their collections, though Linda Farrow do not charge such an extortionate price for the increasingly rare material. 

Veronika Wildgruber

The name alone.. i think is brilliant.

However, this is the logo, and even though i think it is beautifully simple, it is very very similar to the brand in the post below; Vava eyewear.

 I love these frames, they're so elegant and classic, with a slightly edgy element added to make them completely unique to all other brands.

Cubitts

I first heard of Cubitts on the work email, describing their layout and the presentation of the store.  As previously explained to me, Linda Farrow usually do not see themselves as competition to the any other eyewear brands currently on the market; however this store must've made them stop to look.

This image is taken from their website, which can be found here.

The company is not far from Carnaby Street, London, and i cant wait to visit them. From there I shall hope to do a much larger report on the brand and my thoughts on the store.