VisionPlus reveals the trends you should be expecting this 2017, courtesy industry experts!
Trends are basically innovations, sometimes out of absolute chance, and sometimes straight from the experts.
In this issue, let’s learn what’s hot!
Colours For 2017
Sheri Sherling, Director – Merchandising, and Katy Dajnowski, Manager – Marketing, OGI Eyewear:
Accent colours and neutrals should be used as inspiration and the collections need to be curated into new styles. Nude basics are always in fashion as they compliment and flatter a variety of skin tones and ethnicities. Multiple colour laminations, fusion of colours that create a unique and eye-catching look.
Mr Enrico Furlan, De Rigo House Brands Creative Director:
Black is reinterpreted in a multitude of shiny and matt variants, alongside an evergreen: tortoise shell. The colour range also includes blues and fuchsias, in both delicate and vibrant shades. The lenses are generally gradient, although there are also plenty of mirrored versions, sometimes in unusual guises.
I Rahumathullah, Managing Director, Maui Jim India:
Vivid and vibrant is the colour theme of 2017. Blue, like last year, bright colorful frames are still much in vogue this year. However, a trend that has caught up recently in India is that of Blue Mirrored Lenses. Mirrored sunglasses instantly add a new flair of colour and style to your eyewear, giving you a highly trendy appearance. Burgundy Hues, sunglasses with burgundy hued frames and lenses are another ‘hot’ trend this season in India as well as around the world. They tend to add warmth and serenity to your demeanor. Burgundy hued sunglasses are especially popular among women who have an eye for style.
Lens colours as per the need: Neutral Grey lenses offer the highest level of light reduction for bright, sunny days. Then there are lens colours that are better suited to cloudy days, and others that are more versatile.
Marcolin SPA Creative Team:
The main colours that we will face during this 2017 for metal frames or trims are the rich tones of copper and bronze but also the elegance of light gold. For acetate there will be a strong presence of hues like electric blue and other galaxy colours (lilac, purple, violet, orange). Another important presence in the colour palette will be white in its different tones (optical white, ivory, milky white). There will be also two main perceptions on colours: from one hand there will be light and transparent colours that highlight the lightness of the concepts and on the other hand there will be the presence of solid colours that underlines the importance and the consistency of the materials.
Ameet Pujara, Optimed:
Gray, Brown and Black will still dominate the eyewear choice of the year.
Atreye Ghosh, Astra Lifestyle:
In Optical Frames, it would be Black Rimmed frames- the black acetate frames, tortoise shell frames, coloured acetate frames in Red, Purple and Pink shades have also started creating buzz; so, we can see these building more interests this year among the young female buyers.
Mr. Kyriakos Kofinas, Managing Director of India Middle East and Africa, Safilo Group:
Being the leading designer and manufacturer of eyewear in the industry, we are the trendsetters for sunglasses and frames. Our trends remain same across the globe. Soft colors white and all the declinations including pastel are in trends. Bright colors including blue and yellow are also going to be
the big hits.
Material For 2017
I Rahumathullah, Managing Director, Maui Jim India:
Lightweight materials that make for comfortable wearing are to look out for. Titanium and beta-titanium are highly popular materials for eyeglass frames as they make for extremely lightweight and comfortable wearing. Let not its light weight confuse you. It is not just comfortable but also highly durable, strong and corrosion-resistant. Also, titanium eyewear can be produced in a wide array of colors. Grilamid is another light and durable polymer with extreme bending strength known for retaining its shape. It is a nylon polymer characterised by an extremely high bending strength, low density and a high resistance to chemical and UV damage. It is a material that is fast catching up the attention of sunglass lovers for its durability and comfort.
Mr Enrico Furlan, De Rigo House Brands Creative Director:
As regards materials, custom acetates make for unique, inimitable products, while rubber and steel improve fit and comfort. Special techniques combine traditional materials such as metal with plastic inserts with rubber-finished and sculptural effects. Flat surfaces take on a three-dimensional effect through the clever use of milling and special colour combinations.
Ameet Pujara, Optimed:
Plastic with Titanium will prevail as Titanium is lightweight, durable and comfortable to wear. Plastic will be more popular amongst youth.
Sheri Sherling, Director – Merchandising, and Katy Dajnowski, Manager – Marketing, OGI Eyewear:
Acetate with texture, wood look, shiny/matte, faceting, laser cuts, etched metal detailing. High density acetate — This material has a thinner profile, without sacrificing durability, making it a desirable choice for opticians and patients. Decorative details like pearlized nose pads and exquisite vintage-inspired hinges. Fusions of color in acetate — Joining colors of acetate in a fusion together, creating visual interest and unique, flattering color combinations.
Mr. Kyriakos Kofinas, Managing Director of India Middle East and Africa, Safilo Group:
Optyl is the material of 2017 as it gives a new dimension to eyewear creations. It has a memory effect, which means it remembers the first shape it took always, even if the shape is distorted due to heat. It offers absolute comfort, inalterability, lightness, colour & brightness.
Atreye Ghosh, Astra Lifestyle:
Titanium, Gold Metal Wireframe, Acetate (Black and coloured)
Marcolin SPA Creative Team:
The eyewear trends on materials are more and more moving into different souls according to the different needs. We choose materials like titanium, stainless steel and leather and shiny finishing for a more elegant mood, plastic and rubber with a matte finishing for a sporty mood, metal trims on plastic for an industrial and young mood. Anyhow the rule is to use several combinations of different materials: for example, copper metal and rubber, carbon fiber and leather.
Shapes For 2017
Marcolin SPA Creative Team:
The main trends on shapes are really closed to architecture world. In particular we take great inspirations from the use of volumes, geometric shapes, patterns, sharp cuts and hard angles. There are some everlasting shapes (for example the ‘pilot’ or the ‘panthos’ shapes) that are restyled in order to get a new life. There is also the surprising return of masks with a strong bending effect, in contrast with the flatness in trend during the last period.
Ameet Pujara, Optimed:
Round, rectangular will be in demand with female consumers also opting for cat eye.
I Rahumathullah, Managing Director, Maui Jim India:
Unconventional shapes, modern twist to classic sunglass avatars is doing the rounds. Round mirror sunglasses are another key trend to look out for this year. The round shape is quirky yet attractive and is especially likeable with minimalist frames. However, this year round lenses with pronounced and bright colored frames have also caught the fancy of fashion lovers. A specially attractive trend this year is round sunglasses with mirrored lenses in several colors.
Trapezoid sunglasses, oversized shapes coupled with kinky frames of different geometric shapes are turning out to be the new ‘in thing’ for fashionistas and style watchers. If cat eyed sunglasses were the top shape choice last year, 2017 seems to be the year of trapezoid sunglasses which offer a unique stylish edge to the wearer. Given the fact that most trapezoid sunglasses come in oversized shapes, they are also a healthy choice as they shade a larger part of the face, especially the skin surrounding the eyes from UV radiation.
Mr Enrico Furlan, De Rigo House Brands Creative Director:
Mainly soft, 1970s-style shapes, such as aviator and rounded frames, alongside butterfly shapes for the more feminine models.
Sheri Sherling, Director – Merchandising, and Katy Dajnowski, Manager – Marketing, OGI Eyewear:
Heritage (fit for smaller faces) — answering to popular demand which intends to fit petite face shapes. Reinvigorated vintage shapes — using innovative technology, modern materials, and expertise in understanding of face shapes to improve the fit on classic vintage styles, creating a niche for itself of neoclassic design. Flattering feminine shapes — classic cat-eyes, angular styles, and rectangular styles with an upsweep flatter female faces.
Atreye Ghosh, Astra Lifestyle:
In sunglasses category, for our fashionista female brigade, round lenses with cat-eye frame is going to stay. Other than this, oversized sunglasses, round mirrored sunglasses and aviators will be ruling the ramp.
Mr. Kyriakos Kofinas, Managing Director of India Middle East and Africa, Safilo Group:
2017 sees a new focus on shape. Unconventional frames are more widely accepted in both optical and sunglasses, signifying a braver consumer ready to use eyewear as a true fashion accessory. Oval sunglasses, under frame, teardrop, rectangular, angular optical, are the latest trends of the season.
Style For 2017
Mr. Kyriakos Kofinas, Managing Director of India Middle East and Africa, Safilo Group:
1990s oval sunglasses, shield, aviator, brow focus, mod sunglasses are the latest styles for 2017.
Atreye Ghosh, Astra Lifestyle:
In sunglasses category, for our fashionista female brigade, round lenses with cat-eye frame is going to stay. Other than this, oversized sunglasses, round mirrored sunglasses and aviators will be ruling the ramp. Aviator.
Marcolin SPA Creative Team:
The main directions of styles in 2017 are the ‘ethnic-futuristic’ style, with traditional and regional patterns and trims translated into geometrical and clean shapes, the “Sporty chic style” where the typical sporty accessories are reinterpreted into a luxury vision in order to melt a sporty and young feeling with a chic soul.
Ameet Pujara, Optimed:
Oversized, tortoise shell & aviator will rule the year. Double bridged will be back in action.
I Rahumathullah, Managing Director, Maui Jim India:
Styles from the past keep revisiting the fashion arena of eye wear albeit with an added contemporary touch.
New age aviator: One of the oldest yet most popular sunglass styles, the simply elegant aviator always finds a willing audience. All the more so, when the classical style is fused with elements of the modern. A number of sunglass styles are offering a dramatic update on the traditional aviator with exaggerated frames, modified bridge and mirrored lenses. Aviator with a contemporary twist is a shape that will be high on the style quotient in 2017.
Sporty sunglasses: Another eyewear trend set to be in vogue in 2017 is sport sunglasses. With more and more people turning to active lifestyles and indulging in sporting activities such as cycling, mountain biking, trekking, golf, among others, the craze for high impact sports eyewear is catching up fast.
Mr Enrico Furlan, De Rigo House Brands Creative Director:
Mainly soft, 1970s-style shapes, such as aviator and rounded frames, alongside butterfly shapes for the more feminine models. Masks make a comeback in some glasses, brought up to date by the use of ultra-flat lenses.
Vintage inspirations; frequent use of two- or zero-base solar lenses; slender structures thanks to the use of ultra thin HD High Density acetates.
Sheri Sherling, Director – Merchandising, and Katy Dajnowski, Manager – Marketing, OGI Eyewear:
Constantly evolving, more intricate designs, more attention to detail, best materials — this is how the standard for affordable luxury design will be set. The styles will come in both sunglasses and ophthalmic giving the eyecare professional options to show to their patients.
