Beate Leinz, the founder of Leinz Eyewear, talks about the idea behind her label
To begin with, tell us about your inspiration and idea behind your collections.
Beate Leinz : As a designer, I also wanted to produce my distinctive style under an independent label. Then I came across the subject of “contrast and hybrids”. What could be better than combining the old with the new? And the familiar with the future? And so I consistently applied this concept across all aspects of materiality, and manufacture. For two years I worked on the collection’s concept and after various technical hurdles and modifications, I am extremely thrilled to present the results.
Could you please elaborate on the materials used and how are they used?
Beate Leinz : Acetate and polyamide(PA), these are two synthetics with completely different properties. High gloss, transparent and vibrancy meet functional high tech materials, rough and matt. Acetate is a flat, sheet material that is reductively machined, while the printed PA material develops three-dimensionally via an additive manufacturing technique in the SLS 3D Printing process.
What potential lies in such contrast?
Beate Leinz : Due to technical material reasons, an adhesive bond was out of the question, so another solution had to be found. The design is based instead on innovative, plug-in construction, in which the individual components combine neatly. Simultaneously, the interconnection of the various sculptural elements characterises the design and creates a contemporary and futuristic appearance.
How can two such opposing materials be technically united? How do you ensure the perfect fitting of the eyewear with components that are poles apart?
Beate Leinz : Acetate tends to shrink minimally as a material. However, the component’s fit accuracy is crucial for its stability. Hence, the underlying plug-in construction, which accommodates the required material tolerance so that the component’s connection is only made possible due to the lens inserted under tension. Additionally, a specially designed PA shell surrounds the acetate arm and spring hinge, so that no problems arise at the component connections and the frame is also graphically accentuated on the outside.
With so many different materials available, why did you choose these materials in specific?
Beate Leinz : The choice of materials make the new frame light and comfortable to wear the contrasting components and their properties, such as transparency versus mass, creates expressive, graphic accents that frame the eye strikingly while creating an elegant, feminine look. Due to the construction of individual components, countless, diverse colour combinations are possible.
Tell us a little more about the designing and the manufacturing process of the eyewear.
Beate Leinz : Long-standing design experience for international eyewear brands is a distinct flair for fashion and trends from the basis of the collection’s exceptional design approach. Ultimately, the design not only combines two dissimilar materials, but also traditional Italian craftsmanship with high-end Belgian technology. Manufactured at various European locations, the components eventually fit together perfectly. Design and logistics – created and coordinated from Berlin.
To the best of our knowledge, we believe that Leinz Eyewear believes in recycling could you please tell us a little more about it
Beate Leinz : Naturally, every model comes with a matching case. The case is integral to the concept, is based on the frame’s style and developed by the designer in the same vein. Utilising modern recycling methods, leather waste from the production of work gloves is transformed to create a new material that is both durable and light, yet conveys the classic feel of cowhide.
