Spotlight on Starck Eyewear
In the first few months of a new year, we usually have the opportunity to discover new collections and top up on new products from our current favourites. In previous years at this time of year, we would have just finished visiting this season’s optical trade fairs. Travelling around Europe we get to see first hand the many new and exciting products emerging onto the market. Unfortunately, like many things since the start of the global pandemic, everything has been either cancelled, postponed, or gone virtual.
Fortunately for us, we did manage to travel to a handful of shows at the very beginning of 2020, before the UK went into its first lockdown. One of the new collections we brought back to our store in Market Harborough was Starck eyewear.
Starck eyewear was created by the iconic French designer Phillip Starck. He is one of the most influential and innovative designers of our time. Phillip is famed for his many iconic designs, from pieces of furniture and household goods including the ‘ghost chair’ with Kartell, through to the world-famous lemon squeezer with Alessi. Starck has put his stamp on many hotels and restaurants around the world and has been commissioned to renovate and create incredible spaces in almost every country around the globe.
His work and collaborations with quality manufacturers are endless and many of his collections can now be found in museums in Paris, New York and London, all paying homage to this iconic, world-famous designer.
Phillip Starck’s philosophy is to design objects which are both aesthetically beautiful and functional and to make them available to the mass market. Over the years he has designed bathroom fittings, kitchen appliances, tableware, and, through a partnership with Alain Mikli, eyewear.
Starck started working with fellow eyewear designer Alain Mikli to launch Starck Eyes in 1996. They revolutionised the eyewear industry by developing the biolink hinge for eyewear. This new type of temple hinge was inspired by the human body and in particular the movement of the human shoulder and collarbone. True to Phillip’s philosophy this hinge brought together functionality and design for the wearer by creating a comfortable fit, manufactured from high-quality materials of titanium, carbon fibre, and acetate to ensure flexibility and durability.
We decided to stock Starck Biotech Paris, as it’s now known, for the iconic brand that it is. Starck eyewear is manufactured in conjunction with global eyewear company Luxottica, using their wealth of knowledge and technology of eyewear manufacturing processes. Each piece is true to the founder Phillip and consists of the highest quality acetates, carbon fibre and titanium.
People who wear Starck frames appreciate the quality, design, and innovation which has gone into developing and manufacturing each model. They demand and receive comfort and durability linked together with style and a distinctive look. We’re thrilled to be able to offer the iconic Starck brand to our customers.
Read more about Starck eyewear or make an appointment to visit Respectacle Company and take a closer look at this fabulous collection. Call 01858 433577 and we can arrange a suitable time for you to pop by the shop. Although lockdown restrictions have lifted somewhat, we are still operating on an appointment-only basis for the foreseeable future.
We’re also excited to announce other new brands joining our existing collections, including Gigi Studios and Lamarca Eyewear from Spain and Italy respectively. More to be revealed on the blog soon.