Kellys Designs

These are designs by my co-designer, Kelly. 

We really like the simple shapes and the spacing between frame and lense. In reality this will make the item a lot weaker and will not help to portray a high quality brand. This can be avoided if we can find a good way of ensuring the durability, such as using invisible thread made from a plastic substance to hold the lense in place.

I really like the idea of the chain and weight for a way of balancing. It will give the brand an individuality and an extra niche. This also means the metal must be eco-friendly and must be sourced without too much cost.

Initial Designs

These were my initial designs; building up from just a marble base, adding black lenses, then giving an extra luxury appearance of a rose gold metal wire. We found this extra to be too much of a hazard to the customer and unnecessary. Simplicity is key in creating a classic item. I really like the cat eye shape in the central design, it will suit many faces helping to accentuate cheekbones. 

Colour Palette

For our first collection, we wanted a range of sunglasses that portray a sense of classic luxury. By creating such products, we shall be understand how customers respond to them and determine whether the range should continued and used as a basis for future collections.
From the research we collected on the London trip, we understood that there is huge demand for tortoiseshell eyewear. Tortoiseshell is reminiscent of a classic 1920's look, when eyewear was made of a much higher quality than the majority of glasses currently on the market. The supply of tortoiseshell eyewear, we feel, has been met. Verdure would like to push this idea further and produce eyewear with an even more classic feel by using the appearance of a much more timeless material, Marble.
After visiting London and the Linda Farrow showroom, we found the majority of their designs had a rose gold tint. This suits the majority of skintones and gives a high luxury appearance. As a group, we agreed it really set the eyewear apart from other designs.

MODIP

Museum of Design in Plastics

After a meeting with Susan Lambert, Head of MoDIP, I discovered the potentials of eco-materials as plastics. There are very few that are eco and durable at the same time. Injection moulding seems like a route that we may be able to find a solution. 

Most sunglasses are made out of cellulose acetate however this does not biodegrade well. 

Another idea for creating the frames, might be through using 3D printing.

A product that Susan showed me was a Tom Dixon picnic set, made entirely out of biodegradable materials which can be placed within compost waste at the end of it's necessity. The colours do not necessarily have to be black. the marbled effect we are looking for could be achieved through using different water soluble resins. Although the products can be dissolved in water, they are able to withstand water for a short time. therefore if the sunglasses are dropped in the pool on holiday, they shall be safe. As the crockery is able to stand boiling water, they too shall be able to withstand the heat of the sun.

The only problem i have found from using this material is the weight. Eyewear has to be lightweight and this bamboo resin isn't the lightest, however this can be compromised if the frame is minimal and slim.

I especially like the shine and feel of this material.

Gucci

Gucci and their commitment to environmental responsibility;

Gucci merged their eco-friendly ideas for an eyewear collection with another eyewear brand 'Safilo'. Safilo group are the men behind the production of the majority of luxury eyewear on a worldwide basis. Above is the end result of this collaboration.

 Since 2010 Gucci have produced eco-friendly packaging especially for their eyewear collections. The only mention of materials are the use of FCS-certified paper for the shopping bag.

Cradle to Cradle

This term is a design approach that considers economically, socially and industrially, systems that are efficient but more importantly waste free. The entire cycle is constantly in motion and has no end point, proving that the product will always be in use and shall provide an advantage to whichever stage it is at. The play on words is taken from the phrase 'from cradle to grave'; instead cradle to cradle gives a much more positive view and shows the ability to recreate new product life through products that have finished their use to the customer.

This can be shown through a cycle diagram as shown below;

There are many companies that try to use this method. An exciting example of this is an unfamiliar substance; "Mushroom Materials' which is as you would assume, taken from mushroom fibre and other waste products within agriculture. These composites create a 'high performance, biobased home compostable alternative to expanded plastic foam'. This material is then used as an eco-friendly version of packaging.

C2C is a factor that we must consider within the design of our own eyewear. How the materials shall be sourced, hopefully locally to reduce CO2 miles, and the way that the customer shall dispose of them. We shall consider the use of the eco-material and its durabilities, hoping to giving a long product life. Another thing to consider is packaging; many luxury companies use an extortionate amount of wrapping just to give the product an extra touch of luxury. Cardboard is the most widely used packaging material for eco-friendly companies as it has a large strength, absorbing impact and can biodegrade quickly compared to plastic.

Barrow and Flux

Local brand Barrow and Flux pride their selves on handmade, wooden sunglasses made within the UK. All based within Dorset, each piece is made through demand. This eliminates the need for over producing or creating waste, however it also doesn't give the customer an idea of price or aesthetics (other than wood). This factor must make a vast difference to their sales. Barrow and Flux must want the customer to feel involved in the creation of the products, giving a personal touch and potentially creating higher customer satisfaction.

'We hand select the wood - choosing locally sourced materials, to make our own veneers. Each pair are beautifully crafted, unique & are the combination of years of experience and attention to detail. We use locally produced textiles, optics & paper - all made in England.'

This is an example of their packaging. I like the use of the wood, continuing the brands' theme. I also feel this brand has so much more potential. As a uniquely made pair of sunglasses, the packaging doesn't not look made as a one off and resembles more of a wine box. This box also seems way too bulky to be able to carry around daily with the eyewear inside. 

These are all considerations that Verdure must test; learning what the customer wants and needs.

To view their video on the production of the eyewear, follow the link below;

Barrow and Flux