By Deirdre Carroll

Designer Sigrid Olsen began her career as a weaver. Starting the label that bears her name in 1984, she turned this unique skill and her eye for beauty into a lifestyle collection that today includes everything from sportswear and accessories to bed, bath and table linens. The signature elements of her line--relaxed femininity,distinctive prints, brilliant color, and special details--are all apparent in her signature eyewear collection for Altair Eyewear.

1 What are the most important influences on your design work?   

I love to observe women in action and try to understand what they need and what makes them happy since my designs have an uplifting spirit. I also think that the clues to good design can be found in nature--the harmony of colors, the richness of textures and the simplicity of form and function. Then, of course, there is fashion and it is my job to understand and interpret the current trends for real women.   

2 What excites you most about design?

I love how the choices a designer makes, whether its apparel, accessories, architecture or interior design, affect the viewers psyche. I choose colors, textures and clean designs that feel like comfort food--enticing to the eye and combined to make you feel good.

3 Describe the ultimate Sigrid Olsen woman. 

She is intelligent, well-traveled, self-confident and not afraid to be an individual. She is comfortable with who she is and aspires to make her life a little more interesting and expressive with the choices she makes in fashion and design. She is typically an affluent Baby Boomer, but could also be any woman ranging in age from 30 to 70 with a young, upbeat spirit.   

4 What’s been the greatest challenge in interpreting your design perspective into an eyewear line?  

The design details have to be subtle yet instantly recognizable. It has to feel like “Sigrid” but at the same time be functionally perfect.

5 What are your favorite pieces in your eyewearcollection? 

There are seven pairs of eyeglasses and three pairs of sunglasses in my line and, not surprisingly, I love them all. My favorites have the surprise of color on the inside layer--the sandwiched brown and green and the black frames with pale blue inside which happily match my eyes!

6 What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?  

“Deliver more than you promise!”