Whats Next

Jan
2005

What's Next

Eyewear Designs: New Balance Sunwear  

Second collection makes colorful debut
Eyewear Designs adds a second sunwear collection to its New Balance brand introduced early in 2004. The new seven-piece collection, which brings the sunwear line to 15 styles, focuses on smaller eye sizes and vibrant colors without compromising performance. Targeted to active adults, the styles are individually engineered for versatility, durability and comfort. Frames are made of grilamid or monel. Lenses utilize EPV (Extreme Peripheral Vision) technology, which can provide up to a 20 percent wider field of accurate vision. Other features include N-Grip rubber nosepads and temple tips on many frames. Select styles are offered with polarized lenses with Glare Out II. Frame colors in the new releases range from black, brown and gray to blue, burgundy and yellow. Lenses are gray, brown or copper; some with a flash mirror coating.   
PHILOSOPHY:  “Our New Balance collection continues to garner recognition from industry insiders. The second collection features strong, vibrant colors that coordinate with New Balance footwear and apparel designs. Featuring smaller eye sizes without compromising superior comfort and fit, New Balance maintains its commitment of fit, performance and comfort to athletes all over the world,” says Eyewear Designs co-president Andrea Gluck. MARKETING: Merchandising materials include countertop and floor displays. Sunglasses come packaged in a box with case and lens cloth. For additional information, contact Eyewear Designs, (800) 645-6596; web site: www.eyeweardesigns.com


Signature Eyewear:
Nicole Miller Polarized Sun

Lens technology fuses with high fashion
Signature Eyewear adds three styles with polarized lenses to its Nicole Miller sunwear line. Reflecting the energy and sophistication that embodies the Nicole Miller brand, the new collection consists of a metal aviator designed for smaller faces and two zyls, a modern, angular cat eye and a rectangle. Colors include black, camouflage, silver/apricot and teak and laminated treatments of black/nectar and pistachio. Eye sizes range from 54mm to 57mm.    
PHILOSOPHY:  “We feel it’s important to give the fashion-conscious consumer a great look with enhanced lens technology,” says Signature vice president of design Jill Gardner. “Nicole Miller’s designs appeal to the consumer that is young at heart, but sophisticated and worldly. The new additions target this consumer, who is concerned about fashion and function.” MARKETING: Merchandising materials include a countercard with a graphic depicting the New York skyline and several cartoon figures in Nicole Miller apparel, an acrylic frame display and logo blocks. For Spring 2005, a new character and color palette will be introduced into the POP. Each frame comes with a case. PRICE POINT: $$ to $$$. For additional information, contact Signature Eyewear. (800) 765-EYES; web site: www.signatureeyewear.com



Zyloware: Invincilites Sigma 

Invincilite’s fifth collection bows 
Zyloware continues to expand on its Invincilites line launched in January 2004 with the release of Sigma, the fifth Invincilites collection. Sigma combines several key features that make it the ideal drill-mount frame both to wear and to dispense. For the consumer, Sigma offers modern, wearable shapes with thin, stainless-steel hardware that seemingly disappears on the face. Striped, transparent Grilamid (TR-90) temples are lightweight and provide a subtle splash of color. For the dispenser, Sigma shapes are highly saleable and the bridges and endpieces are adjustable and corrosion-resistant. The nosepads snap-in and are also adjustable. The temples feature an adjustable core wire in the tip that allows for a customized mastoid fit. In addition, the temples have hinges so they fold like traditional frames. Sigma offers six shapes, including men’s, women’s and unisex designs, and six colors that are interchangeable. Frames are offered in beige, black, dark brown, gray mist, purple and silver/red. The plug-pressure mounting system assembles securely and quickly. Additionally, all Invincilites Beta collection patterns and shape guides can be used with Sigma chassis.    
PHILOSOPHY:  “Zyloware expects the Sigma collection to be
its most successful Invincilites release to date. It unifies the brand’s expected qualities—thin, contemporary and lightweight eyewear with a modern touch—in a way that makes it both attractive and a pleasure to dispense,” says Zyloware president Christopher Shyer. “The technology behind Sigma is a summation/compilation of the best drill-mount technologies and designs in one new collection.” MARKETING: A six-place acrylic display is available. Each frame comes with a case. PRICE POINT: $$. For additional information, contact Zyloware, (800) 765-3700; web site: www.zyloware.com

 

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