20/20’s Frame of the Month Is…

The optical industry’s leading magazine, 20/20, has selected “Niles,” from OGI’s Seraphin line, as its Frame of the Month.  And with good reason.  This vintage-inspired frame pairs sophistication with simplicity — just when you thought the two couldn’t co-exist.

The lenses successfully walk the line between round and square, avoiding the starkness of each, while the barest hint of a teardrop shape adds an element of mystery.  A retro saddle bridge sans nosepads separates the two, in classic 1940s fashion.

The frame is constructed of lightweight yet tough titanium and you can choose from a gold-tone or silver finish, either in a shiny or matte antique finish.  But look closer : a delicate filigree pattern adorns both the eyewire and temples with an understated subtlety.

Cable wrap earpieces keep the frame comfortably in place.

To complete the vintage appeal, cable temples that wrap around your ears deliver both form and function, so they stay in place, even when you look down or whip your head around suddenly at the sound of your lover’s voice.

Niles offers a classic intellectual, yet sexy look for men of all ages.

And yes, we have Niles here at Providence Optical.

Who Says Math and Art Don’t Mix?

Kawasaki’s innovative design eliminates annoying screws that loosen and fall out.

Remember your high school days?  If you secretly envied the nerds who excelled in math and science, you probably took maniacal pleasure in seeing them struggle in art class.  And those artsy kids, didn’t they always go into a panic when they had to take a math test?  The two disciplines seem almost mutually exclusive and yet, there is Kazuo Kawasaki, who not only combines them, but manages to excel at both.

Kawasaki’s playful scissors in the shape of an X and an I

Carna Wheelchair, 1989 by Kawasaki, is in the New York MOMA collection.

Born in the Fukui Prefecture of Japan, Kawasaki graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art in 1972.  He went on to become an award-winning industrial designer working for the likes of Apple, Fujitsu and Sony and he is the creator of the EIZO brand of computer displays.  Not to be limited or tied down by the corporate sector, he also produced acclaimed functional art designs, such as his “Carna” folding wheelchair and scissors in the shape of an X and an I, which are in the New York’s Museum of Modern Arts’ collection. And he’s currently teaching at Osaka University, while serving as a visiting professor at both Tama Art University and Kanazawa Institute of Technology.

Sarah Palin wore Kawasaki’s 704 model during her 2008 bid for the vice presidency.

Like everything else he touches, Kawasaki’s eyewear line has enjoyed fabulous success – so much so that Sarah Palin chose his 704 model with SP shape to complete her look as a vice presidential candidate in the 2008 campaign.

Kawaski’s eyewear combines his engineering prowess with his artistic talents and his love of sophistication and sleek lines.  He developed a novel screwless, tension-mounted frame design and chose beta titanium for its durability and light weight.

Curious?  Come see his MP series eyeglass frames at our store.

 

An updated take on John Lennon’s look with Kawasaki’s innovative anti-tension technology.