What is Neubau's design identity today?
What makes us different is that we don't try to please everyone. We set the direction instead of following trends, and we give people frames that are not only a design statement but also a reflection of their values. From the very beginning, Neubau has been about taking responsibility, for the world around us, both for our products and for the way we work. At first, that meant bio-based materials, but over the past year we've started to look beyond that. For us, the future isn't only about using renewable resources, it's about building circular systems, working with materials that already exist and giving them new life as quality frames. We're still at the beginning of that journey, but we see it as the way forward.

How are innovation and environmental responsibility reflected in your latest designs?
With the new shapes, Mailin and Caleb, launched in August, we show exactly what Neubau stands for. They're minimalist, with that touch of edginess that defines our handwriting, and at the same time they mark another step forward in how we think about responsible material sourcing. For these designs, I looked at some of the bold square and angular shapes of the seventies, frames with real character, and reinterpreted them in a way that feels pure and relevant for today. The result is styles that are both modern and timeless. And of course, it's not just about the look. The frames are made from circular materials like our new, innovative bio-circular NPX and recycled stainless steel. They're built to be repairable, and we keep spare parts in stock for years, so that if something ever happens, people can repair their beloved frames. For us, that's what design with longevity and responsibility really means.

As part of the Silhouette Group, how does Neubau maintain its distinct character?
We stand on our own feet as Neubau, with a very distinct design language, and a mindset that is more progressive, more outspoken and sometimes not everybody's darling. At the same time, we benefit hugely from the expertise and infrastructure of Silhouette. There's decades of craftsmanship and engineering knowledge that flow into our designs, and a production setup in Austria that gives us quality, service and reliability. It means we can take bold design risks knowing that the technical side is rock solid. I think that's really where the synergy lies: Neubau can be the voice that pushes boundaries and explores new paths, while Silhouette gives us the foundation to make those ideas sustainable.

Originally published in Eyebook 35