Trends
Essentials
Ephemeral, ethereal, yet so present
Words Alessandra Albarello
05/03/2025
Often crafted from stainless steel, behind their delicate, essential, and luminous appearance, these eyewear pieces conceal great strength and a strong personality. Just like some people...
An autobiographical book by Yukio Mishima, one of those often read in youth to try to understand how to fit into the world around us, is titled Sun and Steel, where the Japanese writer discusses his personal development and life’s purpose. These two powerful symbols could equally characterise a series of glasses with a delicate, essential, and romantic look, yet designed to be resilient and long-lasting. Even timeless. Stainless steel, primarily, is increasingly used not only for its extraordinary mechanical properties but also because it is becoming more recyclable. And this is certainly no small matter, especially when considering the daily commitment required of everyone by 2030 to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. With a focus on awareness and a circular economy—principles that have led the Berlin-based company to redefine all of its production processes—some Mykita glasses are made from recycled and recyclable steel. Take, for example, the Emmi model: a thin, ultra-light structure, characterised by a patented screwless hinge system.
Speaking of recycling, Skans has also chosen recycled stainless steel for its models, inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian minimalism, aiming to raise awareness about environmental respect through its creations, including the Curious with round rims and a double bridge. It is no coincidence that at Silmo 2024, the Danish company founded by Johanna Skans received the Responsible Company Award. Motivum’s MOT1009 eyewear frame (featured in the opening photo), from the Korean brand, also uses stainless steel in various colours and boasts an innovative hinge design without welding, making it aesthetically perfect for such slim models.
Irony is the defining feature of Bottega Veneta’s unisex sunglasses, with small oval rims that reveal their true playful nature through sardine-shaped temples, recalling the sculptural handles of their handbags and the forms of their jewellery. Meanwhile, delicate like a piece of jewellery yet strong like a faceted diamond is the geometric Rigaut sunglasses by Spektre, in satin metal with a double bridge, available in a wide range of colours. A favourite among celebrities for its originality, it exemplifies the Italian brand’s meticulous attention to detail.
The collaboration between Khaite and Oliver Peoples continues with a line of eyewear that fully embodies the personality of American designer Catherine Holstein. Models such as the slender 1998RX optical frame—crafted in gold, silver, brushed burgundy, and matte black metal—feature a cat-eye shape with temples inspired by the hardware of Khaite handbags. As always, L.G.R. takes us far away, into the colours and light of its Africa, with the "Lions of Ethiopia" capsule collection, including the Tigray frame, with an hexagonal metal front, acetate temples, and photochromic lenses. The journey continues.
Photo above: Motivum