Trends
The Circle
Timeless shape
Words Alessandra Albarello
22/01/2025
A timeless shape, the round one, which is continuously reinterpreted. A symbol that is decidedly contemporary and never longs for the past. It lives in the present.
It is no coincidence that the French starchitect Jean Nouvel has transferred one of his favourite shapes, the circle, to the glasses created in collaboration with Morel. And, of course, he could not forgo light, with which he typically weaves unique compositions in his architectural works around the world, thanks to a careful selection of materials—acetate and titanium—transparencies, and essential, rigorous colours like blue, green, grey, and black. A radical design expressed through regular surfaces and a soft, recognisable line that immediately becomes avant-garde. A pure, organic shape, perfect in its simplicity, the round one, favoured by intellectuals and artists such as David Hockney, as well as, of course, by other famous designers and architects, both contemporary and from the past, including Le Corbusier.
With the Clark model, Kaleos (in the opening photo) reinterprets it by focusing on more prominent profiles, interrupted at the temples by laminations in soft, trendy contrasting colours like ivory and beige. A detail that gives even more personality, strength, and boldness to the acetate model while maintaining its rigorous appeal. Also in acetate, in a rich shade of blue, is the Tourmalet optical frame by Xavier Derome, a creator of accessories and jewellery. This design is characterised by wide temples, doubled with a contrasting material, and sculpted volumes with both external and internal cuts that add depth and light to the frame, making it exceptionally light despite its substantial thickness. The model is part of the Summit collection, which evokes the geometry of mountains: cliffs, overhangs, and slopes.
Looking to the East, however, the Tokyo 12 round titanium frame from Nirvan Javan's Tokyo Collection is much thinner, more discreet, and minimalist. Handmade in Japan, it features a matte finish and invites exploration of new horizons, precisely through a pair of glasses. Metal again, but this time in a shiny gold and silver version, takes the spotlight in the Aly CH0281S model by Chloé from the S/S 2025 collection. These are the first glasses designed by Chemena Kamali, Creative Director of the brand, in line with her 1970s-inspired vision and evoking the light, optimistic, and carefree atmosphere of summer. The lenses feature an exclusive triple gradient, and the logo is laser-engraved on the left lens, while the acetate temples include a hole for attaching chains. Round, with a special texture on the temples and bridge, is the brand-new Hoet Couture O9 model, a refined and ultra-light microarchitecture with fluid lines, made of titanium with 3D printing. It is available in natural titanium or black PVD finishing and five standard sizes. The Hoet Costume U11 model, on the other hand, is rimless on the lower part and is made from a combination of titanium and polyamide. Two perfect examples of how an almost ancestral shape can find its future dimension through the fusion of innovation and creativity.