New Akoni eyewear looks to the stars

In partnership with Akoni Eyewear

The unique aesthetic of Akoni eyewear’s ‘Collection III’ rests on the twin pillars of intelligent design and honest luxury. Founded in 2020 by creative director Salma Rachid and CEO Rosario Toscano, with an HQ in Lugano, Switzerland, the brand aims to accelerate eyewear evolution by combining the best in finesse and innovation, pushing the envelope in terms of design, materials, quality, finishes and functionality.

Dedicated to time-honoured craftsmanship as well as technical advancements, Akoni works with skilled Japanese artisans to create its cutting-edge frames – such as the new ‘Hercules’, ‘Hera’, ‘Athena’ and ‘Echo’ models.

The brand combines its devotion to craft and detail (what it calls its ‘Shokunin’ philosophy), with a commitment to using earth-friendly materials and procedures whenever possible (part of its Green Harmony pledge), and creates resilient frames, intended for a lifetime of use.

Design references encompass luxury watches and writing instruments, and material details include uniquely lightweight and hypoallergenic ceramic, Japanese cellulose acetate (zyl) and Japanese titanium.

Akoni eyewear collection III

For S/S 2022, Akoni looks to the still fresh and innovative spirit of midcentury architecture masters, their daring exploration and optimistic proposals for a better society.  

Frames echo the sculptural curves of Oscar Niemeyer’s iconic structures, and the inventive ‘sun visor’ solutions of Jean Prouvé’s legendary Maisons Tropicales, acknowledging architectural vision and intelligent craftsmanship. 

Four new takes on the brand’s striking side shields embellish frames by offering rich textural and colour contrasts. Meanwhile, an inventive scraping technique allows for the addition of tactile, subtle, and organic linear patterns to two of Akoni’s most popular Japanese acetate frame styles.  

‘Akoni looks to the stars,’ says Rachid. ‘Each frame is named for a key element of the cosmos – or for those intrepid visionaries who were inspired by the power of those celestial bodies. That unusual naming is our way of making it clear that we are determined to always channel that same spirit of wonder and boldness in each of our own discoveries.’ 

‘Hercules’

Geometric and oversized, this bold, acetate frame riffs on the powerful silhouettes of the finest luxury watches while channelling the fascinatingly sleek allure of Italian cinema’s most legendary leading men.

‘Athena’

With its sophisticated and pared-back cat-eye design, this silhouette offers a subtle lifting effect to the wearer, highlighting cheekbones and elongating the eye. Featuring a ceramic nose pad, titanium temple tip and end pieces, this style boasts distinctive colours and contrasts

‘Hera’

This style’s striking frontal hood was inspired by the brise-soleils and sleek overhangs that Jean Prouvé developed to shield his Maison Tropicales from the equatorial sun – the frame’s square, articulated metal rim channels the elegance of his timeless designs. With enamel encircling and enriching the front rims and side cups, the Akoni designers’ mastery in colour combinations adds the perfect finishing touch to these retro-flavoured navigators.

‘Echo’

A frontal hood channels Jean Prouvé’s striking brise-soleil designs. The aviator ‘Echo’ frame’s architectural elements also include a striking graphic play with black enamel, edging the rims, hood, and acetate side cups of the frame.

INFORMATION

Akoni.com