— I hear you deal in vintage French and American eyewear. Can you tell me about the French eyewear first?
I plan to focus on French eyewear from the period when they say glasses first started, from those without metal cores in the temples to those where temple cores began to be incorporated.
Chronologically, these are glasses from the 1940s to the 1950s, made from a resin called French cellulose – what is known as "Frame France."
— What are the characteristics of Frame France?
Their appearance is distinctly different. The material has a substantial thickness, the edges are very sharp, and of course, the details are incredibly elaborate. Today, even "handmade" often involves a lot of machinery in the process, but back then, it was literally handmade, one piece at a time. That's why vintage pieces are instantly recognizable.
Also, since they were made for French people, who tend to have narrower faces, the glasses are made smaller. Mr. Nakagawa, the designer of EYEVAN, also says this, but I personally believe that smaller things are more beautiful, and in that regard, Frame France is very appealing.
— Please tell me about the American eyewear as well.
I handle vintage eyewear from the 1920s, from the very early days of eyewear when glasses were truly luxury items that only a select few wealthy individuals could afford.
Back then, glasses weren't mass-produced and displayed in stores as they are today; each pair was bespoke. So, they were designed more like jewelry than everyday items, with intricate metal engravings, and because they were custom-made for each person, they were indeed smaller in size. I really love those metal frames.
The material used was an alloy plated with white gold. Of course, even though it's plating, it's what's called "gold-filled," meaning it has a considerably thick layer, so even on nearly 100-year-old vintage pieces, the plating rarely peels off.
Furthermore, the nose pads alone were made of solid white gold to prevent corrosion. These unique characteristics of items from that era offer a completely different kind of charm compared to modern glasses.
— For what kind of customers will you propose current glasses and vintage glasses, respectively?
Especially for customers who have been with us since the EYEVAN days, I definitely want to convey the appeal of vintage. I've always emphasized the importance of size, but by including vintage as an option, I believe we can help them further refine their fit.
Conversely, for those who love vintage, I'd like them to try EYEVAN 7285 and 10 eyevan. I believe they will be surprised by the thorough craftsmanship, high precision, and comfortable fit that you rarely see in current eyewear, offering a different kind of surprise than vintage.
I aim to propose a complementary relationship between EYAVAN's creations, which have the potential to surpass vintage, and vintage glasses, which possess a depth of character absolutely not found in current items.
