Wellington, Boston, Crown Panto... These shapes have been released by various brands as eyewear trends over the past decade, and it's no exaggeration to say that everyone recognizes them now.
Each of these shapes is iconic and distinctive, and I'm sure many of you can vividly recall the mood of those times when you look back at them.
However, the eyewear we're proposing this time is a little different. It's an oval shape that was popular from the 90s to the 00s, when I entered the eyewear industry, but is now rarely seen.
Indeed, there are very few brands actively releasing oval-shaped eyewear today.
However, this year, a certain maison brand released an oval model in collaboration with an eyewear specialty brand, and I think it's perfectly understandable why Nakagawa, the designer of EYEVAN 7285, would say, "The next big thing will be oval."
Precisely because it has been almost forgotten for nearly 20 years, isn't it now worthy of attention? Let me introduce EYEVAN 7285's 197, which features such an oval shape.
The oval shape is tricky in terms of size; if the vertical width of the lens is even slightly too large, it can suddenly look old-fashioned and clumsy. The refined lens shape, which strikes this delicate balance, was carefully sampled from a lens shape catalog from the 1940s. By designing many other parts in straight lines, the overall impression is very modern.
At first glance, it might seem almost too simple, but this is EYEVAN 7285 after all. There are uncompromising details visible throughout that will surely be appreciated by anyone who holds it.
First, let's look at the hinge. The titanium temples are riveted with titanium parts, a fastening method rarely seen elsewhere. The method of passing a metal pin through the temple and riveting it on the back is standard for acetate frames. However, it is almost unheard of to use this fastening method for metal frames, where soldering is the common technique.
By daring to do so, this simple metal frame is transformed into a unique piece with unparalleled character.
Furthermore, the endpiece, which connects the temple to the rim, is not simply bent at a right angle, but is cleverly bent inward with a slight indentation.
This not only suppresses outward protrusion when viewed from the front, but also makes fitting much easier for each wearer. It's one of EYEVAN 7285's details that can be described as functional beauty, not just for ornamental appearance.
To match the classic and sophisticated impression of the eyewear, minus screws were adopted for the hinges. The hinges, riveted with a total of four pins, have a strong presence even amidst the bold, distressed plating color.
AFTER offers 4 colors in total, including a finish with a bold, distressed appearance. This texture, as if the glasses have been used for many years and have countless scratches, has been achieved with modern plating techniques.
Despite the impression of significant scratches, the texture is completely smooth to the touch. Furthermore, despite all this processing, the parts of the hinge and rivets are meticulously polished with precise craftsmanship.
From these fresh contrasts, you might sense a sophistication similar to the vintage processing found in maison brands.
Rather than excessively dramatizing the worldview, a modest finish that steps back half a pace quietly enhances the wearer's own style.
The best thing about the oval shape, more than anything, is that it suits everyone. But precisely for this reason, the subtle nuances of the lens shape and the precisely crafted details make all the difference.
This is precisely what EYEVAN 7285 excels at: accumulating details that are surely conveyed to the person who picks them up, even if the design doesn't overtly assert itself.
EYEVAN 7285 releases about 10 new models every season. This 197, though particularly unique among the 24SS collection, also holds the potential to become the next standard.
