Page 15 - envision01-2021

/ mod. 3pm /

/ mod. Dutil Eyewear x Andy Dixon - Limited Edition /

“ If you put my frames up

against a classic brand you
Canada. He is a dual citizen who makes “Designing is something I wanted to do know the difference.
his home in Vancouver, with his wife, for so long. I was jealous that my friends “
Aki, and son, Nathan. A creative, restless, at Oliver Peoples produced something
visionary man, he is warm and that resonated with the consumer. I am
self-revealing. Oriented to music (he in love with being the instigator of a
allows that he is a ‘pretty good’ song product that is worn by human beings PORTRAIT OF A DESIGNER
writer), he is highly instinctual when it and enhances their self image. For me,
comes to business. this is a romantic notion: the idea that
As a sideline to his work in optical, in people are wearing concepts that came
2006 Dickstein decided to open a store from my mind will never get old for me.”
specializing in high-end denim in Dickstein named the eyewear brand
Vancouver’s Gastown. He had no Dutil, like his stores. He is the sole
previous experience in apparel and had designer, working in close cooperation
never owned a store of any kind. Named with his factory in Japan. He loves / mod. Brad Wilk /
Dutil, and extraordinarily successful the process of following his design
from the get-go, the store now has instincts and then eliciting input from his
locations in Vancouver, Toronto and staff, colleagues and the manufacturer. feel a certain way, like they might when
listening to a favourite song.”
Calgary. “When I am designing, I normally know
For his next act, Dickstein decided to exactly what I want, but I’m also looking Aiming for a middle ground between
Oliver Peoples and the avant-garde,
put his industry experience to work in for strong opposition from others, Dickstein has gained the respect of
his own optical store. He opened the so I can test my ideas. I ask for input high-end stockists across North America.
first Durant Sessions in Vancouver in from a lot of people — I’m not looking Now in his early 50s, he is happy to have
2015. The name is a nod to Dennis for positive feedback but, rather, fulfilled his ‘jealous’ dream. “If you put
Leight, who recorded Dickstein’s band considered criticism that challenges my frames up against a classic brand you
many years ago in his apartment on me. No one designs eyewear completely know the difference. I can’t explain it, but
Durant Street in Beverley Hills. There independently, right out of their head, I know it is true. Because I have stores
are two Durant Sessions stores in in the middle of the night. Design is a in which I carry a variety of brands,
Vancouver and one in L.A. collaborative process. At the same time, including Dutil, I know where we sit.
Designing eyewear was a dream of I can see nuances that others miss. Good I don’t want people to wear only Dutil,
Dickstein’s for many years, driven by design is not seen, so much as felt. I want but I’m incredibly happy, and satisfied,
jealousy and romantic passion: the consumer to put on my frame and when they do.” l
E

/ www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 / 15