Wescan Unveils Evatik Sunwear for the Sophisticated Urban Male

Wescan Optical, a division of Westgroupe, has unveiled at Vision Expo West inLas Vegas,Nevada, its new Evatik Sunwear line. The official launch is slated for February 2012.

A sophisticated combination of high-quality fabrications, lightweight materials and uncompromised engineering, Evatik Sunwear captures the true essence of distinct style. The inaugural collection consists of 18 models in stainless steel and acetate, with diverse eye shapes ranging from the modern rectangle to vintage aviator styles. Intricate temple detailing and two-toned colouring infuse each masterfully crafted frame with a masculine elegance.  

“Men’s eyewear can traditionally be divided into two distinct categories: fashion and technical,” explainsBeverly Suliteanu, creative director and vice president of product development at Wescan Optical. “By marrying cutting-edge technology with fashion-forward styling, Evatik Sunwear defies traditional convention and offers today’s urban male the ultimate accessory to express and enhance his personal style.”

Dually inspired by fashion and performance, Evatik Sunwear perfectly blends modern, masculine styling with superior lens capabilities. With function at the forefront, all lenses are 6-base, allowing for 100% RX-ability. All models are available with CR-39 and polarized lenses, providing the consumer with a choice of lens options to best fit their needs. Regardless of the material, all lenses are hydrophobic, and have a built-in scratch -resistant coating, 100% UVA and UVB protection, and a backside 7- layer anti-reflective coating. The innovative cast-in technology creates a structurally stronger and longer lasting lens.

Each pair of Evatik Sunwear frames includes a folding, hard case and an attractively designed Evatik cleaning cloth. Retailers will enjoy a range of supportive marketing materials, including a nameplate, mirror, banner, counter cards, and 3- and 6-piece displays.

Introducing the Carbon Fiber Collection by Optiq

The name says it all. Optiq’s latest collection, Carbon Fibre, consists of six men’s models in a variety of semi-rimless and metal, using carbon fibre as a key design element. The material, lighter than aluminium but stronger than steel, continues to be popular.

Designs include a weave accented on the temple, as in semi-rimless model 5652, or an inlaid weave in a black metal square frame, as in model 5651.

The styling in this collection is ‘urban industrial’, which appeals to men who are looking for a look that is modern and enduring. The Carbon Fibre collection is affordable because, while Optiq’s models are made in the same factories as expensive designer brands, they cost a lot less.

Bling is the thing with Image Café

Bright, bold and bling all define the Image Café collection from Optiq.  The new additions include in-your-face colours from burgundy to gold and cover all of this year’s top eyewear trends like big bold, semi rimless and thin wired.

Model 5777 gives a movie star look and feel with just enough “bling” on the outside temple.  As Madonna once said “I always thought I should be treated like a star.” Image café frames give women that high fashion look.

New LineArt Charmant Canon Collection Builds on Simple Elegance

LineArt Charmant will provide eyewear with surprising wearing comfort and style in the new Canon Collection. By expanding its offering with more style options, this line, distributed inCanadaby Perfect Optical, will appeal to an even larger female audience.

Unique, smart and sophisticated women who seek a simple paired-down elegance that fit their ophthalmic frame will be satisfied by a piece of art that suits their lifestyle and attitude.

The harmony between the set of four delicate Excellence Titan strings and little cubes expresses a modern and simple elegance with a variety of touches, such as monotone or two-tone finishes, as well as feminine matte and lustrous colours.

Rimless styles have the thinnest titanium pieces that mount lenses using Charmant’s original Pressure Mount System and the frame provides long-lasting wearing comfort and a surprising lightness, while being secure and fitting gently. This creates a symphony between the natural beauty of the wearer and the frame.

The front designs of the nylor or rimless style includes rectangular lens designs for small faces or medium-sized faces, as well as a refined shape of a slight cat-eye for progressive lens users.

Mizyake Couture Features 6 New Models for Men.

The new models, designed inJapanand distributed by Optika Eyewear, are made with a mix of acetate and stainless steel, materials that are used for the first time by Mizyake. The frames designed for rugged use by men, feature a light weight durable stainless steel construction.

The model 4148 provides a distinguished business man look, featuring laser cut out designs on temples, which do not obstruct side visibility.

Other models feature full rim, stainless steel front, with a mix of bold side temple designs and excellent progressive lens depth for men.

Ronor International and Eschenbach Optik GmbH have renewed their distribution agreement of Humphrey’s, Brendel, Marc O’Polo and Fineline eyewear for five years. The contract extends Ronor International’s exclusive Canadian distribution rights of these popular German collections.

“Our customers rely on the quality and diversity of these frames to meet their patients’ needs for style and endurance and Ronor International and Eschenbach Optik GmbH have pledged to provide it for years to come,” explains Robert Charbonneau, founder and president of Ronor International. “We’re dedicated to offering our clients an enjoyable, worry-free experience.”

Ronor is the leading per capita distributor in units for Eschenbach outside of Germany. Charbonneau attributes this success to several key points. “The Eschenbach/Ronor alliance has always been strong as a result of our commonalities: both companies are strategic operators with great respect for one another and a commitment to ensuring not only our mutual success, but also the success of the eyecare professionals we ultimately serve. When you factor in the knowledge, longevity and dedication of our sales force, you have an unbeatable combination!”

Eschenbach Optik GmbH is a subsidiary of Eschenbach Group, a long-time leader in the optical and technical drawing instruments industry. Over the last few decades, Eschenbach products have received numerous awards for excellent product design, such as Design Center Stuttgart, Museum of Modern Art New York, Red Dot Award, Silmo d’Or Award and International Design Award Baden-Würtemberg.

As well, the company has won various product tests and trade magazine awards.

Optika Eyewear expands its Mizyake collection with 15 new styles for men and ladies featuring bold new spring/summer colours. Combinations include black on aqua, violet on yellow and green on black. “We’ve extensively used two-tone colour association to bring out facial highlights, such as black on blue to emphasise beautiful blue eyes, or black on brown for brown eyes,” says Optika sales Vice President Richard Allan.

Models present detailed temple cut-outs combined with smaller temple width for better side visibility. All are in stainless steel for super-light-weight construction and increased durability.

Distinctive Designer Eyewear is the proud distributor of its premier line, Native Legend. This speciality line of eyewear showcases original artwork by renowned aboriginal artist Joseph T. Calder. His 50-plus years of experience enhance designs that were exclusively created for the Native Legend line. Bear, eagle, wolf and more adorn each frame and bring to life the incredible legends celebrating the beauty of Canadian wildlife.

The line consists of 10 models for men and women designed to fit all prescription options. The frames are available in varying styles, materials, sizes and colours for a complete collection of 18 pieces.

The beauty of a Native Legend frame is guaranteed for one year and comes with a custom case, microfibre cleaning cloth, gift box, bag and info card (depicting the legend of each specific animal).

Distinctive Designer Eyewear is committed to ongoing POP support for this collection to keep things fresh. Currently, POP material to support the Native Legend line includes display stands, posters, etc., with the promise of new and exciting ongoing material.

TAG Heuer Avant-Garde Eyewear has received for the third time the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for one of its premium eyewear designs — this time, the L-TYPE LW, the latest in the leading-edge L-TYPE series.

The Red Dot Award is one of the world’s most coveted product design awards.  Presented byGermany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, it is named after theRedDotMuseuminEssen, where the annual prize ceremony takes place. Winners this year were selected from more than 11,000 entries from 60 countries by a 27-member jury of world-renowned industrial designers.

The L-Type LW (Lightweight) is one of the most advanced products ever produced by TAG Heuer Eyewear. A showcase of the brand’s pioneering innovations in eyewear, it combines new materials and technology with superlative ergonomics and comfort, and the finest traditions of luxury craftsmanship.

Launched in February 2011, the L-Type LW is handmade inFranceat the eyewear manufacture located in Morez, in theJura Mountains. Many of its technological components come from the aeronautics and automobile industries: fiber-reinforced polymer lenses, pure titanium bridge and hinge, ceramic-coated 3D titanium temples, 100% carbon frame and dual-injection molded elastomer tips. The patented autoflex nose pads self-adjust to every face type, assuring optimum non-skid hold. The unbreakable lenses are 100% UVA and UVB protected and available for prescription eyeglasses and prescription or non-prescription sunglasses. The choice of luxury leathers — perforated calfskin, python or alligator — is unprecedented. Light, strong and sporty, the L-Type LW fuses exceptional design with the ultimate in precision. Like every TAG Heuer product launched since 1860, it reflects the brand’s unique sporting heritage and unswerving commitment to the avant-garde.

The line is distributed inCanadaby Importlux.

COS, the official Canadian distributor of Silhouette, has created a fresh approach for eyecare professionals to build their business. The Silhouette Joint Business Plan is a partnership between COS and their customers. The promotion offers ECPs to participate in a planned marketing campaign that is paid by the brand. This initiative is organized to benefit both parties.

In today’s Canadian market, the economy has slowed down and larger retailers are gaining new consumers with their competitive prices. The growing popularity of the Internet and online shopping also threatens the ECPs’ business. “According to our latest participation in a Print Measurement Bureau (PMB) survey  (Return to Sample), we have identified different locations where consumers shop for prescription eyeglasses” states marketing director of COS, Manuel Magini. The survey concluded that 13% of consumers shop at large retailers and 2% shop around the Web. ECP need to understand and address these current trends within the industry.

To implement this marketing campaign, COS has acquired databases in research and findings from PMB, BBM and Generation 5 to better understand the different market dynamics. Based on the research results,  the company has created a strategic concept and have acquired media placements that will most effectively reach their target market. COS will be targeting new and returning customers during the marketing campaign. The promotion will be communicated through various touch points surrounding the use of the web and a microsite. Traditional touch points include radio ads, public relations and in-store promotions.

To get a quick glimpse of the marketing campaign, COS invites you to visit betransparent.ca. Eyecare professionals who are interested in further information concerning the Silhouette Joint Business Plan should contact their regional Silhouette sales representative.