Developed by the original leaders in safety eyewear and a first for the safety industry, the Armourx Collection combines fashion and unique designs for safety eyewear in the workplace. With an extensive background in creating eyewear that is fashion-forward and high in quality craftsmanship, the Armourx collection is both stylish and functional.

Each frame is third-party tested for standardized eye protection in the workplace. The Armourx collection combines 21 safety frames that are stylish and protective, from Wrap-Rx to Metro and Classic to Basic. Each frame has permanent or detachable side shields, with features like spring hinges, smaller fits, comfort bridges. They are available in traditional colours such as black, grey and brown and trendy colours like green, purple and burgundy.

The Metro line is for the fashion conscious, like the retro nerd and bling diva, who want the latest in fashion trends. The Classic collection encompasses the timeless designs of safety eyewear and the Basic line keeps it simple and budget-friendly.

Armourx feature frames are from the Wrap-Rx line, made of quality Trogamid^®CX, a top-quality material in the safety industry; it is abrasion-, scratch- and stress-cracking-resistant. Models 6000 and 6001 are available in eight colours, with integrated side shield protection and attachable dust bar or cushion accessory. This collection, with clear or tinted lenses, is perfect for indoor and outdoor safety protection.

Renoir and his fellow Impressionists saw great potential in the bold use of colour as a tool of personal and naturalistic expression. Among the strongest pigments in the Impressionist arsenal, pure royal blue has been used since the early 19^th century to add a splash of luxurious colour, evoking a feeling of adventurous style. This vibrant hue makes its presence known in a large variety of Ogi styles, most brilliantly demonstrated with the 4800, the 7148, the 9200, and the 9076. Each frame emulates an artistic sophistication and has a fashionable flair that personifies Ogi Eyewear. Bright cobalt, metallic azure, and sky blue hues blend with multifaceted tortoise colour combinations to present each style with brilliant colouring and an individualized expression.

Ogi Eyewear’s 7148 debuts with a smoothly carved bridge and a colour infused camouflage palette. Offered in green, blue, brown, or red, the 7148’s matte translucent front bonds beautifully with boldly coloured camouflage temples. A slight cat eye silhouette gives the 7148 a feminine sophistication with a vibrant attitude.

The 9200 makes a bold entrance into Ogi Eyewear’s collection of combination frames with a vibrant colour palette. Hues of rich violet, cobalt blue, deep brown, or fiery red envelop the marbled acetate and colour saturated metal eye wire of the 9200. Accompanied by an arched brow, the adjustable nose pads of the 9200 offer customizable comfort while never sacrificing flavorful fashion.

GUESS Eyewear presents a Tween collection that overflows with vibrant colours, bold silhouettes and unique features. The twelve piece optical selection is defined by playful details and bright hues that are sure to get the attention of every GUESS boy and girl this summer.

Bold color treatments compliment the GU 9092, which showcases a mix of pastel tints on the temples to add a funky contrast to a more classic metal modified rectangular frame. Additionally, a new handwritten GUESS logo is prominently displayed in bright colours graffiti-style on the translucent temple.

GUESS boys have their pick of casually cool frames this season with fresh details and eye-catching hues. The GU 9104 offers GUESS boys a preppy, oversized modified square shape in fun contrasting colour block options such as black and blue, blue and yellow and black and grey.

Concept Eyewear recently released a new model, 5673 Mantis, within it’s V.Design collection. The flowing lines and leaf-like formations on the frame are inspired by the shapes found in nature.

The superior durability of the finish is achieved by having the frames hand-painted and baked twice versus the industry standard of just once. The French brand’s exciting new release is available in four eyecatching colours.

Essilor and Sàfilo have announced a ten-year licensing agreement for the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution by Essilor of polarized ophthalmic lenses under the Polaroid brand for use with eyewear products in general.

Polarized sunwear is recognized for bringing superior vision comfort, reducing glare and increasing contrast while maintaining true color perception and clarity. Although consumer satisfaction with polarized lenses is very high, this market only represents 20 per cent of the total sunwear market in the world today.

Essilor is convinced that there is an important need to raise awareness amongst ECPs and consumers about the need to protect their eyes from the sun and UV hazards. This includes promotion of all available solutions, including sun prescription and polarized lenses.

Hubert Sagnières, Chairman and CEO of Essilor, said: “We are delighted to team up with Safilo for the worldwide development and promotion of Polaroid lenses. The strength of the Polaroid brand is a key lever in drawing people’s attention to the importance of protecting their eyes from the sun and in growing the polarized category within the mainstream consumer segment. This new collaboration will allow us to bring together Essilor’s strong know-how and leadership in ophthalmic lenses with Polaroid’s strong brand recognition”

Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Sàfilo Group, commented: “We are very proud to start this long-term partnership with Essilor, a company that has been driven by innovation in the development of lenses for more than 160 years. We consider this project an extraordinary opportunity for Polaroid not only to confirm its credibility and worthiness as a reference brand for the protection and improvement of eyesight, but also to extend its application to eyesight correction, in order to offer consumers throughout the world best-in-class products.”

The Swedish company Scandinavian Eyewear has partnered with the independent lab Barrie Ophthalmic to offer a complete frame and lens package — an attractive alternative for eyecare professionals.

This new bundle is a premium offer in the budget category. The partnership was developed to offer a convenient, easy-to-sell, quality product at a competitive price and with quick service. Orders placed before noon can be delivered the next business day to most locations across Canada.

The package is available with single vision or progressive lenses, including AR coating, and Scandinavian Eyewear’s .SE line of frames.

Designing glasses since 1948, Scandinavian Eyewear has a heritage and history with which few eyewear brands can compare. With its classic Skaga brand, created over the years by a number of renowned Swedish designers, the company has made its mark on Scandinavian eyewear and is today a market leader in that sector.

Barrie Ophthalmic is an independent lab offering full surfacing and edging facilities, providing services to professionals for over 20 years. As an independent lab, the goal is to create limitless options by providing lenses from all major manufacturers.

Tura launches the Ted Baker “Just Kidding” kids eyewear collection. Eight ophthalmic styles for boys and girls are available for customers who want fashion-forward kids’ eyewear without the luxury price tag.

Known as the quintessentially British brand, Ted Baker eyewear is best described as quirky yet commercial with high-quality design detailing. The “Just Kidding” collection is a downsized version of the adult frames. Many styles mix retro with a contemporary flare, playful bright colours and signature bows. All models have spring hinges and sizing is for kids only.

Highlights from the collection include:

B906 Bow Road– Girl’s full acetate frame with laminates. Saleable colours on the front with very bright pop colours on the interior. Deeper yet soft flattering shape with a small metal bow on the front temporal corners – a quirky nod to retro pin hinges.

B911 High Gate – Girl’s contemporary, full rim metal frame with a three-dimensional bow at the hinge. Bold and cute with a playful girly spirit.

B910 Mile End – Boy’s updated retro, full acetate frame, using fresh laminate materials with pop colours in the middle layer, creating a modern racing stripe around the frame.

B908 Sloane Square– Unisex retro P3 acetate frame with a keyhole bridge. Pop colours on the interior. For the cool city kid who wants to stand out.

“The Ted Baker ‘Just Kidding’ collection has mischief and humor, but it also celebrates individuality,” says Tura Vice President of Brand Management Jennifer Coppel. “The new styles are hip, bold and tailored.”

The Ted Baker “Just Kidding” brand will be sold exclusively at independent ophthalmic retailers across Canada.

Plan B Eyewear’s quintessential women’s line, Ice Cream, introduces its newest designs to the collection. Featuring the iconic pop of colour that makes ice cream so delicious, these new styles are lightweight and streamlined, while still maintaining that fun and sexy feel that defines the brand.

A new rubberized coating has been incorporated on the 8948 and 8949, giving them a soft, velvety-feel. This makes these frames incredibly comfortable and creates a nice matte finish.

The 8946 and 8947, composed of stainless steel, offer a sleeker, shinier look that incorporates laser cut outs to create flattering lines and dimension while remaining light, flexible and feminine.

Other new models, such as the 8941 and 8943 incorporate stunning acetate inlays that give these frames a real fashion accessory feel. Interesting colour marbling and painstaking attention to detail create head turning pieces that feel simultaneously classic and new.

All of these new models offer an array of gorgeous colour including summery pinks, purples and a hot lime green. The deep B measurement, petite sizing and trend-right designs make these frames a must have for today’s fashion-conscious modern woman.

mod. K-39

When summer is in the air, Back to School planning can’t be too far behind.   Just in time and always on trend, Match Eyewear Canada introduces 7 new ophthalmic styles from the Float Kids collection, including 1 unisex, 4 girl’s and 2 boy’s models.

As a rule in fashion, the hottest trends for adults quickly translate into the coolest looks for kids, and eyewear is no exception.  The new Float Kids line follows that rule by combining adult-inspired designs with fresh and fun styling to create distinctive looks for kids to call their own.  ‘It’s all in the styling,’ says Ethan Goodman, President of Match Eyewear Canada.  ‘The design process doesn’t vary much from adults to children.  It’s the exciting and playful combination of colors, patterns and detailing that really lets kids express their own style.’  The 7 new releases from Float Kids are a tribute to that philosophy.

Girls’ style KP-234, in polished acetate, is a funky take on geek chic, with bold geometric shaping, multi-layered colour blocking and interior floral temple graphics.  Not to be outdone by the girls, boys’ model K-39 features a rim wire front and grooved temples in polished stainless, embedded with logo-embossed rubber circles.  K-38 is a sleek unisex look in richly colored matte metal, with rectangular eye wires and tapered temples with a carved and notched texture and logo detailing.  The entire Float Kids collection is meticulously crafted from sturdy components, providing function and fashion to cool, active kids.

Match Eyewear Canada will feature the newly released models in integrated marketing efforts.  Available merchandising includes logo plaques, 1 and 3 piece displays, hanging posters and counter cards.  All Float Kids products are accompanied by protective cases and branded cleaning cloths.

Together with Optiq Frames, Match Eyewear Canada offers a diverse portfolio of fashion eyewear brands, including Adrienne Vittadini, Danny Gokey, Helium Paris, Float Titanium, Float Kids, Match Eyewear, Respec, Urban, Minimize, Minimize Kids, Image Café, CAT, Monika Schnarre, a.k.a., Sutton and Optiq Sun.  Focused on design, style and craftsmanship, Match Eyewear Canada deliver premium eyewear collections at accessible price points.