Interview: Jean-Marc Virard : The RIGARDS co-founder on his lifelong passion for eyewear and the brand’s balance between avant-garde and wearable

Interview: Jean-Marc Virard


RIGARDS may be the new kid on the independent eyewear block but there is no ounce of hesitation in the bold statement they’re making. Their handcrafted matte horn frames strike a perfect balance between avant-garde and wearable, serving as an antithesis to factory-produced…

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A Cyclist Must-Have

Inspired by the high number of cyclist accidents in his native Portland, Oregon, designer Toren Orzeck developed the Orp combination horn/light to make cyclists not only more visible but “hearable.” The USB rechargeable, weatherproof design adapts to any standard handlebar and focuses on the concept of “here and hear” to provide a strobe-adjustable light and sound ranging from a friendly 76 decibels to a piercing 96 decibels to alert drivers of the cyclist’s presence. Simple and genius!
Designer: Toren Orzeck


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(A Cyclist Must-Have was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Orp Smart Horn: Saving lives with a teched-out bike horn

Orp Smart Horn

Taking back the road one head-turning honk at a time, the Orp Smart Horn hopes to curb biker incidents with a redesign of the classic bike bell. Currently raising funds through Kickstarter, the “Smorn” is the brainchild of Tory Orzeck, founder of Portland’s Fuse industrial design studio, who saw…

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Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Here are some photos of the latest collection of Sire spectacle frames, which are made of water buffalo horn.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Designed by Zurich studio Aekae and manufactured by Swisshorn, the frames are made by hand from thin laminated layers of horn.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Aekae showed the first six Sire frames on Dezeen back in 2009 and have since expanded the range to 18 frames for sunglasses and correctional lenses, all with the same distinctive gap between the lenses at the nose bridge.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Check out our top ten stories about spectacles and shades here.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Stills are by Sandra Kennel. Portraits are by Nadine Ottawa.

Here are some more details from Aekae:


SIRE – handcrafted natural horn eyewear

Origin

A Sire was a Gentleman of rank, a Nobleman of certain esteem. He was a man of authority, a Cavalier, a Knight. It was from the 13th century on that Sire was used as a title to address someone of high regard.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

And as such, a Sire had the ambition to only wear what was of refined quality and unique appearance, whereat he would always find it made by the hands of the best craftsmen.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

At SIRE we aim to pursue those traditions and cater to them with craftsmanship, sharp designs, and fine materials – to be worn by Noblemen and Gentlewomen.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Crafting

Each single piece of SIRE eyewear is handcrafted out of natural horn in collaboration between Aekae and Swisshorn.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

A small manufacturing company in the midlands of Switzerland, Swisshorn has been working with the high-value material for years. It produced numerous prototypes of SIRE spectacles before the first line had been launched.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Designing the eyewear, Aekae builds on the tradition of using natural horn as a working material for premium objects. The spectacles’ open part just above the nose has made for a capturing feature ever since the first pieces.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

By bringing together their respective skills and impressions, Aekae and Swisshorn create something truly noble and unique.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Natural Horn

SIRE spectacles are hand crafted into exquisite eyewear from water buffalo horn. This mighty animal is South-East Asia’s most common livestock and can grow horns up to two meters in length. And once a water buffalo has deceased its horns can be used in creating long lasting products.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Swisshorn hand selects every single piece of horn used in manufacturing SIRE spectacles. Because it is a natural material, each piece of horn differs in color and pattern – and therefore makes each frame unique.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Manufacturing

Take something rough and turn it into something smooth and elegant. This is what happens in the process of making SIRE eyewear. And it happens in numerous steps, almost entirely by hand.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Initially thin layers of horn are laminated to plates from which the frame of the spectacle is cut out of. In several steps the frame and its earpieces are crafted and polished. After they’ve been brought into perfect shape the separate pieces are put together. With the use of a laser each frame then receives its individual number of reference that is unique to every single SIRE frame.

Sire by Aekae and Swisshorn

Finally, the lenses are inserted. Here the open nose part takes advantage of the material’s natural flexibility. To secure the glass, a special thread is pulled through the opening at the nose.

SIRE glasses by Aekae

Zurich and London designers Aekae have designed a collection of glasses made of water buffalo horns. (more…)