Colors of Birch glasses: the Titanic eyewear collection in full

Colors of Birch has launched its full Titanic collection, as previewed in my 3D printing post here last week.

The other thing I haven't mentioned in relation to 3D printing is of course its potential for bespoke glasses, designed to fit and suit an individual face perfectly!

Top to bottom: Aristocrate, Emigrant, Sir, Sos, Champagne and Monocle.

The amazing Mykita Mylon 2012 collection: Nova ski sunglasses and more

While in Paris I realised I'd have to admit an error in a previous post, so this commentary on Mylon, Mykita's luxury sports line, is served with a significant side helping of humble pie.

Remember my post about 3D printing last week? While the frames from Colors of Birch are still, in my opinion, a game changer; they are not the first professional collection of 3D-printed eyewear.

My spekky heroes at Mykita have been using a 3D printing technique for glasses for three years and it launched collaborations with Bernhard Willhelm, Romain Kremer and Rad Hourani, all in Mylon last year. Whether this makes it first I know not. I even wrote about it in August 2010, but failed to realise it was the same (or a similar) manufacturing process. Mykita uses selective laser sintering – I know, I'm getting way too technical – and has now perfected and patented the way it dyes the frame to ensure a robust surface that is kind to the skin.

Top to bottom we have: Nova in sunshine, a sunglass cum ski goggle; Icco in peat; and Crison in the colour pitch. I've tried these on and believe me, they are some of the most comfortable frames ever. They're available in November.

The next post will be on Colors of Birch, as I now have more exciting images of what Pekka Salokannel's been up to!

3D printing for glasses: Colors of Birch brings first-of-their-kind shapes to eyewear

EXCLUSIVE

*Clears throat* Everybody, can I have your attention please?! Take a look at these frames. Welcome Colors of Birch to the world of eyewear.

And what a brave new world it becomes. Pekka Salokannel, a Finnish designer has come up with his first eyewear collection: Titanic. This is, I think, the first professional 3D-printedeyewear collection, a truly seminal moment.

3D printing is a manufacturing technology where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material, in this case Nylon. The collection comprises five and half frames (including one monocle!), designed in Finland and made in the Netherlands.

Obviously the temples are amazing, but those hinges are pretty exciting too, are they not? Forget those things you wear to the cinema; this is 3D eyewear!

Colors of Birch is launched on 3 October at the Finnoir exhibition in Paris. Hope to bring you more images soon.