Factory900 concept glasses in collaboration with Aoyama Kogaku

Factory900 concepts have appeared here before and this one takes the last one to the extreme with these futuristic glasses-cum-head-bracelet.

Designed in collaboration with lens maker Aoyama Kogaku, the entire 360 degrees is made from lens material.

Below are a few Factory900 production models for 2012...

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Lotho handmade acetate sunglasses - you know Yuwano...

Lotho sunglasses are designed in Paris, handmade in Japan. I'm on a bit of role of being introduced to new names and Lotho is my latest happy find.

A young brand, Lotho has some great takes on classic styles such as (top down) Henry, Allie and Aroun (left).

But with this limited edition Yuwano, Lotho's designer, Coco, demonstrates an ability to create something bold and directional, bringing contrasting elements together to dramatic effect.

Oliver Goldsmith glasses from the 1960s to be re-launched this month

One of the biggest global names in eyewear, Oliver Goldsmith, will be launching retro models of his original glasses designs from the 1960s and 1970s by the end of April, Eye Wear Glasses can reveal.

To begin with they will be available only from David Clulow's Ledbury Road branch in Notting Hill.

Original retro sunglasses from Oliver Goldsmith were launched back in 2005 but, until now, Oliver Goldsmith retro glasses designs have only been available in Japan and the Far East, where the spectacles and brand, described below by A Oliver Goldsmith in a film for the Victoria & Albert Museum, are hugely popular.

These frames pictured are just a fraction of the 2009-10 collection. Exactly which models will be available in the West remains to be seen. All designs are exact copies of original designs, handmade in Japan from top quality acetate. Hover over the pictures above for model names, I've shown the black ones to highlight the great shapes but also shown some of the colours available.

Learn more about Oliver Goldsmith here...

Apropos of something: Propo Design spectacles from Japan

Propo Design spectacles from Japan, great acetates and metal frames. Propo has a boutique too, in Osaka.

Factory900 - high-quality Japanese acetate glasses with a difference

Am always on the lookout for great glasses brands that aren't necessarily available in Europe and the US so I  was pleased Mireito recommended I look at Factory900, a Japanese outfit with these exciting, futuristic designs.

Many of the best Western brands manufacture their frames in Japan, mainly because of the quality of the acetate finish available. Unsurprisingly Factory900 appears to have mastered the perfect finish.

New styles are due out in April so I'll keep checking back...

Monoqool - Danish eyewear with helter-skelter hinges

How's that for a hinge? Monoqool are a new glasses company, combining Japanese craftsmanship and technology with Danish design. It's a pretty unusual hinge, but I like it for its simplicity.

Welcome Monoqool, I'm sure we'll be hearing more on them in future.

Top is the Belle, the Helix hinge is 1.0mm stainless steel, which joins with a 0.6mm stainless steel front. And beneath that, the Lemur, made from 0.6mm beta-titanium.

Paul Smith glasses - great acetates, made in Japan

Josh wears Paul Smith 294 glasses - you can tell how great the acetate on these frames are. Made in Japan. The current Paul Smith eyewear collection from Oliver Peoples includes more great acetate colourways - I particularly like the Pirroni in grey smoke.