Slimline sunglasses, according to Elle Magazine, are having a moment right now, and "It Girls" are wearing the rage with Miu Miu and Versace in tow, among other iconic brands. But for stalwarts of the classic aviator shape, the go-to brand is good, ol' RayBan – although as the brand's purveyors would beg to differ: the names had always been associated with bold, disruptive innovations.

Consider the latest from this 1937-born label: two groundbreaking additions to the Ray-Ban family — Ray-Ban Reverse and Ray-Ban Ferrari.

"RayBan is always innovating, something or another. For instance, Ray-Ban Reverse is the first concave lenses in the history of eyewear. The lens shape is change in itself. Ferrari is the other example. RayBan has been associated with being an iconic fashion brand, but with Ferrari, they have taken it up many notches higher. They're now connecting performance with fashion!," Mini Paul, senior brand manager at House of Branded Lifestyle, Inc., told Daily Tribune.

With the release of the Reverse collection — made up of "four unisex sunglass styles — aviator, caravan, wayfarer and boyfriend — featuring an impossible new lens, completely reversed" — RayBan once more proves its boldness. The unusual shape of the lens from convex to concave delivers "a universal fit tailored to diverse ergonomic needs," the brand states.

For the Ray-Ban Ferrari, materials used "had never been used in RayBan pieces," Paul added.

"Crafted with Liteforce and Carbon Fiber materials, it combines superior lightness, flexibility and durability. Liteforce, used in aeronautics, ensures unbeatable wearability, while Carbon Fiber's strength-to-weight ratio delivers unmatched comfort," RayBan information says.

"For generations, Ray-Ban has always raised the bar by reinventing what eyewear can do for consumers. Ray-Ban continues to leverage the power of our iconicity while bringing innovation and tech to our classic styles, and time and time again, we make sure that we bring this to the Filipinos," added Paul, senior brand manager at House of Branded Lifestyle Inc., the name behind bringing Ray-Ban to the Philippines.

Check out the brand in all SM Departments stores and Vision Express branches for three month-long promotions including a chance to win a trip for two to Abu Dhabi for F1 Grand Prix this November 2023.

Investment pieces with a twist
In another part of town last week, two luxury Japanese labels were formally launched at Mitsukoshi Mall's ground floor.

What's noteworthy about SNIDEL and FRAY I.D. are their designs' ability to trek between classic and trendy – or, as the retail group Federal Retail Holdings, Inc. describes it, their "knack for bridging modernism, functionality and art."

As explained to DAILY TRIBUNE by FRHI president Mae Jeanjaquet, "We wanted to bring this brand into the Philippines basically because we know they're really popular in Japan. It has opened a couple of branches in other Asian countries and one in New York. We felt that the pieces were really different from what we normally find locally, and they really give confidence and empower the wearer. We wanted all Filipinas to experience that."

The market for FRAY I.D., meanwhile, "is a little more mature," she adds. "It really is for the woman who wants to feel empowered and wants to make her presence felt when she enters the room. They're cut more tailored, so to speak."

SNIDEL's DNA is more playful and speaks of a "street meets formal" concept catering to a younger demographic.

The event also showcased the style aesthetic of the brand ambassadors, Tricia Gosingtian (for SNIDEL) and Camille Co (for FRAY I.D), respectively.
Jeanjaquet adds, "We have always known that Japanese brands are made with the utmost craftsmanship and quality. Japan, while an understatement, has been the industry leader for a long time in fashion, especially street fashion; particularly the subcultures of minimalism, Lolita, cute or Kawaii."

The latest collections are available at the store. Trends to watch are the ruffles for SNIDEL, and structured pieces of FRAY I.D.