Expressing your identity

How many pairs of glasses and sunglasses do you own?

Well, I don’t wear opticals but in terms of sunglasses, we have a whole showroom full of them so it’s nice to be able to switch around.

Do you have a favourite pair and can you describe them?

My current personal favourite is the ‘Mercer’ black blue – a stainless steel frame in black with bright blue lenses.

What frame shapes, colours or look do you usually go for?

For me eyewear is a way to express your identity. At Komono that means bold colour choices and strong, contemporary shapes. When we designed the autumn/winter 2018 collection, we used the idea of ‘true colours’ as inspiration. The Elementary collection’s ‘CMYK’ lenses and thin optical shapes speak to a life lived authentically – that’s the most important thing for me.

"I wouldn’t say I have a style icon – style is personal. I wear what I do because it’s comfortable"

Who would you pick as your style icon and why?

I wouldn’t say I have a style icon – style is personal. I wear what I do because it’s comfortable. But, if I had to pick one? A$AP Rocky.

What eyewear trends are exciting you at the moment?

For this upcoming season, I’m really proud of what we have achieved with the Elementary collection. In our opticals range, we now offer Elementary in rose gold and copper. For acetates, we’ve embraced our True colours campaign, bringing in fresh shades like powder pink, scarlet, lilac and sage.

What’s the most important thing to consider when designing eyewear?

I would say innovative materials, as well as a light and comfortable feel are the definition of a great pair of glasses.

What are your top three tips for customers choosing their frames?

1. Choose what kind of material is the most comfortable for you: after all, you’ll be wearing it every day
2. Choose a shape that fits both your face and your prescription: your optician can help you with that
3. Choose more than one pair. If you wear opticals every day, sometimes it’s nice to mix up your style. A fresh frame is a great way to do that.

What makes Komono’s style unique?

The Komono team is constantly driven by innovation and therefore we focus on contemporary styles and making luxury accessible.

What was the inspiration behind Komono?

We focused on distribution first and realised we could be using the experience and feedback to create something of our own. After seeing a change in the fashion market, we used those experiences and decided to create Komono.

What makes Belgium an exciting prospect in the eyewear industry and optical profession?

We are very proud of being a true Belgian brand. Antwerp is the home of many of today’s most influential designers and brands.

Can you identify the biggest influence of Komono’s success and how it helped to develop the company?

There are many influences so it’s hard to pin point them. But I’d say that one important factor is that we wanted to create a contemporary and luxurious product that would still be sold at a reasonable price. The response has been so positive; that’s why we are driven to keep growing and evolving.