Another d’Or opens

October 31, 2022 Lesley Springall

The 2022 Silmo d’Or awards were once again held at the exhibition centre, with a large and jubilant crowd, a gold-bedecked stage and stilt-walkers adding that touch of glitz and excitement the awards are so well known for.

 

This year’s Silmo marked a return to an almost pre-Covid scale, except for the obvious omission of around 220 smaller exhibitors from China who were still unable to attend, said Silmo director Eric Lenoir. But change is afoot, with plans to return to more glamorous award settings, but only every few years to mark special anniversaries, he said.

 

Silmo president Amélie Morel

 

However, the champagne and laughter flowed as the award winners made their way to the stage to be congratulated by Silmo president Amélie Morel and jury president, Belgian designer and architect, Jun Gobron. The winners were:

 

Children – Odette Lunettes, with ‘Cadet 1’ The first model of a 3D-printed collection for children aged 8 to 12, comprises an optical frame with a solar clip that interlocks like a construction game. Working in 3D allows Odette Lunettes to go beyond the limits of traditional eyewear techniques and to use a material perfectly suited to children due to its strength, flexibility and great ecological qualities, said the company.

 

 

 

Sport – Out Of, with ‘Bot with Irid lenses’ Out Of’s first sunglass collection uses the company’s award-winning electronic Irid technology. The lens’ solar cell powers a chip that adapts the liquid crystal film tint to light conditions in less than a second. “With our technology we are able to use only energy from the sun, achieving a lens that’s perfectly uniform and with no distortions,” said the company.

 

Vision – Shamir, with Shamir Metaform Metaform is a disruptive and eco-responsible manufacturing technology that upgrades the mechanical and physical features of lenses, including strength, weight and thickness, said Shamir. “Metaform revolutionises the anti-reflective coating process in a single step for eco-responsible production and a faster, more durable result, with reduced Newton’s rings. Metaform lenses are up to 18 times stronger than the FDA standard and 40% thinner and lighter than regular minus lenses.”

 

 

Low vision – Voxiweb, with ‘VoxiVision’ AI-based VoxiVision can read any type of text on any medium and in many languages, according to Voxiweb. It redefines the reading machine, at an affordable price, said the company, with ultra-reliable and fast text recognition, handwriting detection and automatic reading, fully controllable by voice or with simple hand gestures. “It’s truly transportable and usable anywhere,” said Voxiweb.

 

 

Optical frame (brands) – De Rigo, with ‘Philipp Plein VPP081’ Bold style in exclusive marbled-effect acetate, an iconic element of the brand, in three colour options, with a geometrical-shape faceted front and large temple with metal gold effect finishing.

 

 

Sunglasses (brands) – ADCL with ‘Christian Lacroix CL5108134’ This women's sunglasses frame represents an opportunity to enter the dreamlike world of Christian Lacroix, according to ADCL. A patchwork of shapes and colours, this frame offers an original design with an oversized acetate front and thin, wavy stainless steel temples signed ‘Lacroix’. The frame offers a subtle mix of geometric and floral patterns for a colourful, feminine and elegant look, said the company.

Technological Innovation in eyewear – Phibo Eyewear and So’Class, with ‘1.618 O’ A 100% French collaboration, Phibo eyewear and So'Class’ 1.618 O series is the first of its kind. Made with biocompatible silicone rubber and using a “revolutionary” mounting system, the ergonomic temple tips give the wearer an exceptional holding experience in all circumstances, said the company.

 

 

Technological innovation in connected products – Skugga, with Skugga Technology This complete and integrated patented eyewear technology platform allows communication and data exchange (position, temperature, humidity, UVA/UVB exposure, call notifications etc.) between the glasses and a smartphone/cloud with total privacy, said the company.

 

Sunglasses (designer) – Masahiro Maruyama, with ‘Kintsugi MM-0078’ The design depicts the irregular lines of kintsugi, a Japanese technique for reviving broken pottery. The lines bring new space to the frames and express the spirit of wabi-sabi – the acceptance of transience and imperfection – said the designer. “The front line, passing like lightning, gives an elegant and bold impression."

Optical frame (designer) – Kirk & Kirk, with ‘Thor in citrus from the Centiles collection’ The Kirk & Kirk collection is handmade in acrylic in France. Despite its thickness and presence, having been laminated in two complementary colours, Thor weighs almost nothing and pairs a vintage '80s touch with hyper-modern style.

Special jury prize – Neubau, with ‘Xenon’ Neubau’s capsule collection incorporates mirrored lenses and high-contrast colour schemes. Their futuristic appearance is underpinned by ultramodern sustainable technologies, said the company. “Each pair is 3D-printed using the brand’s 100% plant-based material, natural3D. The finishing touch is a linear titanium element, a fascinating detail which adds a colourful spark.”

 

 

Premiere Classe – Parasite Design, with ‘Karma’ Karma frames are halfway between eyewear and jewellery, designed to be combined with necklaces, earrings, pendants and other ornaments, said the company. “The multitude of combinations creates unique ornaments, in line with the emerging trend of face jewellery.”