This is a bold homage to three decades of the brand and a celebration of contemporary eyewear with a difference-the Face a Face F Collection. Going against the flow, the collection originated from strong personality lines, shades of brilliant colors, architectured volumes and a meticulous spirit of artistic experimentation. The most interesting thing about the F Collection is that it has an air of nostalgia fused into futuristic creation; retro-inspired silhouettes are then reinvented with futuristic detailing and modern finishes to create frames that feel both known and entirely new at the same time.
Face à Face then throws open the doors towards the inner workings of conceptual architectural and sculptural forms in this collection. As such, each of the frames is conceived as a three-dimensional object, where layered or folded areas of acetate add depth and movement to the very surface. Color is layered, fractured, cut in such a way as to add playful optical effects on the face. The juxtaposition of elements – burnt oranges and translucent greens, deep emerald with flares of fuchsia, soft neutrals interrupted by neon – brings each frame to life and reinforces the expressive function of the collection.
Under the clear-cut focus of craftsmanship regarding material quality, the precise surfaces and edges of the structures made of acetate and metal are shaped in such a way as to achieve sharp angles and to create smooth contours, always retaining a perfectly balanced fit. The hinges are incorporated understatedly so that nothing interrupts the pure graphic line of the frame. This approach results in a quality design underscored further by the Origine France Garantie certification that ascertains
that the component passed through the hands of expert artisans in France.
Indeed, the dynamic pulse of the collection runs through every one of its styles to form a fluid narrative. The fronts play with contrasts–fluid versus rigid, curved versus linear–while temples become graphic statements of color and proportion. This collection is all about honoring individuality and personal expression, allowing a bold face without sacrificing elegance.
FLICKER
FLICKER brings rhythm and lively action to the collection, with geometric precision meeting brilliant color blocking. Creating the front, the layered acetate forms a sort of pixel-like flicker of contrasting hues, which animates the frame with unexpected brightness. Angled edge-work and slightly elevated brow lines emphasize the eyes and create an expressive visual structure. Though the graphic language is strong, FLICKER is lightweight and ergonomically designed. It has a clean and architectural feel. Therefore, this minimized retro-modern reference with color experiments makes it ideal for the wearer who wants to express her boldness with a refined touch.
FRAMED
FRAMED is all about composition and balance. Taking inspiration from the idea of framing a work of art, this design has a strong bold border effect around the lens edge, defining a signature which is subtle but powerful to a certain extent. Softly, the acetates wrap around the lenses with very finely sculpted outer rims drawing attention to the shape of the face. Whereas within the frame, the palette becomes more layer and textured in relationship to the handcrafting in the design, this may not seem much. An elegant saddle bridge with very slim and tapered temples means that the graphic effect never weighs down the image. FRAMED is ideal for a crisp line and a clear visual identity without cluttering up the anatomical features.
FOLD
FOLD interprets the notion of folded paper and origami through layered acetate volumes that disclose themselves from various angles. While it looks straight and minimal from the front, a twist of the head reveals the dynamic layers as they unfold from the surface. The effect gets heightened because of
the use of different colors – deep matte blending bright translucent shades – that catch the light and show movement in the design. FOLD bears all the complexity of the aesthetic yet remains user-friendly with its lightweight build and balanced geometry. This frame strikes a dramatic note for a creative thinker in search of understated surprises and artistic detail.
FRIDAY
In its inspiration, the FRIDAY style of the F Collection, with its fancy flair and playful sensibility, meant stepping up to some bravado from the Fifties. Heavily pronounced browlines and passion-steeped angles consolidate an identity, whilst layered acetates provide visual wealth and shy dapples of colour. Bits of engineering come together in fine bevels that soften the hems and smooth over the overall silhouette. It stays in character with a pair of specs that add personality to businesslike or casual set ups; to FRIDAY, style itself is more through cool nostalgia; the same is also evinced through today’s inspiration. The temples of great symmetry mean that this frame could well turn out to become your everyday favourite, balancing its weight perfectly when splashed on your nose. It’s a frame for innovative beings who place value on light-weight plain designs with some subtle twist.
FUTUR
FUTUR kindles the spirit in the heart, re-inventing the avant garde in itself. It is a unity of the industry into the art of architectural minimalism that swathes its temple. A design grooved with accent honing the essence of tri-linear acceleration, rapid, yet precise cut, lavished with layering, to accommodate the pixelated look of sophisticated inclusion over the design of modern architecture. Through the use of sophisticated tones, the colours transition brilliantly to oblivion or simply to the point of unexpected combinations; it is as though the colors are almost avatars on the façade. The idea is that image culminates positively from well-inflected lightness-driven differently by the sculptor from its fixed counterpart in stone. FUTUR, on the one hand, serves those who seem to be flouting convention with regard to timeless charm even though their look tends toward contemporary advancement.
FOREST
The FOREST frame brings an organic rhythm to F Collection, drawing inspiration from textures and patterns found in nature. Here gentle contours and slight asymmetries echo the lines that characterize the beauty of tree branches and leaves. The colours of the crèmes and translucents from both front and back allude to a play of color, suggesting the mild undulation of filtered light under the dappled canopy of forests. The frame’s inner structure features fine engraved lines, resembling the annual rings of trees or grain of wood – imparting tactile/visual softness and setting a beautiful tone with respect to contrasting boldly against the well-carved external silhouette. FOREST looks good and elegant; it is cusped between rendering a calm visual balance and aggressively maintaining its strong design identity. It’s a style for those who see reactions into the wild through complimentary bubbling of refined-contemporary craftsmanship.
Boldness isn’t worth much without a side-shot of quality, and Face à Face is the harbinger of both. The French company has retained its base in Paris, scheduling frame assembly in France, Italy, and Japan, with a top-notch finishing workshop in Jura, France. Design from the F Collection’s acetate shell is seriously shaped, polished, and assembled in-house, ensuring not only existence, but also performance, as art on a face, a variety of specialized materials – from laminated lighting hues to precision hinging – offer the finest spectacles.
