Fashion Icon Dorin Frankfurt Launches Futuristic Eyewear Line
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Fashion designer Dorin Frankfurt, 75, has launched a new line of 3D-printed eyewear in collaboration with the Israeli brand lajo. The collection features four frame designs inspired by cultural figures and Frankfurt's personal style, blending her aesthetic with advanced manufacturing technology. Frankfurt, known for her distinctive look, explained the origins of her signature dark glasses and her philosophy of accessible luxury. She encourages creators to embrace change and pursue their passions, emphasizing that being "old and fulfilled" is a great place to be.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Fashion designer Dorin Frankfurt, 75, has launched a new eyewear collection with lajo.
- The collection utilizes 3D printing technology for unique, small-batch frame production.
- The four frame designs are inspired by cultural figures and Frankfurt's personal style.
- Frankfurt explained her signature dark glasses are a result of light sensitivity.
- She advocates for accessible luxury and a "small, feisty, and reasoned" design industry.
- Frankfurt encourages creators to embrace change and not fear failure.
Following a career spanning five decades and a recent solo exhibition at the Ashdod Museum, acclaimed Israeli fashion designer Dorin Frankfurt, 75, is venturing into eyewear design. Frankfurt has partnered with lajo, a new eyewear brand from the Israeli optics company "3 D EYES," founded by optometrist Joseph Haber and entrepreneur Orel Nizri. The collaboration leverages 3D printing technology to create unique, small-batch eyeglass frames with meticulous attention to detail and color. The initial collection features four frame designs, each named after cultural figures and inspired by Frankfurt's rich past and her vision for the future.
Frankfurt, whose signature look includes dark glasses, black clothing, and red lipstick, explained that her need for dark lenses stems from light sensitivity since childhood. She learned to embrace this necessity as a stylistic advantage, a lesson from her mother. "Dark glasses definitely have wonderful advantages," she stated, noting they can mask social discomfort and soften life's edges. She also revealed that her long-standing association with dark glasses is partly a misperception, as her lenses are often brown, blue, or green, not exclusively black.
The collection's frames, EVA, COLETTE, LOU, and ZIGGY, are designed to evoke different personas and artistic references, from old Hollywood glamour to intellectual poets and rock and roll. Frankfurt collaborated closely with Haber, who was her personal optometrist for years, ensuring the designs met both her aesthetic vision and technical requirements. She emphasized that while she can conceptualize designs, Haber's technical expertise was crucial for their realization. The finishing touches, including polishing, are done individually in Tel Aviv.
Frankfurt also discussed the integration of 3D printing with her long-held commitment to craftsmanship and local production. She highlighted her early adoption of technology in her Tel Aviv factory and online sales, dating back to the late 1990s. The new eyewear project aligns with her philosophy of accessible luxury and producing "small, feisty, and reasoned" design industries, advocating for fewer, more meaningful purchases. She encourages creators not to fear failure and to embrace change, regardless of age, stating, "I am old and fulfilled. It's a wonderful place to be in life."