isson ss 11/12
The cult eyewear brand goes to Bauhaus for its new collection.
Isson designer Catherine Federici designs with function and form in mind, but the brand has become known primarily for its individualized, character-driven aesthetic. It's no wonder Federici's frames have graced the faces of some of the world's top creatives, including Lykke Li, Devendra Banhart and Baz Luhrmann ? these are sunglasses you wear when you want to be seen, not when you're on your way home at 6am carrying your shoes in one hand and a Gatorade in the other.
Isson's Spring 2011/12 eyewear gives even Lykke, Devendra and Baz a run for their money in terms of distinctive names. Hermann, Ludwig, Gertrud and Gustav are some of the stars of this latest collection, which combines Federici's quirky approach to design with her interest in the Bauhaus movement. The designer has a background in industrial design as well as tattoo artistry and eyewear design, and was drawn to Bauhaus for its ideology of design simplicity and its lack of unnecessary ornamentation (and, probably, the cool designations of its key founders and designers).
In keeping with this aesthetic, Isson's spring collection has a greater focus on shaping than previously and 8 a naturally derived colour palette. The frames feature pearlescent light reflecting finishes such as tortoiseshell, layered acetate, house silk thread and metal shavings. Luxurious and sophisticated, they are the perfect accessory to cover your eyes while you undertake Bauhaus-related activities such as fathering modernism, swimming in the bitter German mid-winter and writing groundbreaking works on sexual liberation through design and art. Though, if your name isn't Victor Von Trappenstein or Henrietta Hamberger, they're equally useful for simply shielding your eyes from the bright Sydney sun.
Words: Hannah Ongley
Photography: Cybele Malinowski
