Sunday Somewhere Interview & Giveaway
Check out the debut eyewear collection plus win a pair of your choice.
Dave Allison and Carlos Aviles love Sunday. They love Sunday so much, in fact, that they named their eyewear label Sunday Somewhere – a title which incites nostalgia for that lazy, languid day of the week. Working out of Sydney, Sunday Somewhere was born when Allison (who had previously worked at Colab eyewear) and Aviles (from AM eyewear) joined up late last year, putting the friendly rivalry of working at different companies behind them and deciding to create their dream frames. Their first offering served up for SS12 is called 'We Light Up' and covers optical as well as sunglasses, with a wide range of shapes and styles, plus some chilled-out, sun-drenched imagery which will have you wishing for the weekend (really, you should check out their short film if you haven't already). We spoke to the designers about the inspiration behind their debut collection, the perfect pair of vintage sunglasses and the perfect Sunday.
Sophie Bosch: What made you decide to collaborate with each other and start your own eyewear label away from the previous eyewear brands you've worked for?
Dave Allison and Carlos Aviles: It's kind of a funny story actually. We've been friends for a long time and we were even flatmates for a couple of years. We both obsessed over eyewear but as we worked for rival labels, the topic was completely off-limits. So when the opportunity to collaborate came about and the timing was right, it was a natural progression. We share a similar vision, but we bring different skills to the business so it made perfect sense. Working with your mate everyday is an added bonus.
Why eyewear?
We've both worked in the industry for such a long time and share a genuine passion and vision for designing and creating shapes and styles. Creating our own brand means we can finally design the frames we have dreamt about focusing on detail, quality and originality.
How would you describe Sunday Somewhere in five words?
Treat everyday like a Sunday!
A lot of brands seem to be extending their range to eyewear, what sets Sunday Somewhere apart?
Yeah, it's a huge trend for apparel labels at the moment but competition is a great thing. For us, the fact that we are solely focused on eyewear means we are personally 100% committed and involved in every aspect of the design and production process. Customers are really eyewear savvy these days and look for more than just a brand name slapped on a pair of frames. For us, eyewear deserves to be set apart and we've loved creating a whole brand and vision based exclusively on frames.
What's the inspiration behind the latest collection?
We set about to create a fresh, wearable, timeless collection focused on detail, quality and simplicity. Our aesthetic is influenced by both the past and the future. We reference vintage frames, images, objects and films and then modernise it with intricate detailing and futuristic materials. Our debut collection is called 'We Light Up' to symbolise new beginnings. Our campaign shoot reflects our brand philosophy, capturing the laid-back Sunday vibe.
What's your favourite pair from the collection? Or is that like choosing a favourite child?
This is a hard choice! At the moment? Dave has either the Marshalls or Heeyehs on high rotation whilst Carlos alternates between the Mataharis and the AKAs.
Do you ever wear your shades at night?
[Laughs] No, not us. There's definitely function to this fashion – we wear our frames when the sun is shining.
If you could get your hands on any vintage pair of glasses, from any era, what would they be?
Vintage Persol Ratti 650 yellow tortoiseshell and black sunglasses; amazing!
Who is your ultimate icon, alive or dead, who made sunglasses part of their look?
Dave: Johnny Depp and his iconic optical round frame look immediately springs to mind. Going back in the day, Jack Nicholson in the movie Easy Rider and Steve McQueen gave the timeless aviator an edge. James Dean made wayfarers part of his look – a trend that has continued today.
Carlos: Karl Lagerfeld just for being an all-round creative wizard who by the way always looks amazing in frames.
Karl Lagerfeld is a wizard! What would be your favourite somewhere to spend a Sunday during summer?
Being based in Sydney we often go on road trips up or down the coast but a sunny Sunday just relaxing outdoors by the ocean with a good crew of friends and family is ideal for us.
Sounds pretty good to us too!
To celebrate the launch of their debut 'We Light Up' collection (and the fact that Sundays just exist in general), Sunday Somewhere are kindly giving two lucky Oyster readers the chance to win a pair of frames of their choice. All you have to do is fill out the form below. Easy!
Ingrid Kesa
