...continued from What's New in Sunglasses

7Eye Launches Bali Eyewear for
Active Men and Women

PLEASANTON, Calif., July 2008 — Tough, new Bali eyewear recently launched by 7Eye combines a high fashion look for men and women with durability and extreme protection against outdoor elements such as wind and dust.

Introduced in early July through motorcycle retailer and eye care outlets nationwide, Bali incorporates the company's "Airlock" design with a comfortable eyecup that seals against the face for extra shielding.

Bali is designed to fit many face shapes for individuals who participate in sports or other outdoor activities.

The eyewear includes a polyurethane shield and water repellent coating within the Airlock sealing system to prevent encroachment by water and sweat. A fabric included in the Airlock's topcoat traps moisture and allows it to evaporate quickly.

The Airlock feature also can be removed, allowing wearers to convert Bali eyewear for everyday use. Bali eyewear is available in three frame colors of black, dark tortoise and gray with a choice of lenses offering 100 percent UV protection. Please click here for closeup photos.

Sales of Limited Edition Sunglasses Will Benefit
Breast Cancer Research

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., June 2008 — A special limited edition sunglass, "Faith," has been launched by ClearVision Optical and BCBG Max Azria to help benefit breast cancer research through donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure fund.

Each sunglass has a suggested retail price of $120, with 25 percent of sales earmarked for donation to the fund.

The new sunglass has a softened rectangular shape, available in black or white frames with interior pink layers symbolizing breast cancer awareness. The "Faith" design is the second release supporting the cause. Sales from the first release, "Hope," netted $78,750 for breast cancer research.

Each sunglass purchase includes a pink clamshell eyewear case with an emblem of a breast cancer awareness ribbon. Please click here for a closeup photo.

XXL Sun Designed for Men With Larger Facial Features

DALLAS, May 2008 — Men with wider facial features can benefit from more ample design found in a new line of sunglasses known as XXL Sun from A & A Optical.

Comfort is emphasized, with longer temples and a wider front, along with versatility in styling. Polarized lenses are available for all styles.

The Cowboy, available in gun metal or black, has a traditional rectangular shape in metal, with rubber temple tips offering a snug but comfortable fit.

The Devil Ray also is a metal style, with a double bar and an elongated rectangular shape for a sporty look, available in black or silver.

The Nugget, with a plastic frame in black or tortoise, comes in a wraparound style.

And the Dolphin, shown here, features a modified rectangular shape with tapered temples. The Dolphin is available in black and gun metal colors. Click here for closeup photos of the four sunglasses in the new XXL line.

New Sunglasses from Luxury Shoe Designer Jimmy Choo
Include Metal and Plastic Frames

PADOVA, Italy, February 2008 — Sixteen new sunwear styles in metal and plastic frames will be introduced to the United States during the March launch of the Jimmy Choo sunwear collection.

"The collection will have a modern edge with a vintage feel, which is reflective of the eyewear trends going forward," said executive vice president Dick Russo of Safilo USA, the new collection's distributor company.

Frame styles vary, from boldly oversized to finely detailed flourishes such as tiny, visible studs within designer logos.

Sunglass frame colors in the new collection also are highly variable, ranging from gold bronze to champagne.

Click here for closeup photos of two styles from the Jimmy Choo sunglass line.

Maui Jim Releases Tough New Sunglass Readers

LAHAINA, Maui, November 2007 — Maui Jim has released "readers" in two distinctive sunglass styles, Makaha and Ho'okipa, which respectively flatter thinner or wider face shapes.

These tough, polarized sunglasses can withstand extreme, rugged outdoor conditions, while also providing vision at near to far ranges.

Maui Jim sunglass readers are available in several colors, including neutral gray or bronze colors, and offer "add" powers for near vision of +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50.

Waterproof coating in Maui Jim lenses allows easy shedding of both water and snow.

Click here for photos of the Makaha and Ho'okipa sunglass readers.

New Jalapenos Sol Sunglasses Lure Fashion-Minded Youth

DALLAS, October 2007 — A & A Optical's new fall line of Jalapenos Sol sunglasses reach out to fashion-minded youth, including young women with smaller features in search of a perfect fit with the Casados.

   

New sunglass designs have something for everyone, however, including an oversized rectangular shape in the Tangerine and two-toned colors in the Chawa. The Peto design has a timeless aviator shape for both genders.

Click here for close-up photos of these and more Jalapenos Sol sunglasses.

Panoptx Releases New Versions of Speed, Velocity and Warrior Lines

PLEASANTON, Calif., March 2007 — Soft, spongy eyecups gently seal against the face in new versions of the Panoptx Velocity series of action sunglasses, adding extra protection for outdoor enthusiasts.

While resting up for your next land or sea adventure, you can lounge around the pool in classy new versions of both Speed and Velocity lines of Panoptx for men and women. The Velocity Bora for men and women, for example, offers subtle, tiger brown markings in a fashionable, wrap-around design.

Panoptx this year also has introduced a toughened, thicker new sunglass lens in durable frames, known as the Warrior V-Zero Ballistic lens, in response to special requests from soldiers serving in severe Iraqi desert environments. These sunglass lenses are made of a lightweight, bullet-proof material able to darken to a rich blue gray in daylight and lighten to a subtle yellow tint at night to increase visibility and contrast. Lenses also are coated with anti-fogging material. This Warrior sunglass version also has eyecups that seal out dust and wind. Click here for close-up photos.

(Note: Panoptx changed its name to 7EYE in 2008.)

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[Page updated August 2009]