The New Airframe: Pursuing New Value Beyond Lightness

JINS' "Airframe" series redefined eyewear with unprecedented lightness, pioneering a new market. Since its launch in 2009, cumulative sales have surpassed 14 million units.

This spring, the popular series introduces new models that retain their signature lightness while offering two new appeals beyond mere weight: "COMFORT," designed for superior wearability, and "FASHION," focused on aesthetic design. The COMFORT line features a design that widens the temples, an area prone to pressure, and narrows the area behind the ears for enhanced comfort. The FASHION line offers a rich selection of metallic colors and trendy shapes and hues, embodying a classic, high-quality aesthetic.

In May 2016, within the FASHION category, two new forms were introduced: "Solid Airframe," meticulously crafted with attention to the inherent beauty of eyeglass design, and "Metallic Airframe," known for its flowing lines and metallic colors that impart an intelligent impression.

Accompanying the launch of the new models, a TV commercial embodying the "comfortable life" brought about by Airframe was also released. The commercial depicts a salaryman gracefully sliding down a ramp and a woman joyfully leaping through the city, illustrating the "comfortable life" experienced with Airframe.

New Forms Supervised by Yota Kakuda Also Arrive

The new "Solid Airframe" form, launched in May, follows the"CELLULOID by Yota Kakuda"released in November 2015, and is a collaborative item with product designerYota Kakuda,who also writes for OPENERS. Mr. Kakuda supervised the design.

When asked about the appeal of working on eyewear design, Mr. Kakuda commented, "It lies in the meticulous adjustments, often less than 0.1mm. We refine it bit by bit each day until we arrive at a satisfactory form." Regarding the new Solid Airframe, he added, "I designed it with the reverse thinking that since the material is light, even a voluminous frame will be light. Although it's unisex, I believe I've designed glasses that suit a wide range of people."

The design, born from this reverse thinking, and the forms derived from the technical prowess that brings them to life, will undoubtedly serve as a banner leading the appeal of Airframe beyond mere lightness.