Constantly Searching for the Ideal Design

──Please tell us about your approach to choosing sunglasses.

I've bought quite a number of sunglasses over the years. I've tried new styles every season, always trying to upgrade myself, but I get bored (laughs). That is, until I created "Organ x SHUYA OKINO [VIUSION]", which I'm wearing today.

──What prompted you to create your own "Okino model"?

Continuer approached me about it. I frequented the shop because they always suggest things that are incredibly close to what I like. One day, they asked, "Why don't we create an original model for you, Okino-san?" I was surprised and said, "Really? You'd do that for me?"

──Did you feel confident about creating them?

Every time I looked at or bought sunglasses, I felt like I had a clear design in mind and was choosing from options around that ideal. But of course, the perfect item didn't exist, so I was always searching for something that would suit me better, and I always wished I had a pair that could be my go-to. As I continued to buy, what I truly desired became clearer.

Crafting My "Ultimate" Model

──How did the Okino model come about?

First, I brought my collection of sunglasses to Continuer. We selected elements from my favorites – like this part of that pair, or that part of another – to create a base. Then, we refined the angles and details.

──What was the most crucial aspect you focused on?

The subtle upward angle of the front. I also paid close attention to the overall thickness and the width of the acetate. I realized how much the impression changes with small details like curves, angles, materials, and colors.

──How did you feel when they were completed?

I was delighted. But I also wondered if creating something that only suited me (laughs) would be commercially viable. Initially, my thought was to create something timeless that wouldn't bore me. However, like clothing, sunglasses also have styles that fit the times.
That's why there's an enjoyment in changing them each season. During the creation process, I pondered what this change truly signifies. Through these sunglasses, I was made to think about what the ultimate design is that satisfies a "self that wants to change" along with the times.

──The color variations are beautiful.

I conveyed my preferences to the staff, and we decided on the colors. The gray ones I'm wearing today are my favorite right now. I also have black, two shades of brown, and yellow, plus a pair with black frames and clear lenses, making a total of six.
I switch them depending on who I'm meeting, where I'm going, and the time of day.

Taking Cues from Jazz Musicians' Sunglasses

──Are you adventurous when it comes to choosing sunglasses?

I wonder. I tend to play it safe. I give cool, experimental designs as gifts to my musician friends or artists I produce. I experiment when choosing for others (laughs).
When it comes to my own, I tend to buy things that feel more classic.

──What do sunglasses mean to you?

One aspect is the desire to "transform into something different."
Like most people, you change your clothes every day, right? Changing your sunglasses every day, just like your clothes, is a lot of fun.
All of mine are prescription. I believe it's worth investing in variety, even if it costs money. While I wouldn't say it allows you to embody a different personality, I think it helps you discover a new side of yourself.
In a way, our daily lives are routine and comfortable. By changing things through our own will, we receive stimulation, and the face, the expression, is particularly important.
Also, there's an element of aspiration for me. I collect album covers of jazz musicians wearing sunglasses and take inspiration from their style. Jazz has a strong influence on my style.

──What's new with your activities?

I'm working on my solo album and simultaneously on five other recordings, including one with DJ KAWASAKI. In the past four months, I've toured the US and Europe, and visited the UK and Russia in September.
Additionally, my second book, 'Introduction to Club Jazz,' is scheduled for release at the end of October. Please look forward to it!

──Would you like to create sunglasses again?

If possible, I'd like to try metal frames next time. Also, in terms of music, I'd like to get involved in product design related to music, such as CD cases and CD racks.
I might collaborate on a record bag with a Russian designer. I've received some very enthusiastic offers.

──We look forward to it.


The sunglasses introduced,
Organ x SHUYA OKINO [VIUSION],are available for purchase on the web shopping magazine "LUMOREZ."can be purchased.



Shuya Okino HP
http://www.extra-freedom.co.jp/

＜INFORMATION＞
Continuer 2007 AUTUMN & WINTER COLLECTION "Neo Classic"

"BEAUSOLEIL"
Continuer is proud to welcome "Beausoleil," a historic French brand that has already produced the popular "Meyma."
Since its establishment in 1987, the brand's high-spec collections, combining modern and elegant designs by designer Frédéric Beausoleil, high-quality materials, and innovative manufacturing processes, have been embraced by fashion-conscious men and women worldwide as a sophisticated fashion statement.

Currently, they offer a wide range of expressions, primarily through over 70 colors of plastic materials, including their original designs. By incorporating gentle curves into the frames, they create a sense of movement that further enhances the richness of the colors.