Tokyo EyEs | Presenting World-Class Eyewear from Tokyo: "Tokyo EyEs" Event

Tokyo EyEs

Discover, See, and Buy the Latest in Japanese Creativity

Presenting World-Class Eyewear from Tokyo: “Tokyo EyEs”

Fashion, music, art, and more… Tokyo is where diverse cultures merge and are reborn. We want to present world-class eyewear that we genuinely find cool, originating from this very Tokyo.—“Tokyo EyEs” is a new project that serves as a platform for creators who share this vision.
The first installment is being held concurrently from Thursday, March 29th at Continuer in Ebisu,Continuerand from Friday, March 30th at blinc vase in Aoyama.blinc vasePlans are also underway to hold similar events by taking over eyewear stores nationwide.

Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)

Five Brands and Two Shops Unite to Make Japanese Eyewear More Exciting!

When discussing made-in-Japan eyewear, the technical prowess of traditional production areas like Sabae in Fukui and Ena in Gifu is globally recognized. But what about creativity? Looking at the Japanese eyewear market from this perspective, it's unfortunately flooded with designs that prioritize marketability, resulting in safe and uninspired products.

If this continues, will Japanese eyewear remain merely a collection of uninspired, market-driven items?—Born from this sense of crisis, the new project is “Tokyo EyEs.”

This initiative brings together brands and shops that are honest in their creation, competing not on whether they will sell, but on whether they are cool or not, whether they are loved or disliked.

Bobby Sings Standard,

Bobby Sings Standard, was launched at the end of 2009 by Hidehito Moriyama, who had served as an in-house designer for numerous fashion brands. Inspired by eyewear from the 1970s, the collection fuses the nostalgic elements of that era with the sensibilities of today. Its vintage-inspired products are gaining attention.

USH

USH, a domestic brand launched in 2009 by eyewear designer Yuichi Toyama, is characterized by designs that reinterpret universal lens shapes and classic details with a unique perspective. The designs strike a balance, offering a subtle accent to styling while respecting the wearer's personality.

MASAHIROMARUYAMA

MASAHIROMARUYAMA is a brand recently launched in 2011 by freelance eyewear designer Masahiro Maruyama. The theme of the first collection is “Dessin.” Unlike conventional finished products, it features an unfinished aesthetic created by directly translating rough hand-drawn designs into the products. Maruyama also lectures at a design school.

ENa, EnaLloid

ENa, EnaLloid is directed by Masashi Mishima, who previously served as director of an eyewear select shop and also worked as an agent for overseas brands. The sunglass line is “ENa,” and the frames are “EnaLloid,” each expressing its unique world through its collection. The plastic frames, with their craft-like brilliance, exude a dignified pride of Japanese craftsmanship.

Additionally, the domestic brand “ayame i wear design,” launched in 2009 by designer Yu Imazumi, will also participate. With a brand concept rooted in the pursuit of timeless forms based on the principle of "learning from the past to understand the future," the brand name combines the iris flower (ayame), a symbol of his hometown Itako City, with the idea of coloring the eyes – "Ayame" (彩目). The deep purple, symbolizing mystery and nobility, is used as the brand's signature color. The products are meticulously crafted one by one by skilled artisans in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, boasting the world's highest level of technology. Factories are selected based on the characteristics of each item, ensuring attention to detail.

Japanese eyewear is poised to become even more exciting… Keep an eye on the new movement, “Tokyo EyEs.”

Tokyo EyEs
Participating Brands
Bobby Sings Standard,
USH
MASAHIROMARUYAMA
ENa, EnaLloid
ayame i wear design
Venue:Continuer
Dates: Thursday, March 29 – Sunday, April 22, 2012
Calm Ebisu 1F, 2-9-2 Ebisu-minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3792-8978
Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Closed: Wednesdays
http://www.continuer.jp
Venue:blinc vase
Dates: Friday, March 30 – Sunday, April 22, 2012
1F, 3-5-16 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3401-2835
Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a public holiday, closed Tuesday)
http://blinc-vase.com/

Tokyo EyEs Fair (Concurrent Stores)
Second RoundUSH, MASAHIROMARUYAMA, Bobby Sings Standard,, ENa・EnaLloid, AYAME
Period: Friday, April 27 – Sunday, May 20, 2012
Ponmegane Urawa Store
Shinyudo Bldg. 1F, 3-6-9 Takasago, Urawa-ku, Saitama City, Saitama
Tel. 048-762-3919
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed Thursdays)
SENSE
SENSE Bldg., 7-22 Fukuro-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima
Tel. 082-544-2585
Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Open daily)
Eclat Optique
Shin-Anjo Bldg. 1F, 1-1-5 Imaike-cho, Anjo City, Aichi
Tel. 0566-98-8611
Hours: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM (Closed Wednesdays / 3rd Tuesday)