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| DESIGNER STORY || 003 |the Best:Nico-design of Italy| 004 |“We wanted to distribute Nico-design collections becausewe liked how the company was evolving. They’re a familybusiness, like ours, and we’re very comfortable with the productsand with those who make and sell them,” says Laoun.“Nico-design is continually reinventing itself and developingmore interesting styles. Their designs are wearable anduser-friendly as well as original.”For Derapage’s new Tornado series the company haspatented a unique method of frame manufacturing that hasno soldering points. Laoun explains: “It’s a non-welded, multilayerframe with three different layers of ultra thin stainlesssteel secured by an innovative system of micro-rivets. Theframe creates a powerful, assertive look with great solidity ofstructure while being surprisingly lightweight. The constructionis unique and quite beautiful.”Given the collection’s technical orientation, it’s notsurprising that most Derapage styles are masculine, with asprinkling of feminine and unisex styles. Colours tend to bebasic, with an emphasis on black and grey.“They tend to appeal to men in the 30-60-year agerange,” Laoun says. “The main market is guys who liketechnical, clean, unique styles. They have a cool, exclusivelook that’s easy to wear.”The frames retail for about $380 to $400, he adds.Nico’s Vanni collection is playful with an emphasis oncolour and detail. Many Vanni styles use high-qualityhand-made Mazzucchelli acetates, which ensure that thebeauty of the vibrant colours lasts longer, says Laoun. “And,in a stroke of ingenuity, they have used the same beautifulacetates to create rings, bracelets and other jewelry thatcomplement the frames. The accessories have been a hugesuccess: people sometimes buy them even without theframes.”Vanni, which won the “Eyewear of the Year 2007” prizein the Ladies Design category at IOFT-Tokyo last Fall, isprimarily designed for 15-40-year-olds. About half the stylesare feminine with the balance divided between masculine andunisex. The retail price is in the $250-$320 range.“It’s a dynamic collection that’s constantly evolving,”Laoun says. “The style and quality make it very competitive.”In recent years the frames’ reach has expanded to includesome designs suitable for progressives, he adds. “The coloursand themes are the same but they can accommodateprogressive wearers who want something special.”Colour is one of Vanni’s strengths, and the collection isvery strong in vibrant blues, purple, burgundy, and chocolatebrown both in matte and shiny finishes. Recently, ivory hasbeen a big success within the collection.“In the past they used mainly solid colours but they’vestarted using gradients, which change from green to brown,for instance,” explains Laoun. “The temples are amazing: theyincorporate plastic temples with a 3-D finish or leather for arefined, elegant look.”Both collections are slowly incorporating more cat eye,butterfly and oval shapes, which weren’t popular for a longtime, but are up and coming once again, says Laoun.“Both collections are creating families of frames for eachnew concept that they develop,” he adds. “Each has a colourscheme on a unique temple and they develop five or sixmodels with the same detailing for men and women usingdifferent shapes. That means there’s a style for each type ofwearer within the same frame family.”With outstandingly gorgeous acetates, innovative metalsand Italian passion, Giovanni Vitaloni and chief designer IreneChinaglia of Nico-design are making amazing eyewear: fromItaly, for the world.ISIVISION | jul_aug | 2007 29