The Eye Practice has become the first (and only) Sydney CBD stockist of the exclusive Sospiri luxury eye wear collection, from Italian design house Ottica Veneta.
This exquisite line is inspired by the rich architecture and art of Venice. These optical and sunglasses frames, the latest in European luxury eyewear, were sourced by The Eye Practice during their recent world optical trade fair tour and are only available through a very small number of select retailers around the globe.
What’s in a name?
No, Sospiri is not the name of an Italian town. It’s actually the Italian word for the sort of ‘sigh’ that occurs when you see something of great beauty. The beautiful Ponte dei Sospiri bridge in Venice is more familiar to us in English translation as The Bridge of Sighs.
Ottica Veneta say that every Sospiri eyewear design is inspired by a walk through Venice. From the colours and textures to the Baroque architectural details, Byzantine art and fine craftsmanship, these details all make their way into this luxury collection.
Made in Italy
From the construction of the frame and case to the tiniest embellishment, every part of the Sospiri range is manufactured in Italy using time-honoured techniques to produce a highly sophisticated and glamorous product.
This is evident when you hold a Sospiri frame in your hands; materials such as pave-set Swarovski crystals, Italian acetates, light metals and stunning embellishments make these pieces feel like a finely-crafted piece of jewellery.
This sort of detailed craftsmanship is only for those with the most discerning taste.
Beyond design
At the heart of the Sospiri range is comfort and practicality, according to their creator, Riccardo Lamon.
“Beyond the fantasy of our designs, we emphasise the practicality and comfort of our frames. These aspects along with technical considerations have always remained front and center for Sospiri since day one,” he says.
The collection is also rooted in the classic feminine shapes that became iconic in the 1950s. “The aesthetic for Ottica Veneta is clearly Italian,” says Lamon. “We don’t go for weird shapes but strongly believe the eyewear has to be wearable and classically elegant. We like to use Interesting colors and embellishments, but always with a sophisticated approach.”
