The Indian city of Calcutta–known now as Kolkata–has long been a bustling hub of melting-pot culture and urbane sophistication. At one point, it was the second largest city in the British empire–second only to London. It features famously in “Around the World in Eighty Days,” Jules Verne’s timeless story. And since India’s independence in 1947, the city has evolved as a nexus of not only national, but global, creativity and commerce. Throughout its history, it has retained a kind of clubby, in-the-know magnetism—which continues today.
The city inspired this new collaboration between the eyewear specialist Morgenthal Frederics and Sabyasachi, India’s leading fashion house. With three models–the 74, the Tolly, and the Sudder (we particularly love the baroque window-frame nose bridge of the first two)–and a number of jewel-toned colorways, the partnership between the two labels fetes the finest of Indian craftsmanship. Each piece is assembled entirely by hand, resulting in modern, intricate, and profoundly stylish heirlooms.
“The beautiful thing about working in a creative industry are the kindred spirits you meet along the way,” says designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee about this new endeavor. “Brands and people who find their way to each other through shared values for craft, sustainability and excellence.” As the world’s finest purveyor of sunglasses and eyewear, Sabysachi sought out Morgenthal Frederics for its gold standard reputation.
A little bit more on craft, which is what makes these models so special. Each Japanese titanium frame is meticulously forged and put together over hundreds of hours, and each features hand-painted enamel at the temples and hand-placed inserts at the lenses. They are also produced using renewable energy and with sustainable components–both Sabyasachi and Morgenthal Frederics are committed to being as environmentally conscious as possible. And, perhaps most enticingly from an aesthetic perspective, each design has been produced with an array of alluring color combos, too: cream horn with matte honey gold, anyone? Yes, please.