Interview: Steve McQueen

STEVE MCQUEENSTEVE MCQUEEN

GILLES MACALUSO

TEKST:

MAARTEN WEIDEMA Hello Gilles, tell us about yourself and your current role at Steve McQueen Eyewear! After graduating in optics, I started working as an optician but soon became an agent for well-known designer brands. In 2004, I founded my own company specialising in the distribution of designer collections. Twelve years later, in 2016, I founded MMC'Eyewear to develop and distribute my own collections. Nowadays, with the Steve McQueen Eyewear brand, I try to focus more on design.

What inspired you to choose the "king of cool" as the namesake for this eyewear collection? My business partner and friend Pierre joined me in 2018 with the goal of developing MMC'Eyewear through brands with a strong universe and image. Pierre and I are undisputed fans of SMQ and fans of vintage cars and motorbikes and finally motorsport fans, so when we asked ourselves what men generally like or what they would like to look like, the name of Steve McQueen came across as a no-brainer. We can say that many people around the world love his lifestyle. It is still so relevant today. But first of all, this adventure was a strong company enriched by shared passions and then came the idea of an eyewear collection dedicated to "The King of Cool". Steve McQueen Eyewear is not just an eyewear brand, it is a state of mind.

Steve McQueen is such an iconic name and great personality that it must be very difficult to match eyewear styles with such a character. How did you come up with these cool styles? Steve McQueen Eyewear is not just an eyewear collection, it's a real state of mind. The frames are not just frames, they are the incarnation of Steve McQueen. Each model bears a name as a tribute to SMQ's life: a place, a memory, something important in his life, sometimes just a small detail unknown to most. Pierre and I are very happy to work on a universe of and about someone we are passionate about. I put myself in Steve McQueen's life to create something that he would love and be proud to wear. Creating a Steve McQueen frame is like a journey through his life. There is nothing more gratifying for fans like us.

Steve was known as a rebel, but your frame designs show more of his casual side. Is there still rebellion to be found in this collection? Of course there is! We made the choice to design something chic, elegant and vintage, and each piece is a tribute to his rebellious side, his passion for racing. For example, the hinge is the Porsche Speedster design, the end tips have a Triumph Bonneville tank design. These specific materials are our own creation. The new collection for 2022 will be more rebellious, with thicker acetate, original colours and frames that exude Rebel, Race, Passion, but still elegant and easy to wear. In this spirit, Steve McQueen's style, the clothes, the glasses, the cars or the motorbike he got are not crazy at all, but chic and elegant with a perfect finish.

I read that the collection is also based on the values of friendship, family and simplicity. How can we see this in the frame designs? Friendship is the basis of history. Family is the value we want to preserve through our design and simplicity, because we know that simplicity is timeless like Steve McQueen was. We make the frames with the same spirit, sincerity in design and quality of material we choose. People who are passionate about the cars understand the details that you can't necessarily see at first, but that characterise beautiful models. We want to make the wearer happy because they understand that it takes time to develop such a detailed product with such specific and high quality materials. We also want to make sure that people who wear our frames feel good and proud of them. Each model is reviewed and approved by Steve's son Chad McQueen before going into production. also have small details - they are shaped like the tank of the Triumph Bonneville T100. In addition, some frames have a specific colour, such as the Cool or the Indian-SP which are green like the 1968 Ford Mustang in Bullitt, or the Liberty-SP in slate grey, like the Porsche 911.

Is the McQueen family still involved in this new adventure? Yes, fully. Chad has created the Steve McQueen brand to be involved in all projects, including his father's image. Before 2019, the name Steve McQueen was not a brand and Steve McQueen's heirs had signed partnerships for some of the products Steve used to wear. To control the exploitation of Steve McQueen's image as much as possible, his son Chad decided to file the trademark SMQ (Steve McQueen). Fortunately, we have a very good relationship with his family, so we are happy to work with them and show them any new purpose we have for the eyewear. Everything is validated by the family.

Can you tell me what makes these frames stand out from the rest? You know, we like to say that our brand is built on a timeless life icon, and I truly believe that when you put SMQ glasses on your face, you feel special. Thanks to all the great feedback we have about the quality, I can also say that that makes all the difference. Steve McQueen is an attitude, be proud of what you are, because you are making the right choice. The quality of the details and the fit of our products are key. That is impor-

Steve was known as a big car enthusiast; can we find car-inspired parts as well? All of our eyewear designs are based on Steve McQueen's car and motorbike designs. The hinge is a specific design derived from the curves of the Porsche Speedster 356. The end tips

tant for people who buy a product for themselves, and not just to show to someone else. What makes the difference with these types of products is the ability to understand the product through the information that the opticians can provide to their customers. Therefore, the strategy of distribution of this collection is also very important.

How did you realise to create a female collection as well, inspired by this uber-male style icon? I can say that this collection already appeals to women and suits them as well as men. It is for women who can borrow her husband's watch or shirt.

Can you tell a bit more about the production and quality of this collection? The collection was developed and conceptualised in Europe with significant authenticity in reference to Steve McQueen. Each piece is designed and produced specifically for the brand. The hinges, the screws, the nose pads and even the end tips. The brand started with just one line and now, in 2022, we are proud to offer four lines. We have chosen to carefully select every material that makes up a pair of glasses, right down to the screws. Everything is meticulously handmade and allows for the creation of light and pleasantly wearable models, thanks to a perfect fit, which gives a unique feeling of freedom. Details that can be found in this collection include; the detailed star-shaped brass rivet on the right spring; COMOTEC-specific self-locking brass Torx screws, for a more masculine and mechanical design; a titanium plate in the tips. And SMQ branding on the top of the spring ends.

The glasses are all named after cities. What makes these cities special? Not all, but some indeed. They are all cities where Steve McQueen spent a lot of free time with his family. He usually had a house in each of the cities that are the most famous today. For the others, like Slater, it is the city where he grew up, raised by his uncle Claude. What's more, in the new Luxe collection you'll find the Beech Grove model, the town where he was born.

You have already launched 20 styles.

What are your plans for the near future?

The launch of all our new lines, such as

Signature, Iconic and Luxe coming out in 2022 and why not a sunglasses collection?!

STEVE MCQUEEN

What is the ideal customer for this line of frames? I am not sure if there is an ideal customer, because the fact is that Steve McQueen is a truly popular and timeless icon. This collection is for car and motorbike collectors, free spirits and film buffs. The models can be worn by people who are looking for something chic and elegant but with a strong story and high quality and the models can also be worn by women. Finally, Steve McQueen Eyewear is the result of a strong human bond complemented by common passions and it is for anyone who shares all these points.

This collection was launched by MMC'Eyewear. Can you tell us a bit more about their work? MMC'Eyewear was founded in 2016 and signed its first licence with Sunchild Eyewear, a brand for children and teenagers. Today, you can find our frames and sunglasses at more than 600 retailers around the world. We have a wonderful development project for MMC'Eyewear. Our goal is to develop and offer collections for independent opticians who are looking for the right and genuine collections with a strong image.

What inspired you to change your job as an eyewear representative to making eyewear yourself? I don't see it as a change, but as an evolution. I have been passionate about the optical market since I met it! I have always been curious and passionate about new and different things, and I had the chance to work in different areas of this industry, and the opportunity to meet different and interesting people who inspired me and helped me to understand this world better.

What material do you prefer to work with when creating an eyewear design? I love the possibilities that acetate can offer us for design and colors, it offers so many great options.

Do you design with a CAD program or do you prefer to draw by hand? I work with a designer who does the technical drawings. But we often start with a sketch of an object that will inspire glasses.

What do you like to do when you're not at work?Ik love to travel with my family and meet new meet new people, discover new places and other discovering different cultures.