Shwood Eyewear FW 2016 Lookbook

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 6

Shwood Handcrafted

PORTLAND • USA E X P E R I M E N T W I T H N AT U R E

W W W . S H W O O D S H O P. C O M

S HWOOD HAN DCR AF TE D Seasonal Lookbook

People always ask me what makes Shwood different, and the answer is always the same.

The difference is in the story we tell and the materials that we utilize. We’re creating these materials ourselves through constant experimentation, which means constant failure.

Failure is something we’ve learned to love. At the end of the day, that is what is leading us down the path to originality.

Eric Singer ERIC SINGER Designer

A Simple Experiment With Nature THE S TORY OF SHWOOD EYEWEAR

Born from a neighbor’s tree branch, a love of vintage sunglasses, and knack for woodworking, Shwood began as a clunky frame whittled from a stolen heap of wood. Bulky and awkward, the initial outcome was less than flattering, but the beauty was in the materials. As the pair was shown to

friends and family demand exploded and the concept garnered more attention than ever expected. Every frame took days to craft and was normally traded for skateboards or other artwork. Quickly becoming obvious that the product had more potential than an art project, a rudimentary website was launched to sell the frames online. Within 24 hours the concept spread like

steps to a standardized process

wildfire across the Internet and the

that resulted in consistent, quality

business was born.

product worthy of the brand

Pioneering the process.

Keeping up with demand proved to be more challenging than anyone thought. A lack of manufacturing experience, capital, and optical

name. As production grew, the manufacturing process continued to evolve and new technology was merged with the handcrafted principals of the original frames.

knowledge forced the team to build

Materials that matter.

a production technique from the

While wood continues to be the

ground up. A laser cutter, hydraulic

backbone on which the reputation

press, and lens edger were the first

was built, experimentation with

new materials is what drives

More than just eyewear.

hands, leading their truly unique

daily innovations. Following the

The underlying goal of the product

nature. In an industry consisting

tagline “Experiment with Nature�,

assortment is to not only create

of a sea of sameness, the hope is

seasonal material stories evolve

one-of-a-kind frames, but to tell

that every Shwood product gives its

from finding new uses for natural or

the story of these manufacturing

wearer a sense of individuality that

up-cycled materials. Cotton-based

experiments in an inspiring way.

matches their own.

acetates and titanium have earned

The transformation of these natural

spots as mainstays in the material

materials is an art form in itself

library, while recycled newspaper,

and the process is a integral part

natural stone, oxidized metals, and

of the final product. Every piece of

resin-cast feathers, among others,

eyewear created in the Portland,

are all part of seasonal material

Oregon woodshop has been

innovations and collaborations.

manipulated by over twenty sets of

Materials

I TA L I A N A C E TAT E Cellulose acetate is a natural and renewable material derived from cotton and wood pulp. Lightweight and extremely strong, this environmentally friendly material boasts a unique warmth that can only be found in nature.

T I TA N I U M Cut from a single sheet of vacuum-plated titanium, each frame is paired with premium hardwood temples for a sophisticated blend of ultra light comfort and natural warmth.

CARL ZEISS LENSES “Optics by Carl Zeiss Vision� CR-39 or polarized lenses are fitted to all Shwood models. Lens features include 100% UVA/UVB protection and superior coatings for a perfect blend of comfort and protection.

PREMIUM HARDWOOD Our selection of woods are all sustainably-harvested from authorized and supervised plantations across the globe. Only the most premium-grade lumber is hand-selected to ensure rich tones and attractive grain patterns.

Colors of the PNW

A U T U M N A C E TAT E S For fall/winter 2016 we turned to our own backyard for colorway inspiration. The earthy tones of autumn in the Pacific Northwest richen with the rains and glow under the afternoon sun. A stroll through downtown and into the adjacent woodlands reveals a color palette truly representative of the calmness felt throughout the region during this beautiful time of year.

Splash of Bourbon

0019

Francis in Bourbon // Gold Mirror Ainsworth also available in Bourbon

Something about Sangria

Bailey in Sangria // Brown Fade Mckenzie also available in Sangria

Deep in the Forest

Canby in Dark Forest // Grey Polarized Mckenzie and Ainsworth also available in Dark Forest

Prescott in Chai // Silver Mirror

Mid-Morning Chai

Stabilized Series R E S I N - C A S T N AT U R A L E Y E W E A R

FROZE N IN TIME Inspiration is easily found but rarely encapsulated. Our new stabilization process freezes the beauty of nature in time and preserves natural elements in their current state.

Using high-pressure resin casting and our hand-made processing technique, we’ve taken elements from some of the most awe-inspiring environments in the world and transformed them into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Just as every inspirational experience is unique, so is every handmade piece of this series.

WAT C H T H E P R O C E S S V I D E O www.shwoodshop.com/collections/stabilized-series

S TA B I L I Z E D S E R I E S N O . 1

Badlands Collection 001 002

001 Madison // Champagne Acetate // Scarlet Flower Inlay Grey Polarized Lenses

002 Canby // Osprey Feather Grey Polarized Lenses

003 Belmont // Scarlet Flower Grey Polarized Lenses

003

LUNAR LANDSCAPES The otherworldly terrain of the Oregon Badlands makes you question whether you’re still grounded on planet earth. The jagged and arid landscape creates a harsh environment for anything living amongst it, resulting in barren yet beautiful scenery.

To capture the essence of this environment, we’ve chosen elements from the land and sky that are able to survive on the bare minimum.

Naturally molted Osprey feathers and desert flowers are laid into resin to create subtle patterns of deep desert tones.

004

Canby // Sea Shell Grey Polarized Lenses

005 Bailey // Sea Moss Acetate Grey Polarized Lenses

006 Mckenzie // Blue Opal Titanium Grey Fade Polarized Lenses

005

004

S TA B I L I Z E D S E R I E S N O . 2

Sea Collection 006

LOW TIDE The jagged coastlines of the Pacific Northwest are a juxtaposition of strength and grace. Peppered with tide pools, plant life, and rock formations, the environment is teeming with life, both above and below the surface.

A close look into the nooks and crannies of the landscape reveals a hidden world of colors and textures. To harness the spirit of these coastal environments we’ve gathered and transformed an assortment of seashells into a collage of the ocean floor.

Journeys: Pacific Coast

L I F E L E S S O N S F R O M T H E C O A S TA L H I G H WAY Photography & Words: Grant Puckett @GPUCK

DRIVE Dylan and I set out on this trip with no particular game plan. We wanted to get out of the daily grind of Los Angeles with the intentions to become more present. We decided we would head up the Pacific Coast, staying wherever for however long we wanted.

007

TRUST As soon as we left Los Angeles, I promised myself to be more trustworthy with my intuition. I started to confidently make decisions without any hesitation simply because it felt right. Oddly enough, by loosening control over everything, it felt as though life became effortless. Everything for the trip began to take shape.

007 Francis // Bourbon Acetate Gold Mirror Lenses

FLOW By slowing down and being more present, it felt like we always landed in the right place at the right time. I began to feel more connected to nature and people, in addition to being more grateful for life itself.

008 009

008 & 009 Francis // Bourbon Acetate Gold Mirror Lenses

CURVE We obviously had a lot of unexpected challenges throughout the trip, including getting tossed out of the place we were staying in San Francisco at 3am, but by shifting the perception of the seemingly negative situation and seeing it in a positive light, I noticed the connections and benefits that came about from them.

REFLECT On the journey back home, I spent a lot of time reflecting on how I can apply the stillness of this trip to the hectic LA life. I realized that no matter what situation you are in, it all comes down to perception. Be present, be aware, and trust where life is taking you.

F E AT U R E D F R A M E

Ainsworth A mix of premium acetate, metal fixtures, and wood accents come together beautifully in our take on this iconic, vintage silhouette.

The rounded lenses and mix of materials is perfect for those seeking a bolder look, while maintaining classic cool.

Offered in an array of earthy tortoise patterns, the Ainsworth looks good on rectangular, oval, heart, and diamond face shapes.

Amber // G15 Available in G15 Polarized

Dark Forest // Brown Available in Brown Polarized

Bourbon // Gold Mirror Available in Grey Polarized

Vintage Tortoise // G15 Available in G15 Polarized

R E TA I L E R S P O T L I G H T

Madehere PDX Interview with Shop Co-Owner, John Connor

What is Madehere PDX? MadeHere PDX is a retail shop focused on locally produced goods. We offer everything from salt and soap to sunglasses and surfboards, and we are the one place in town where a local resident or a visitor can find the widest selection of gifts and goods, made right here in Portland.

What makes Portland the ideal place for a store like MadeHere?

A wide range of smart, passionate, and highly skilled people call Portland home.

Our proximity to both the Oregon Coast and Cascades, plus a long tradition of DIY, and rich local culture combine to create an almost perfect environment for entrepreneurs to start creative manufacturing businesses. We are humbled by, and proud to partner with, over 200 local makers, designers, and business people, including Shwood.

Why did you choose to focus only on locally-crafted (PDX) goods?

I had the original idea for MadeHere about six years ago. I became aware of Portland’s manufacturing scene by way of a few friends who were small

business owners that produced their wares in Portland. I also knew of several additional lines of interesting, beautiful, useful things being made here as well.

There was never a question of focusing on locally made; that was always the central theme. We opened in November of 2014 with about 40 lines of locally made things, including Shwood, and have since expanded to over 200.

Telling the story is an important part of selling handmade goods. How does MadeHere accomplish this?

MadeHere offers each of our vendors the opportunity to tell their story in a range of ways. At its most simplistic, we feature placards on our tables that, in a couple of paragraphs, tell each person’s story. We also work with a number of our vendors to create more in-depth versions of their story. Shwood’s new window display is a great example of this. MadeHere is also a member of the Portland Made Collective, and we highly recommend them as an additional storytelling platform for our vendors. Finally, we frequently offer our vendors the chance to showcase themselves further during events throughout the year.

The resurgence in locally-crafted, quality products has been continuous over the last decade or so. Do you think this appreciation for domestically-made goods is just a trend, or a movement that is here to stay?

When I look at some of our vendors, those who have been around a long time, such as Dehen and Benchmade, I can see that locally made, be it Portland, be it elsewhere in the US is something

MAD E H E R E P DX 40 NW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97209 madeherepdx.com

that always has and always will exist. I think we as consumers have realized, or perhaps remembered, that authenticity, local production and community is important to us, and holds great value for us, whether we are at home or visiting another place, whether we are purchasing a small consumable item or something larger that we’ll hand off to the next generation.

OPTICAL COLLECTION CRAFTED FOR CLARITY Simple and sophisticated, the Shwood optical collection is designed from the world’s finest natural materials and precision components for a blend of class and clarity. Timeless silhouettes lay the groundwork for a re-imagined mix of acetate, titanium and wood that possess a visual distinction unlike any other. Paired with high quality polycarbonate lenses, each frame can be fully customized to fit your prescription and preferences.

See the full range and customize with your prescription online at: www.shwoodshop.com

Top to Bottom Francis RX // Walnut Wood Available in Dark Walnut and Zebrawood

Fremont RX // Antique Bronze Titanium & Dark Walnut Wood Available in Black and Crystal

Quimby RX // Honey Acetate Available in Black

SHWOOD HANDCRAFTED Seasonal Lookbook

VIEW THE FULL FW16 COLLECTION: www.shwoodshop.com SHWOOD BLOG www.experimentwithnature.com JOURNEYS PHOTO SERIES www.journeys.shwoodshop.com

@SHWOODSHOP FAC E B O O K .CO M /S H WO O D S H O P VIMEO.COM/SHWOODSHOP P I N T E R E S T. C O M / S H W O O D S H O P @SHWOODSHOP

PHOTOGRAPHY Joe Stevens www.joestevensmedia.com Erik Ursin www.erikursin.com Grant Puckett www.grantpuckettphoto.com STYLING Erin Cry www.erincry.com HAIR/MAKEUP Patty Harding www.survivaloftheprettiest.virb.com Sheri Mendes @beautybysherimarie

ADDRESS 2136 SE 7th Ave Portland, OR 97214, United States