Brunello Cucinelli is one of fashion’s most expensive labels. Already well known in discerning circles for top-end knitwear and sharp suits – favoured by the likes of Bradley Cooper, Mathew McConaughey and Leonardo DiCaprio – they haven't however ever released an eyewear collection. That's because, before they could do so, they had to first do something they’d never done before: form a partnership. But that they chose to do so with Oliver Peoples just makes perfect sense, right? Like Cucinelli, Oliver Peoples is a heritage style brand that has never wanted to draw attention with a logo. And, like Cucinelli, it has always believed that the product should speak for itself.
“Oliver Peoples could guarantee the attention to handmade details that are so important to our brand and infused the creative process with an innate ease and modern approach that is so characteristic of their Los Angeles-based culture,” says Carolina Cucinelli, Brunello’s daughter and co-creative director of the brand that her father founded in 1978. “As our company has grown, we have stayed true to our roots, always keeping our headquarters in Solomeo where the company was originally founded by Brunello. Oliver Peoples has done the same, keeping its team in Los Angeles even as it grew with Luxottica through the years. This was an important theme for us.”
The BCxOP collab has resulted in five references that all manage to feel totally honest to both brands. Our two favourites are the 'Artemio' (opposite, right), which is a rounded optical model that transforms into a pair of sunglasses thanks to a vintage-inspired clip-on, and ‘Filu’ (this page, right and above), which channels old Hollywood with a cat eye wayfarer featuring an unusual double peaked brow. Of course, both models display a mastery of detail and an unmistakeable style.
Nevertheless, seeing is believing, and you'll only truly understand what makes this collaboration so special if you can admire the details for yourself. And once you do, you'll appreciate how this Italian-American partnerhip should never be stereotyped.
