ACE & TATE + CMMN SWDN SS/19 words Andrea Ward
Iconic eyewear label Ace & Tate has teamed up with Swedish contemporary menswear brand CMMN SWDN to create a sleek and stylish eyewear collection featuring innovation in craftsmanship and design aesthetic. The two stand-out labels have come together once again following the success of their first collaboration back in April 2018 which saw a retro-vibe translated into a 90's sci-fi-infused collection that explored urban subcultures, post-club haze, and the complexities of coming of age.
For this time around, Ace & Tate and CMMN SWDN are looking at 90s sports and taking inspiration, especially from cycling. Working closely together the creative and design teams from both brands introduce us to a unisex collection of frames and draw inspiration from cycling giants Greg LeMond who was the first non-European to win the Tour de France, and, Lance Armstrong, who was also known as ‘Le Boss’. The collection is a perfect combination of futuristic and technical designs and brings together high-quality materials and construction with a sleek look.
Ace & Tate have become known for its design precision and functionality and this time it could not be any different. The frames have a nose bridge separated from the nylon piece making a direct link with the 90s aesthetic while the headband strap strengthens the concept making it cohesive and consistent with the initial design. This rather futuristic design also makes reference to the handcrafted textures seen in CMMN SWDN’s SS19 collection.
In a recent press release, CMMN SWDN comments; “The glasses are extending upon the theme of our AW18 collection of retro-futurism. We looked at yesterday’s concept of the future, finding inspiration in postmodernist design and hyper-modern details." This is the result of both brands wanting to identify and explore the notions of perfection and repetition which are found in burst mode photography, strobe photography, and the kind of movement capturing photography you’d see in sport – such as on a finish line.
This new collection is now available at Ace & Tate’s website, selected stores, and distribution. The sunglasses go for £148 and each purchase comes with a bum bag case and a head strap. The LeMond style comes in 4 colourways while the LeBoss comes in 2 different colors.
Images courtesy of Ace & Tate at SANE.