Can't Hide The Bona Fides

MC GINN has just previewed its debut collection "Bona Fides" at Silmo in Paris last month. Here are some juicy details for all of you eyewear junkies. Until March 2009, founder and designer Brian Mc Ginn had been working as Creative/Design Director for Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses. Managing the design of various collections, as well as the visual nature of the brand and special collaborations, Mc Ginn gained a Silmo d’Or nomination for the Oliver Goldsmith – Hoffmann collaboration in October 2008. Before leaving the company he also conceived, designed and developed ‘Legacy’, an optical collection for Claire Goldsmith launching at this year's Silmo show.

Brian Mc Ginn graduated with first class honors in silver and goldsmithing from The National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He continued to develop his hand crafting skills, working with wood and training with a musical instrument maker in the west of Ireland. He returned to post graduate studies in 2000 to focus purely on eyewear design and handmaking. 2002 saw Mc Ginn launch his own bespoke eyewear design service and brand ‘Kid Oliver’ .

This tailored approach, working with the widest variety of materials from acetate and buffalo horn to decorative hardwoods, aluminum, stainless steel and bamboo, combined with Mc Ginn’s metalsmithing background has lead to the development of a recognizable signature style based primarily on form with a classic silhouette.

Recently Mc Ginn gained access to a Victorian factory in East London. Situated in the shadow of the 2012 Olympic stadium structure, the factory’s primary product is a traditional rolled gold frame. However, sequestered in the basement is their acetate facility, an Aladdin’s cave of machinery, hinges, pins, acetate and trims. This environment has given birth to the debut collection from MC GINN. It takes inspiration from current trends in street culture, splicing these with the designer’s trademark classic styling and meticulous attention to detailing and form. MC GINN has pared down the heavier, retro styling of his previous work to produce an elegant, sophisticated range, bringing the street into the boardroom. The frames are all crafted from Mazzucchelli acetate and feature vintage hinges, pins and decoration.

Coming soon to Spectacles For Humans.