Karen Walker Eyewear celebrates 10 years

Karen Walker Eyewear is 10! I well remember the launch 8 years ago in September 2006 of Karen Walker Eyewear with a dictator-themed installation down at fashion week. Tens of thousands of pairs have sold, at over $300 each, and many styles sell out when they hit stores.

Now, the brand that’s incredibly successful internationally celebrates its first decade. For the limited edition KAREN WALKER CELEBRATE range the visual campaign was photographed by Derek Kettela in New York City. It is all about “the sugar rush – glitter, confetti, party horns, cake and chaos.” One style from each year of the sunglass range’s history will be produced afresh for Celebrate, all in gold.

Handmade glasses (such as Karen Walker, Flint, Morrissey and Oroton) take a long 16 months to reach fruition from design page to store racks. In contrast, the injected styles (e.g. Le Specs) take just 7 months from conception to shelf. (from Designs on your eyes article on Thread in a 2008 interview with Sunshades.)

Alana Taylor of Sunshades said to us in 2008: “In 2005 we launched Karen Walker Eyewear and we did a vintage shape called ‘Annie’, after Annie Hall, and it rocked the world. Now, (US department store) Barney’s has requested it now so we’ve done it again, in vintage taupe (a tortoise shell plastic.) ‘Penny’ is a 70’s tortoiseshell which feels almost edible and delicious! It’s complemented by the beautiful blue-green lens.”

“Karen Walker is different to everyone else; she doesn’t follow trends. She’ll come in and say, ‘What is everyone doing?’ And we’ll say, ‘Large, black and square.’ So she’ll go, ‘Let’s do small, coloured and round.’ I’m given two Italian films to watch and I’ll develop a frame for her. This season (summer 08/09) we’re moving towards a cat’s eye frame, like the frame called ‘Lucky’- it’s very feminine. Some styles have a pink lens; Karen and (her husband) Mikhail wanted to get across that you’re wearing makeup!”

That was back in 2008. Since then, we’ve seen incredible new shapes and colours from Karen Walker Eyewear.

Below: The limited edition KAREN WALKER CELEBRATE range photographed by Derek Kettela, with one style from each year the range has been produced.