- BY ISSIMO
- September 7, 2023
In Italy, sunglasses aren’t just a thing of the summer. Oh, no. We love donning sunnies all-year long, and often never leave the house without them. It’s easy to see why: A pair of stylish frames can jazz up any outfit – and your mood – hide eyebags if you’re sleep-deprived and dole out attitude with minimal effort.
We think of them as quiet but essential wardrobe staples – our closet heroes, always ready to pick us up whatever the situation.
Like with most things in life, we have our favourites, of course. Cue any model by L.G.R, an all-Italian based eyewear brand inspired by the collection of vintage spectacles founder Luca Gnecchi Ruscone (hence the initials L.G.R) inherited from his grandfather.
We love them so much, in fact, that we partnered up with L.G.R in the past with our super cool La Mamma sunglasses and have now done it again.
Meet ‘Marcello’ and ‘Gae’
two captivating new models in a limited-edition capsule that nod to ’70s fashion and pay homage to two timeless Italian icons: Actor Marcello Mastroianni and architect and designer Gae Aulenti.
Sleek, bold and oh-so ChicISSIMO, these are sunglasses to start conversations now, and all autumn long. Luca Gnecchi Ruscone tells us more.
First up, tell us about L.G.R. How did it originate?
LGR: The brand reflects me, my lifestyle, and my upbringing. I grew up between Italy and Africa, and, over a decade ago, I discovered a box of beautiful but forgotten Italian sunglasses in a warehouse in Eritrea, where my grandfather had once lived as a photographer during World War II. I was immediately taken by their simple yet durable aesthetic, and the precision of their details. From there, I had the idea to recreate them for the modern-day wearer, keeping that same timeless essence. L.G.R was born out of that
Where are the frames made?
L: Everything is made in Italy, packaging included. Just like ISSIMO, we’re all about promoting Italian craftsmanship, and only work with three artisanal families, who build each frame from start to finish using traditional methods of production in order to deliver a timeless and high-quality product.
Let’s talk about the new capsule with ISSIMO! How did it come to be?
L: Marie-Louise and I have been long-time friends. We share the same ethos, the same passion for Italianità, the same love for quiet elegance, adventure, and travel. She’s been stocking L.G.R sunglasses at the Boutique of Il Pellicano for a few years now, to great success, and talks of a collaboration got started right there. We launched the ‘La Mamma’ model in 2020, and got back together this year for this new, exciting collection. It just felt like a natural continuation of a very fruitful and inspired collaboration.
The two new sunnies reference two great Italian personalities, Marcello Mastroianni and Gae Aulenti. Who came up with that?
L: Marie-Louise did! She wanted to pay homage to two special figures of our cultural history. We channelled that by transforming two of the existing L.G.R models into a timeless frame inspired by iconic ’70s fashion – the ‘Marcello’ – and a thick frame adorned with exquisite, handcrafted rivets on the front – the Gae. They come in a unique colour palette and ISSIMO-designed packaging.
What else can you tell us about them?
L: Like all L.G.R sunglasses, they have tempered mineral glass lenses – not plastic – the best Italian acetate, and photochromic lenses that become darker as sun exposure increases, which is pretty useful when you have unstable light conditions. They can take you from early morning to aperitivo time.
What do you think ISSIMO and L.G.R share?
L: Discretion, timelessness, an understated way to do luxury and a boundless love for the real made in Italy.
Describe the capsule in three words.
Quiet luxury, Quality,
and Refinement.
ISSIMO X L.G.R.
