GERMAN EYEWEAR BRAND HAFFMANS & NEUMEISTER LAUNCHES COLLAB WITH STYLIST MARCUS PAUL

Haffmans & Neumeister has teamed up with stylist Marcus Paul to create an exclusive collection of sunglasses.

A trusted connoisseur to his clientele, Paul has dressed greats across all industries, and brings his unique sensibility to this collaboration. “We live in an era shaped by Millennials and Gen Z. Style derives from personality and the guys at Haffmans & Neumeister get that, which is what initially drew me to the brand. Our collaboration developed organically as we exchanged thoughts and ideas on tomorrow’s aesthetics,” Paul said. “We designed the collection with the discerning nonconformist in mind, approaching glasses as the personalized items they ought to be.”

The relatively young German brand has already earned a reputation for its distinct aesthetic and design-savvy, and now, with this collaboration, adds Paul’s curatorial eye. “We’ve known Marcus for years, which has greatly contributed to the flow of creating a truly authentic collection, echoing our respective tastes and values,” added Philipp Haffmans, managing partner and design director at Haffmans & Neumeister. “The goal was to eschew cliches and instead to tap into something highly original and purposeful.”

The Haffmans & Neumeister + Marcus Paul collection uses a method to fuse together ultra-thin stainless steel with chunky acetate. “The ‘pinstripe’ detail around the rim of each frame hints at the sophisticated mounting technique we exclusively developed for this collection,” noted Haffmans. “It’s as much a distinguishing visual feature as it is a means to ensure the longevity of each piece. After all, we intended to deliver an offering that is not only ample in personality, but, as usual, timeless at its core.”

Set amidst an unconventional background of patchwork quilts, New York-based French photographer Charles Roussel delivers crisp and texture-laden images for this collection’s campaign. The inclusion of quilts was a purposeful choice from Paul, not only for the rich layering of colors and geometric patterns, but for how the narrative of quilting connects to the collection. “We have created something highly aesthetic and also deeply meaningful,” Paul said. “The patchwork way of how we have mixed and matched materials, personal inspirations, and our creativity into this collaboration really speaks to me.”

The capsule, all made in Germany, retails at $590 in an offering of four styles in a variety of sophisticated colorways. The collection exclusively launched with Nordstrom as part of its curated New Concepts: Black_Space. Select styles are also available at nordstrom.com and L.A. boutique Selima et Benjamin.