A R T I S T C O O P E R AT I O N
ETNIA BARCELONA » B a s q u i a t 02 - F a l l e n A n g e l «
behind them is. We don‘t like to think in terms of models, we‘ve
course, all components of the frames are designed by etnia barcelona,
said so on more than one occasion. We value what‘s real and
and the graphics are transferred to the acetate. And all of this has to
authentic, people and things that speak the truth. If there‘s not an
be approved by the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which you can
authentic story, or a purely aesthetic idea or concept, we aren‘t in-
imagine is no easy task.
terested. We believe that this is what we‘re about. We want people to understand that we‘re a brand with a soul. Everything we talk about is real, and everything we do corresponds to an idea or a real
The latter sounds particularly complex. Throughout the design process of this collection, was there a part that you enjoyed the most? There will now always be a “before” and “after” Basquiat at etnia
impulse that draws on history, art, or the street.
With that said, what is special about the choice of materials for this collection?
barcelona. The team has really outdone itself, and we‘ve lived
through moments of real stress. No doubt we‘ll have fun at the
First and foremost, just as with all of our sunglasses, these models
launch party in Brooklyn with Beyoncé’s brother and influential
have a mineral crystal lens to make people see better than with
people from the worlds of fashion and art. And we were thrilled
any other brand on the market. Anyone who tries mineral crystal
to see Jay-Z wearing the glasses! That was one of our dreams, and
lenses won‘t ever want to wear plastic lenses again, no matter
we‘ve realized it. Now it’s on to the next thing. But we‘ll tell you
how polarized or whatever else they might be. Our lenses are the
more about what it is some other time...
Rolls Royces of lenses, it‘s that simple. If you understand what a Rolls Royce means in the automobile industry, you‘ll understand www.etniabarcelona.com
what separates our mineral lenses from every other lens. Then, of 226