RVS x ONE,ALL,EVERY x UGO RONDINONE
How do we see the world? Can we see it freely? Or, are we influenced by an invisible matrix of ideologies? How might we remind ourselves to see our own realities and filter the noise?
Although vision is just one way of knowing the world, it is powerful. As such, we at RVS SUSTAIN play on the notion of vision and filters. Since shaded lenses provide a filter to protect our eyes, ONE, ALL, EVERY and RVS SUSTAIN sought out four environmental pioneers to remind us to See A Clean Future. The result: a line of sustainable and inspirational sunglasses produced in collaboration with Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, and imbued with the enlightened ideas of Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall, Wangari Maathai and E.O. Wilson.
See A Clean Future incorporates four different lens options which correspond to the elements that make up our world: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. They tell a story of ECO-HOPE by linking each concept with a hero from our time: Sylvia Earle (Water), Jane Goodall (Earth), Wangari Maathai (Air), and E. O. Wilson (Fire). Each of the aforementioned have provided inspirational words that correspond to the assigned element, which are inscribed on both the inside of the sunglass frames and the lens cloths. Using natural materials, Rondinone designed the packaging, the Ether, or fifth element that contains all others.
The See A Clean Future line is a conceptual and timeless collection with a will to give back to our planet. We join a growing group of creatives in the fashion industry who have been working hard to rectify the environmental impact of fashion on our planet. Vidal Erkohen, the founder of RVS, researched far and wide the issues of sustainability in sunglass design. The result is a product made entirely from high-quality biodegradable (sustainable) acetate, glass, and stainless steel.
The frames consist of innovative materials from the renowned Italian Mazzucchelli company using their M49 bio-plastic, which is eco-friendly, recyclable, and biodegradable. The bioplastic is produced from cotton linters and wood fibers, which are purified into a pulp and then transformed into a resin known as M49.
All metal inlays as well as temple hinges are made of stainless steel—a recyclable product. The steel is coated with ion plating, which protects the surface and allows the engraving of the frames. Ion plating is a physical vapor deposition process that uses concurrent or periodic bombardment of the substrate with aluminum, which is recyclable and non-toxic to the environment.
The sunglass lenses revert to the traditional use of glass. Typically, lenses are made from polycarbonate plastic but See A Clean Future lenses are made from natural mineral glass produced in Japan. Glass lenses are not only more environmentally sustainable, but also ensure precision clarity and a more refined aesthetic, which is harder to achieve with traditional plastic lenses.
Artist Ugo Rondinone’s designs are applied to the case and box containers, which are made from recycled cardboard and eco-friendly paper in London.
We invite you to join us in our effort to See A Clean Future.