In a first-ever, artisanal eyewear specialist RIGARDS and acclaimed Barcelona-based German-Persian designer Boris Bidjan Saberi have teamed up for a collaboration.

The goal to create an exacting aviator style — all-titanium, ultralight, universally-fitting, with unfailing attention to materiality — laid the foundations for a frame that stands out in its sophisticated synthesis of the notion of “imperfect perfection” and an almost surgical gestalt. The aviator silhouette is revisited with a characterful yet flattering circular design, the frame corners nicely anchored by multidimensional crescent half-moon shapes. Special focus is placed on fit, such that the proportions are optimized for a greater range of face and head shapes.

A major component is the smoothly detachable side-shields which, while physically protecting against light in the peripherals, metaphorically fortifies the wearer, as if paralleling an imperfect yet somehow irreproachable medieval armor. Carved in a form reminiscent of contour-molded body armor, the shields present a highly distinctive profile when viewed from any angle. The shields also feature artful debossed grooves, traced with two slender cutouts in a nod to Saberi’s symbolic affinity for the number eleven. The unique blend of details subtly recalls ancient insect exoskeletons preserved in fossils, while simultaneously exuding a futuristic cyber-organic feel.

Beyond the artistry, emphasis on expertise is the essence of the shields’ genuine functionality. Every aspect — the attachability/removability, material elasticity, and stability — was assiduously worked on to ensure technical soundness.

The side shields can be reattached to a necklace chain (offered separately), doubling as pendants for added styling versatility.

As a final flourish, RIGARDS’s trademark ‘Time Machine’ hand-finishing is gently applied to both the frame and shields, creating a bespoke weathered patina as though seasoned by the passage of time — and further inviting reflections on the enigma of imperfection.

RIGARDS x Boris Bidjan Saberi RG1011BBS is set to release in 5 elegant colors in June 2023. Every pair comes with two sets of ZEISS lenses (allowing one to switch between Dark Gray and Light Gradient Gray to suit the occasion), and a glasses case made from vegetable-tanned Santa Croce leather. Please follow RIGARDS and Boris Bidjan Saberi’s official website and social media platforms for the latest updates.

Category:PersonalYear:2023Designers:Ti Ning Kwa & Ti Siang Kwa, Rigards, Odd Skin Out Limited, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong SARManufacturer:Odd Skin Out Limited, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, SAR