ABOUT MYKITA

MYKITA is a young Berlin-based design team catering to the global demand for stylish, top-quality eyeglasses. The creative core comprises Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling, two of the eyewear world’s most innovative designers. In their capacity as co-founders and creators of a well-known German eyewear brand, the duo demonstrated their extraordinary innovatory skills and a precious knack for sophisticated and sensitive styling. Also involved in the global emergence of the hip designer eyewear brand were Daniel Haffmans and Moritz Krueger, whose imaginative branding and distribution strategy ensured a successful basis for marketing the product range.

The four creative minds joined forces in 2004 to create MYKITA. The first fruits of their new venture, the *Collection No.1*, a collection of corrective spectacles has been on sale since October 2004. In October 2006 MYKITA introduced the *Collection No.2*, a luxurious eyewear collection made of the voluminous material acetate.

Since 2004 MYKITA has become an internationally operating company. MYKITA has retailers in about 20 countries, mostly opticians specialized in luxury- and design- eyewear, but also department stores like Barneys New York. MYKITA employs about 40 people in its Head Office in Berlin.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

The unique form vocabulary of Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling has made the designer duo a top name in the luxury eyewear world. Haffmans’ trademark style draws heavily on natural sources of inspiration. Gottschling takes his contouring cues from the latest developments in industrial design. His fascination for technical mechanics and the aerodynamic design of aircrafts and cars are the major inspiration for his creative work.

A peculiar feature in the design approach of Harald Gottschling and Philipp Haffmans is to search for elegance and beauty within technical solutions.

Both designers boast exceptional technical expertise fuelled by a visionary approach. Their vast experience in the world of design allows them to bring new concepts and designs to MYKITA and lays the groundwork for MYKITA’s worldwide success in the luxury eyewear market.

THE PRODUCT

*Collection No.1*

These glasses are made with best-quality stainless steel, just 0.5 mm thick, ensuring an ultra-light feel. The actual production of MYKITA eyewear sees every part of the frame cut out of sheet metal and folded into a lightweight but full-bodied format. Linking these is a remarkably elegant and intelligent screw-less hinge design that ensures total flexibility and allows complete adaptability to any feature, the adjustment of the inclination to perfectly custom fit the frames to the wearers’ facial proportions. This technical solution is also characterised by its aesthetic clarity and visibility, becoming a recognizable trademark for MYKITA.

To apply most of the colours featured in the collection, MYKITA chose a PVDfinish – a state-of-the-art vacuum-heat coating technique that guarantees a non-oxidizing and highly wear-resistant surface. The prescription frames of the *Collection No.1* are available in a choice of seven colours, the sunglasses in five colours. Each frame is handmade in the MYKITA workshop in Berlin.

*Collection No.2*

For quite some time, MYKITA´s designers Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling have planned to make a collection made of voluminous material. To realise this project, they chose acetate. Basically composed of cotton, wood, acetate and pigments, it is a natural material that has a long tradition in the eyewear industry. After 10 years of experience with sheet-metal concepts, that only allow the creation of voluminous forms to a certain degree, MYKITA`s acetate project opens a new horizon for the designers: Working 3 dimensionally, like a sculptor.

It has been very clear to Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling that they ultimately follow their design and construction principals. In various aspects, the *Collection No.2* is related to their initial concept. It features a „snap-hinge“, made of 0.8 mm flat sheet metal that relates to the construction principals applied in the first collection. In various aspects the concept is remarkably innovative. A major point is the use of the photomechanical etching-technology. The connection point between the hinge and the acetate frame, has been a challenge for the designers. Regarding classic hinge solutions on acetate frames, they never liked the fact, that as soon as the temples are folded in, a large gap between temple and front opens up. The *Collection No.2* offers an answer to this aesthetic problem.

The 6 prescription styles and 6 sunglasses are available in a choice of single opaque colours, no laminations. The colours are: black, brown, warm grey, cool grey, dark blue, olive, bordeaux, red, white.

Both collections feature a high standard of workmanship. They feature sophisticated design and a cutting-edge technical concept.

Mykita in Oxford

Mykita Sunglasses in Oxford

David Spicer Optometrists Oxford

David Spicer Optometrists is an Independent Optometry practice in Botley, Oxford. We prescribe spectacles and contact lenses, and screen for eye disease using some of the most up-to date technology available. We provide a wide range of eyecare and eyewear products at competitive prices. Our aim is to offer excellent eyecare combined with high levels of customer service. 

The practice is owned and run by David and Sally Spicer, both experienced qualified Optometrists, supported by fellow optometrists and a staff team all committed to offering a high level of care.

David Spicer comes from a family of optometrists. His father had three practices in East Sussex where David was brought up. His brother Richard is also an optometrist, in Kent. Sally had no optometry in the family, but her brother Michael has in recent years also qualified and practices in Oxfordshire.

David and Sally met at University in London while studying Optometry, and completed their pre-registration training in Oxford. David qualified in 1982, Sally a year later.

After qualifying David and Sally spent few years working in the Oxford area for other practices. In 1989, David had the opportunity to buy the practice he had been working in. We decided that this was our chance to practice the way we wanted to, putting eyecare at the heart of the practice, and offering high quality products at affordable prices.

We attract most of our new patients by recommendation, and are pleased to find many long-standing followers returning time after time for many years.

David spent several years gaining valuable experience in fitting complex Contact Lenses by attending regular sessions at the Oxford Eye Hospital. He fits many types of contact lenses, from strightforward fitting of Daily Disposables, to more complex toric and multifocal fittings.

Sally has a particular interest in Children’s eyecare, including offering Coloured Overlays Assessments, particularly for children with dyslexia.

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