Hoet: plastic frames are coming to an end

Patrick Hoet, one of the illustrious names in international eyewear design, has very precise opinions: about how the market is going to divide in the near future (“mid-range chains and high-range independent stores”), about the end of plastic frames (“perhaps this will be the last exhibition before we finally tire of them”), about polished gold as next season’s color. And he expresses them clearly in this interview during MIDO 2011.

The owner of a recently established company, Hoet believes that every cloud has a silver lining: We started in  the middle of the crisis (Silmo 2008). Perhaps our start would have been even more succesful if there wasn’t the crisis. Who knows? Personaly I find crisis a good thing for the market. It eliminates the less fit companies, thus creating a better market for the survivors.

“I think retail market will further split In specialized sections: discount chains and high end independent stores. High end market will, sooner or later, split into “branded” and “non-branded” quality products. The non-branded will be the only ones which combine quality and exclusivity. They cannot and may not grow too big if they want to stay exclusive. “

He has clear ideas also about what will mark this edition of MIDO: “I guess we’ll see more “exclusive” collections appear at existing brands. For vintage inspired plastic frames it will be one of the last shows before we get tired of them. Overkill.”.
Continuing on this subject, he talked about the new products introduced by Hoet: “I’ll introduce 2 new 5mm thick titanium frames. My daughter Bieke will present a sunshield visor which can be fitted with prescription lenses in her Cabrio collection and a brand new tabletop mirror. I’m proud of her.”.

And when asked about his favorite eyewear, he replied: “For now it is our model Alice, but as I heard from another designer: the favorite still has be created, otherwise designers wouldn’t have a reason to exist.”.