The four-collection partnership under the Roger Federer (“RF”) and Oliver Peoples brands begins with six new styles – including four sunglasses and two shield frames.
Federer's passion for Oliver Peoples
For Roger, the connection to Oliver Peoples began over twenty years ago, when he purchased his first pair from the Los Angeles-based brand. “Sunglasses are something I’ve enjoyed as my sport has required me to chase the sun 80% of my life. One of the main goals of our collection was to create sunglasses that could be utilized in every aspect of one’s routine – off or on the court” Federer said.
Features of the collection
For sport, lifestyle, or even a red carpet, the sunglasses complement every world Roger occupies. This angle is what makes each pair truly unique. At first glance, every shape – even the shield – resembles a look for everyday life, but it’s the inner workings and details that exemplify the performance elements.
The high visual quality of the lenses offered in the RF | Oliver Peoples collection match the innovative performance technology found in each pair. From custom Color Enhancement lenses which boost dominant colors specific to environments like water, forest, or the city, to Polarized lenses which cut the sun’s glare, and mirrored lenses – advanced visual details are offered throughout.
Every pair is designed for comfort and ease. The frames feature rubber grip nose pads and temple tips to help support a consistent fit throughout performance wear, whether uphill on a bike trail, mid-point in a tennis match, or downhill skiing. Federer stated, “We wanted to ensure the frames fit well and do not slide. With this, we created rubber grip details that sit on the back of your ears and nose. Especially with the adjustable rubber nose pads, the frames are comfortable and look strong on your face, without being too tight.” Notably, every pair is incredibly lightweight, with a maximum of 35 grams. The designs are made to be universally flattering for various face shapes and easy to style – perfect for whatever a day’s activities entail.
Throughout every angle, there are distinct, collaboration-exclusive details that honor Roger Federer. He noted, “I’m a big fan of details. That’s why I think the collection looks so impressive.” Elements include a number “8” plaque, a special number to him representing his birthdate (8.8.81) as well as the number of his Wimbledon titles. A custom corewire pattern was developed and inspired by the threading patterns of the strings found on vintage tennis racquets. Another symbol of tennis is the custom octagonal RF metal logo piece at the temple tip. The octagonal shape is inspired by the end of a tennis racquet. In addition, every pair features the iconic RF logo on the plaque, temple tip, and lenses. These carefully crafted details for the wearer are a hallmark of the Oliver Peoples brand and serve as unique luxury accents to this performance eyewear.
The first-ever shield styles of Oliver Peoples
The collection notably offers the first-ever shield styles in the history of the Oliver Peoples brand. In designing shields, both OP and Roger wanted to make sure the frames were an extremely clean aesthetic, wearable, and timeless while still being fashion-forward. The collaboration offers two shield styles, R-4 and R-5. R-4 is distinguished by its semi-matte bio-nylon top bar while R-5 features a minimalist, windsor rim top bar. Federer remarked “Shields are very new for me. I thought let’s give it a go, and see…I love the way they turned out. I don’t think we’ve seen shields like this in the market that are both high-performance and luxurious.”
Mr. Federer: the glasses worn by the tennis player at the Met Gala
Perhaps most recognizable in design, is the namesake Mr. Federer frame. “This shape is what I wore to the Met Gala, and I wanted to find a way to incorporate it into the collection but in a more sporty way. With all the collaboration envisioned details, like the rubber grip nose pads and temple tips, we accomplished this. Alongside, the name we landed on was Mr. Federer, which I hope this style will be quite iconic” he noted. With this new take, sunglass and optical pairing are available and feature the perfect hybrid of active components with elegant styling.
R-2 and R-3 models
In addition, a semi-rimless metal sunglass with double bridge detail, R-2 and a bold acetate frame featuring a quintessential Oliver Peoples key-hole bridge, R-3, make up the collection.
Adv campaign
The corresponding campaign sees Federer captured by acclaimed photographer, Pari Dukovic. A reference to the different arenas of Federer’s life, the styling features an all-white, on-court look and a classic, impeccably tailored tuxedo. The imagery is distinct with a motion drag effect – giving a first look at the frames in action.
Distribution
The Oliver Peoples Roger Federer inaugural collection will be available globally starting March 14th 2024 in Oliver Peoples boutiques and online, as well as at select wholesale partners.