The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Thursday June 18th — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Thursday June 18th — —

“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Thursday June 18th — —

Raphael

We really like the latest project of Norwegian Rain‘s co-founder, and one of our favorite people working in fashion; the immaculate T-Michael, who joint forces with Dutch optics specialist Ralph Vaessen in a collaboration which was officially launched yesterday at Pitti Uomo. Both T-Michael and Vaessen have a distinct sense of elegant stand-out style and a sincere love for luxurious craftsmanship and after a chance meeting their new creative enterprise was born. The result is a capsule collection of one model; simplistic yet tantalizing for the pure at heart and the lover of devilish detailing. Named ‘Raphael’, the extraordinary glasses are produced by hand in Germany of natural horn – the material of choice for most of Ralph Vaessen’s models and a clear favorite of ourselves as wel – and comes in four color ways: ivory, slate, grey, ebony and chocolate. 

Two real connoisseurs. Both with a distinct love and urge for descerning creativity, both with excellent taste.

Ralph and Michael are presenting their capsule collection since yesterday and until tomorrow, during Pitti Uomo 88 at the Taste Lounge under the alternative set. As part of the presentation of the new sunglasses a screening of ‘The Obsure Mirage’ is presented. The series of portraits, which form a stylish debut of the new product, featuring Ralph and Michael, were shot by LE21EME and Guerrism.

T-Michael likes to blur boundaries. Designing out of Bergen, Norway, Ghanaian born T-Michael has merged the universes of bespoke tailoring and ready to wear with his collection of suits, shirts, bags, shoes, scarves and cufflinks. His conceptual approach to men’s tailoring juxtaposes time tested tradition against a trademark effortless style. True, unadulterated beauty and craftsmanship goes into each of T-Michael’s pieces. Details, quality, tradition and style are few words that come to mind. After bespoke tailoring projects, his work for Norwegian Rain and projects in film, T-Michael now premiers his first project in optics.

Ralph Vaessen started to design eyewear early 2006, after he worked for the Dutch Government for over 15 years. At that point Vaessen was looking for eyeglasses, but couldn’t find what he was looking for so he decided to make a drawing of the particular shape he wanted and asked a small atelier to produce it for him. Pleased with the outcome Vaessen saw the opportunities this new pair of glasses inhabited and his brand was born, which in the recent years has been appreciated by names Kevin Bacon, Anton Corbijn, Tommy Hilfiger, Carice van Houten, David Lynch, Paul Smith and Kate Moss.

Photography by Hessel Waalewijn.

For more information keep an eye on Ralph Vaessen’s website in the coming months.