Before the K-brand explosion, Japanese products were all the rage. Recently, they’ve been making a comeback. Akoni sunglasses prove that Japanese manufacturing is still a winner in eyewear.
But will this Swiss/Japanese brand grow to rival some of the big eyewear names?
Akoni Sunglasses in the Spotlight
Akoni sunglasses was founded in 2020. The fact that we’re talking about this fairly new brand is already a major sign of success. Other eyewear it-brands (like Gentle Monster or even cool-girl favorite Jimmy Fairly) have been around for at least a decade.
Akoni is causing a stir in the industry, making the brand a force to be reckoned with. On the surface, it could seem like the hype of a new product. The type of brand that influencers want to be seen in.
But after digging deeper, it becomes clearer that there’s some substance. Or rather, there’s some elite Japanese craftsmanship behind the brand.
The roots of the brand are in Switzerland, but the team is based worldwide. It’s a modern global brand with a vision of creating luxury products.
It can feel like every brand calls itself ‘luxury’ nowadays. But Akoni’s approach is to focus on the whole process, from design to material selection to the skilled craftsmen who create the eyewear.
The name comes from Latin and means “priceless.” Akoni sunglasses have rigorous quality standards, and they work with highly trained artisans in Japan. The country is famous throughout the eyewear world for its precision, Japanese titanium, and generations of craftsmen.
The Founders
The Akoni brand was founded by Rosario Toscano and Salma Rachid. They worked with previous DITA eyewear designers Jeff Solorio and John Juniper to create Akoni’s premium optical and sunglass collections.
In an interview, designer Jeff said their goal was to create eyewear that opticians would actually want to recommend to their clients. The type of products that feel, fit, and look good. It feeds into the Akoni ethos of “intelligent design.”
Why Are Akoni Sunglasses Expensive?
The brand focuses on the ‘hyper-luxury’ sector. So, in truth, it’s simply not meant to be an affordable brand for everyone. It’s designed for those who are ‘trend-setters’ and luxury-goods consumers; those who love innovation and the hottest new products.
With this target market in mind, Akoni sunglasses can feature all the bells and whistles. This includes premium materials like titanium.
Beyond the branding, part of the cost comes from the fact that they’re made in Japan and have a lot of design details. For example, the Jupiter sunglasses (which can be seen in the image at the top of the article) have ceramic and titanium nose pads and precision rimless lenses.
These sunglasses are not your everyday eyewear buy. They’re designed with intention.
Think of it like the difference between an outfit from GAP and one from Dior. There’s nothing wrong with GAP, to be clear. But the point is that you get what you pay for; one is manufactured to be of higher quality.
The Design Details: A Dose of Fashionable Futurism
Some styles of Akoni sunglasses are classic-ish. One example is the Innes tortoiseshell cat-eye frames. They feature modern design touches, such as the metal arms and lightweight Japanese acetate.
Designer Jeff Solorio shared during an interview that he and fellow designer John Juniper are fans of luxury watches, pens, and lighters. The details on these products inspired them. They want Akoni eyewear to become a prized possession for any owner, just like their favorite watch.
These horn-rimmed Akoni sunglasses are a good example of including luxury details. The Japanese titanium-and-acetate combination gives them that classic edge you’d expect in a Rolex watch. The horn-rimmed shape also plays up their vintage appeal.
Even the nose pads are fresh and innovative. They switched from titanium nose pads to ceramic ones.
Just to put it into perspective, most eyewear uses molded acetate, silicone, or PVC nose pads. Ceramic ones are an interesting touch.
The inspiration came from the bezel on watches (the circular outer ring that frames the dial). It’s a high-quality material used in crafts for thousands of years across civilizations. So leave it to Akoni to use it in their eyewear!
Futuristic Styles for Innovators
One of the key details of Akoni’s collections so far has been a healthy dose of futuristic styles. It fits their ethos of tailoring eyewear for ‘innovators’ and high-fashion lovers.
They also take the futuristic vibe literally. They named one of their styles Juno-Two, after an asteroid that is hurtling through space right now. And you can see the inspiration in the geometric shape and the acetate shields. These Akoni sunglasses wouldn’t look out of place on a NASA mission (or in a space movie featuring Tom Cruise).
Popular With the It-Crowd
Celebrities have caught on to the Akoni wave, and styles such as the Juno have been spotted on Will Smith, Michael Fassbender, and Gillian Anderson. The diverse celebrity following shows that it’s a brand for all ages, genders, and fashion sensibilities.
TL;DR
- Akoni was created by eyewear veterans, with previous DITA eyewear designers at the helm of the collections.
- The brand was founded in 2020, making Akoni relatively new. But they’ve cemented their position in the luxury sector.
- Founded in Switzerland and crafted in Japan, they bring together the quality, precision, and craftsmanship of the two countries.
- One of the reasons Akoni sunglasses cost more is because of the high-end materials and construction. They’re made for lovers of design and detailing.
- Part of the design ethos is creating styles that opticians would be happy to recommend to their customers for their superior quality, fit, and feel.
- The attention to detail is why Akoni sunglasses have blown up. This includes the little details like their ceramic nose pads, Japanese titanium frames, and lightweight acetate.
- Celebrities and fashion innovators have caught on, with the sunglasses spotted on everyone from Will Smith to Gillian Anderson.
