Rigards Model RG0161ZC Ziggy Chen Sunglasses | 2021

Designers: Ti Ning Kwa, Rigards, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, SAR
Manufacturer: Odd Skin Out Limited, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, SAR

Presenting a fresh installment in the Ziggy Chen and RIGARDS sustainable eyewear collaboration, a gesture of appreciation between one irrepressible creative and another. Sculpted from ethically sourced solid horn, RG0161ZC showcases rich visual and artisanal dexterity.

Artfully shaved bevels that flow and ebb throughout the frame take as their primary reference the fluid brush strokes of East Asian calligraphy, creating three-dimensional flourish and refinement.
Enlisting the aid of Shanghai lacquer artist Zheng Yiming, we coated the horn in gossamer-thin bamboo paper, and hand-painted it in traditional lacquer technique, with careful drying, sanding, and smoothing between each layer, until the final matte top layer is applied to produce lacquer with less shine, delivering a unique rendition of the time-honored art form.

The frame also features temples cut from beta-titanium—with hollow-back construction for lightweight comfort—and solid wood temple tips made using offcuts of high-end furniture.
The final icing: an evocative color palette—Antique Brick, Antique Black, and Antique White—which adds extra resonance to a collection that treasures natural beauty and hidden poetry.