It’s been decades since Oakley has designed a pair of sunglasses that a skateboarder would wear. Their Frogskins were about it and they were released in 1985. Now, thanks to some input from skateboarders Eric Koston, Sean Malto, Curran Caples and skate photog Atiba Jefferson Oakley has a pretty smooth set of shades that not only look good, but come with some needed function for anyone who has ever clipped their glasses over the neck of their T-shirt. They’re called the Oakley Latch.
“It was just amazing to team up with three skate legends and see this frame come to life,” said Jefferson. “We collaborated with the Oakley design team on all elements – from frame shape to logo placement – to develop a truly signature product that I know we’re all really proud of.”
The “latch” is located behind the hinge on each side of the glasses and allows the glasses to be locked on to the neck of a T-shirt. We had a little trouble latching the shades to the shirt (it often took two hands), but once the latch is attached our days of spilling our sunglasses onto the street were over.
The Latch retails starting at $130 and can be purchased online at Oakley. For the official word from Oakley, follow the jump.
OAKLEY TEAMS UP WITH SKATE ICONS TO CREATE LATCH
COLLABORATION WITH ERIC KOSTON, SEAN MALTO, CURREN CAPLES AND ATIBA JEFFERSON CREATES A TIMELESS NEW SUNGLASS STYLE
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 — Oakley has launched Latch, a new sunglass that features a patented latch mechanism built into the frames, enabling wearers to securely fasten the sunglasses onto their shirt collar or open pocket. Created in collaboration with Oakley skateboard icons Eric Koston, Sean Malto and Curren Caples, along with globally renowned photographer Atiba Jefferson, the new frames were developed to keep up with any active lifestyle.
The eclectic pairing of young pros (Caples and Malto) with iconic legends (Koston and Jefferson) delved deep into the Oakley archives for inspiration. The group also drew on outside sources ranging from classic video games to movies to old-school fashion in order to create a design that combines timeless style with modern functionality.
“We’re so excited to be a part of the design process for a product that not only looks cool but solves that problem of sunglasses falling off your shirt. Oakley has always been a pioneer within the eyewear industry and we just wanted to continue that with Latch,” said Malto.
The creative process for Latch began with inspiration boards and roundtable discussions with the Oakley design team, taking the aesthetic concepts from the four collaborators to develop sketches and prototypes. Adding a modern twist to a classic style, the Oakley designers created Latch, featuring a minimal and timeless rounded frame with the added benefit of technology and functionality.
“It was just amazing to team up with three skate legends and see this frame come to life,” said Jefferson. “We collaborated with the Oakley design team on all elements – from frame shape to logo placement – to develop a truly signature product that I know we’re all really proud of.”
The Oakley designers studied the skate icon’s lifestyle to identify a style and solution that would not only fit into their life but make it better. Oakley Eyewear Designer Daniel Chae noted, “The same way a performance piece allows you to perform better in your sport, Latch is a style piece that allows you to perform better in your life – combining revolutionary technology features with a beautifully designed product. Latch is a true testament to Oakley’s continuous belief that everything can and will be made better.”
The Latch collaboration will continue at Oakley In Residence: Sydney from November 5th through November 29th, a unique space that celebrates the creativity within and culture of skateboarding. This will be the third Oakley In Residence brand hub experience designed to fuel passion rooted in sport as part of the company’s global One Obsession campaign. Earlier this year, Oakley hosted a skate-inspired community space in Los Angeles and an urban cycling creative workshop in London.
Koston, Malto, Caples and Jefferson will be the lead curators of programming, with support from local Sydney athletes, photographers, filmmakers, and influencers across the skate, creative and street communities. The space – which will be located at 74 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales – will be free and open to the public during select hours. For more information and a schedule of activities, visit www.oakley.com/inresidence.
Latch will be available for global distribution on October 1, 2015 at Oakley.com, O-Stores, SGH and wholesale. Asia Fit will be available May 1, 2016. For more information, visit http://www.oakley.com/latch.
Join the global conversation at #OakleyLatch.
