Artist and jewelry designer Austin James Smith partners with eyewear brand Planet i to launch an exclusive pair of sunglasses.
The sharp Spinal Sunglasses, imagined from an archived motif from the Austin James Smith Splice collection (Collection 5), will launch on July 26th 2022, exclusively via http://www.austinjamessmith.com & http://www.planeti.world.
Austin James Smith’s visual language stems from the integration of accessories, the body and identity. His creations flirt the boundary between a dark and serious, yet playful and camp universe. The Spinal Sunglasses capture those dualities. The dynamic shield design, offered in 3 contrasting colorways – Shadow, Sport, and Sunrise – contrasts with reciprocal white, gold and black spinal design of the temple sides. It speaks of Austin’s penchant for statement looks, nightlife, and explicit summer buff.
For his first venture into eyewear, and with the collaboration of Planet i, Austin successfully transposes his visual identity into another product category; the Spinal Sunglasses collection is merely an extension of his iconic jewelry creations.
About Austin James Smith:
Austin Smith is a mixed media artist living in New York City. Originally from Detroit, Austin studied Print Media at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago before making New York City his home in 2017.
Coupling print making with an exploratory immersion into New York City nightlife, Austin started using himself as a canvas of his personal artistic expression, creating a strong vehicle to his art via social media under the name Empty Pools.
His portraiture is a collection of make-up, facial prosthesis, objets trouvés, glass and metal work – a nod to fantastical darkness. It is revealing, public and personal. His performance with metal accessorizing eventually led him to design his own jewelry pieces.
About Planet i:
Planet i is a queer owned sunglasses brand based in Brooklyn, NY. Emanating from a glitter lens sunglasses brand, Planet i thrived internationally, serving and uplifting its community of outsiders through a vision of connectedness. Its creations continuously appear in all major fashion publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, etc
All images courtesy of Austin James Smith
PR Agency Rep Agency NYC
