Capsule collaboration with Drift Eyewear

Have you ever met someone and INSTANTLY feel that you have a REAL connection?

I received a phone call from a stranger named Chris a few months back who you might think would be tough to connect with when looking on the surface. An engineer by trade with a new eyewear company based out of Chicago, IL.

However, if you dig a little deeper you'll find our common denominator is really quite simple. PASSION and LOVE FOR WHAT WE DO, and the willingness to risk EVERYTHING to chase a dream. I'm still in the middle of mine and hope to never wake up. Chris has just closed his eyes, but something tells me his "vision" is very clear and his dirt path is about to turn into a 5-lane highway!

Chris Mantz is the founder and creator of Drift Eyewear. Two months ago, Chris and I both agreed to do a collaboration. You might even remember the photo I posted "hinting at a new venture that involved the beams below being sent to Chicago."

Those precious beams were tough to give up. They're from the heart of the Meatpacking District here in New York and their brothers and sisters have been made into Capsule Furniture pieces soon to be released to the public as part of the Meatpacking Collection.

So, why give-up this historic wood that I worked so hard to salvage? Because I believe in what Chris Mantz is doing and the principles of his business are synonymous with mine.

Plus, 9 months ago when I was literally pulling these beams out of a historic building in the Meatpacking district, I never dreamed that the wood could become......

....the sleekest, most-comfortable, most beautiful pair of designer shades I've ever tried on (okay, I'm definitely biased, but for reals these things are AMAZING).

This limited edition of Capsule Furniture frames will be part of Chris's 2011 Timber Collection which he just released at the International Vision Expo here in New York this weekend. Part of that original conversation a few months ago was not only creating these incredible frames together, but also designing a booth that would catch people's eye and display Chris's glasses in a way that no one could walk by without at least taking a look! Chris trusted my aesthetic and gave me complete creative control of his very small 10X10 booth. It was like another Design Star White Box Challenge and boy was I excited! Here's what we had to start with...

I drew this VERY ROUGH SKETCH of a display I had dreamed up months ago. However, with a little bit of labor and a lot of love the original vision actually became a reality.

Here's what we ended up with...

Needless to say, the response was what we had both hoped for, and the glasses EASILY SOLD THEMSELVES.

I have no doubt that Drift Eyewear is on the verge of something VERY BIG. I'm happy to be a part of Chris's Timber Collection this Spring 2011. I look forward to watching his business grow and succeed, but most of all, I am excited about the friendship that began on the phone 2 months ago that will certainly last a lifetime!

For more from Drift, or to get your pair of Capsule Furniture shades, visit the website here or e-mail sales@drifteyewear.com.

Have a great week!

Love ya'll

DGF