Persol and Olivetti collaborate on typewriter inspired sunglasses
The Italian eyewear house pairs with the legendary typewriter manufacturer for a collection that celebrates mid century design, complete with Lettera 22 engravings and washed lens tints in green and cherry brown.
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Persol has drawn inspiration from one of design’s most cherished writing instruments with a collection that bridges eyewear and the tactile romance of the typewriter. The Olivetti partnership honours the Lettera 22, whose elegant mechanical simplicity has enchanted designers and writers for decades, by etching its name and form onto the temple arms of two distinct silhouettes.
The first frame arrives in a tortoiseshell acetate paired with brushed metal, its green washed lenses casting the world in a contemplative hue. The second opts for a darker narrative: black acetate with polished metal temples and cherry brown tinted glass, deeper and more saturated. Both styles carry the spirit of what made the typewriter iconic, from its functional beauty to its democratic promise that writing belonged to everyone.
The detailing extends to the packaging, custom designed to echo the precision of manufacturing that Olivetti perfected. Persol’s signature hinge mechanism and craftsmanship remain unchanged, a reminder that the house has long understood how small objects can carry enormous meaning. These sunglasses read as more than a collaboration; they are a small act of preservation, catching the afternoon light while honouring a moment when design and everyday objects were inseparable.
Imagery courtesy of Persol (@persol).
