AKK: Catching Dreams In Sunnies
December 7, 2010
Moving back to Sweden from London, Anna-Karin Karlsson, 35, finally found time to catch up on making some of her dreams come true. Karlsson, trained actress and musician now designs sunglasses . Her collection of beautiful specs are as beautiful on a face as on a table – and have already caught the eyes of Grace Jones and Skye Edwards from Morcheeba.
You’re first sunglass collection is out now. How did you get into sunglass design?
– I fell into the world of optics when I moved to London 1994 after finishing my acting degree in Sweden. I became a buyer and learnt to design for the bespoke service we provided at the Old Bond Street practice. I lived abroad until last year and when returning to Sweden I needed something to do and this has always been a dream of mine. Catching dreams time.
Do you remember your first pair?
– My first pair of sun glasses were a pair of Florida 80′s glamour that my friend’s mother brought back from the States. They were not dissimilar to what Tom Ford does now but with more gold details and sharper contrast lenses.
As a Swede, from a country where it’s pitch black dark six months a year, how do you handle sunglasses wintertime?
– My collection is made so that the sunglasses will always be beautiful, on a face or on a table. So it depends. If it’s a sunny winters day wear them and when not, put them on a table and enjoy!
Can you help us to finally put this never-ending question behind us: Is it okay to wear sunglasses inside? And why is this so provocative?
– I think the differences in people make up for some of the fun in life but also the friction. I reckon one should do as one pleases. Time Out Magazine ones wrote about my music. “Miss Karlsson proves to the world it doesn’t need to be so hard” and I think that applies to my collection and how I want my life. Fun and sure, it is fun to see someone in eyewear in a place not entirely suitable. I always try to wear something witty so if I feel lonely or unstimulated I can giggle by myself, at myself. Self-irony in others is rather charming, I reckon.
The collection is inspired by fairy tales, and each pair has a name that inspires stories. How did this happen?
– I went far into myself, worked day and night for months and this is what needed to come out. I see visuals, pictures. The name mirrors the visuals.
What can you tell about a person just by looking at their sunglasses?
– Quite a lot. It’s not often that collections or people’s personal optical wardrobes amaze me, so people hire me to do them. So apart from my new collection I design for private people and style people with eyewear from all different producers. I work on getting my clients a balanced optical wardrobe. Some romantic, some practical, some cutting edge, some glamorous and some fun eyewear. More like the variations of shoes people have.
Has Lady Gaga made an order yet?
– Time will tell. Skye Edwards from Morcheeba has a pair and she in turn ordered a pair for Grace Jones.
Who do you want to see wear your glasses?
– People in general. Brave people. Fun people. People I love. Gaga would be fun since my nephew is obsessed with her. Skye and Grace also float my boat. My niece will model for me, her face is real symmetrical and the prettiest ever so it will be fun to shoot her and slightly alienate her.
Bonus question: You’re also a musician, where can our readers find your music?
www.myspace.com/tripstar
www.myspace.com/theethnotroniceproject
www.myspce.com/nicotinearmy
The plan is to write songs to other artists from next year. Creativity feeds creativity. Catching dreams time.
Check out Anna-Karin Karlsson new sunglasses at: www.theopticalwardrobe.com/akk.php
By Katarina Matsson
Published by: The Swede Beat
