Rolf Spectacles has received the Materialica Design + Technology Award for their new 3D printed Wire collection, produced from rapidly renewable castor beans. The brand took first place in the “Product” Category.

Rolf managing director Roland Wolf expressed his delight with the achievement: “Materialica is all about sustainability, and that makes it the perfect fit for us and our corporate values. In combination with our fastidious design requirements, with Wire we have been able to create a product that blends closeness to nature with a contemporary feel. Made in Austria, naturally”. What’s striking about the Wire collection are the colored threads added to the frames by the eyewear designers from western Austria to create an artistic accent. This means the timeless frame shapes aren’t just stylish accessories, they’re also a clear statement about preserving our planet.

“I wear glasses myself, so I was immediately impressed by the idea of purely plant-based eyewear made using 3D printing”, says designer and member of the jury Prof. Peter Naumann. “In the end, the whole jury thought the material was extraordinary and were impressed by the concept and the design. In a fiercely competitive sector like the eyewear industry, it particularly important to do something new and innovative. But the refined manufacturing process and the visual highlights made it easy for us to choose Rolf”.

The eyewear collection from Rolf – whether made out of wood, stone, or the new sustainable material – can be purchased at selected retailers around the world and in their two flagship stores in Vienna and Reutte, Austria.

Rolf-spectacles.com