Sashee Schuster

Designer Sashee Schuster is a collector, and the souvenirs from her forays through meadow and forest are found on the shelves of her studio. Barley, wildflowers, leaves, spices or even feathers can be found here. "My glasses are made by hand in the FUNK manufactory in Kinsau, Bavaria. In the process, the collected flowers, seeds or bird feathers are laminated with the raw material acetate. The result: designs such as chilli dill, pheasant feather, rose bouquet, copper flake, meadow flower, colourful pepper and many more."

In addition to Sashee Schuster's main work, the eyewear laminated with natural materials in the "Colours of Nature" collection, special individual pieces are awarded the "Unique" certificate.

Her portfolio also includes the "True Colours" collection. These are frames made of cotton acetate in Sashee's favourite colours.

The designer always makes special frames from beautiful vintage acetate, which complement her work under the name "Schmankerl". The collection "The Divas", eccentric sunglasses, are available as limited editions and the classics from her first collection "Daddycated" are dedicated to her father Rupert.

Sashee Schuster answers questions

Find out how Sashee spins gold from straw and which glasses the designer herself prefers to wear.

Sashee, how did you get into eyewear?

I think the closest I came to making eyewear was through my enjoyment of experimenting. The traditional sheet material cotton acetate and its fantastic properties have fascinated me from the very beginning. The idea of preserving natural materials and their beautiful colours for eternity has somehow always lain dormant in me. It makes me think of iridescent beetles cast in epoxy resin, gathering dust in the biology archives at school. The first time I used the laminating technique was in an art project called "Art on Snow". We printed artworks by young street artists on microfibre and then laminated them with a press in acetate. You could almost say I'm still laminating artwork. It's just that they can be worn on the nose.

Your first collection is dedicated to your father Rupert. What do you remember when you think of him?

Yes, that's right, I wanted to memorialise my father and dedicated my first collection to him with "Daddycated". My father was born in 1925 and I feel he was often one step ahead of his time. Unfortunately, I lost him at an early age. When I think of him, I have both of us hunting for mushrooms in my mind's eye. I also remember building clay men on the Isar, swimming at Lake Bibi, eating kirwa cakes in his Upper Palatinate home and many wonderful father-daughter moments. The old pictures of my family, especially from the 1930s to the 1950s, still inspire me today. The elegance of the clothes, the shapes of the glasses - they simply had style. I made my first designs based on these old photos.

You work with a special laminating technique. Why did you choose this approach?

As I said, acetate is a fascinating material because it can be used in so many ways. Initially, it really looks like a rough diamond. By "capturing" nature between two acetate plates and then polishing it - first in the drum and then very carefully by hand - incredibly great structures and colours emerge. So much depth and beauty always remind me of a shimmering gemstone. Especially when I laminate a material for the first time, it is always a surprise how the setting looks after polishing. I love this process, and also thanks to our manufactory in Kinsau and the professional team, almost all my ideas are also turned into reality.

And why natural materials?

Nature's beauty is fleeting, that is part of the life cycle. In acetate, however, it does not fade. Who would have thought, for example, that the husks of lupines look like mother-of-pearl or that straw gives the appearance of gold? Moreover, a thought experiment gives me particular pleasure: when I laminate seeds, this plant is simultaneously preserved for the future. And if then in thousands of years mankind finds my glasses, the perhaps already extinct plants can be brought back to life. :P

What have you always wanted to laminate and make into glasses?

As bad as it sounds - butterflies. But of course they would no longer be allowed to live or would have to give up their wings "voluntarily". But I think that will fortunately never happen.

Your glasses usually have women's names. What's that all about?

My glasses are meant to be a tribute to femininity. That's why I name the models after strong women from my environment and those who inspire me. Over the years, I have seen countless metamorphoses in our shops and at many trade fairs. Many women who try on my glasses suddenly adopt a completely different posture, transform into even more beautiful and self-confident women. It makes my eyes moist and fills me with pride. In spite of everything, this does not mean that my glasses are only good for the female sex!

Which glasses are you wearing right now?

My eternal favourite pair of glasses is the "Afra". They are the first "Colours of Nature" model that I designed, so they are just right for me. "Afra" has something of Sophia Loren having a drink with Marlene Dietrich.

What would you like to pass on to the wearers of your glasses?

You can feel extravagant, majestic and self-confident. Fulfil your wishes and dreams. Dare to be yourself.

Sashee Schuster

Sashee Schuster answers questions

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