RAEN ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION COLLAB WITH ALEX KNOST

The 2010 sophomore collection for RAEN Optics includes its first co-op frame. With the brand's roots steeped in surfing and music, it was only natural to align with multi-talented longboard rebel and musician (Japanese Motors, tomorrows tulips), Alex Knost.

Staying true to RAEN's vintage-inspired foundation, the “Flowers” frame is a throwback to the days at the Factory and the gender-bending Andy Warhol-esque style. This collaboration with Alex was seamless as we share the same philosophy and taste when it comes to product design (strong attention to detail, classic shapes, and overall quality).

"Flowers are large enough to fit and successfully block the sun from a man’s eyes, at the same time they lack the dead weight and overly bulky design that inhibits a woman from wearing them. I fancy them as gender neutral, in doing so I hope Flowers install confidence in anyone that aspires to wear a stylistically timeless, and elegantly shaped pair of sunglasses." — Alex Knost

The limited edition "Flowers" will be available March 1, 2010.

2010 "SOPHOMORE" COLLECTION AVAILABLE MARCH 1

The first installment of RAEN Optics' 2010 collection includes three new frames that will be available to ship March 1, 2010 (The Flowers, The Lenox, and The Deakin). Additional frames will be released May 1 and July 11, stay tuned for more info at wwwraenoptics.com.

With all of our 2010 styles we want to provide progressive versatility. Many of our handmade acetate frames are designed to look equally as good as a sunglass or as a prescription optical. Depending on your personal choice and needs, our frames can take you from a weekend at the beach, to the work desk, to a night on the town. We'll leave it up to you. To us, all that matters is that you look good doing it... whatever "it" may be.

The "Flowers" frame is a collaboration with Alex Knost and is our homage to the historic windsor style eyeglass.

The "Lenox" serves up an extra dose of personality with exaggerated fin shaped arms and stylish metal detailing.

The "Deakin" features easy contours and lighweight acetate to guarantee a comfortable ride to wherever your travels may take you.

For more information on RAEN's 2010 collection please contact Jeremy Heit at jeremy@raenoptics.com.

IN THE PRESS

New York, LA, London, San Francisco and Encinitas? According to fashion news leader, Elle Magazine (Aug09 Issue) we belong on that list when it comes to designer hot spots. We agree but let's just keep that our little secret. The past summer also saw RAEN as a featured brand on the trendy New York website, DailyCandy.com during the month of August. You also may have seen RAEN this summer in the pages of Filter, Stab, Surfing, Nylon Guys, and Bilsss, Sunglass Magazine, Beach Japan, Time Out NY, ABC.com, MTV.com, Selectism.com, and trend-forcasting leader WGSN.com. Our glasses were also used in upcoming lookbooks for lifestyle brands, Edun and Nixon. Keep an eye out for RAEN as we continue to charge ahead.

CURRENT ADVERTISING

Check out current issues of BLISS, BLUE JAPAN, SURFING, HRH Magazine, Monster Children, and Stab to see our latest. The current batch of ads feature Alex Knost (wearing the Flowers), Mitch Abshere (wearing the Casbah), and Kassia Meador (wearing the Noval) and include new photography by Thomas Campbell and Nolan Hall.

2009 TRADESHOW WRAP-UP

RAEN Optics' 2009 and 2010 Collections were on display at the Project Tradeshow in Las Vegas, September 1-3 and Class@ASR in San Diego, September 10-12, and we were more than excited with the overwhelmingly positive response from retailers, peers, and media alike. Here is a clip from Empire Ave at the Class show with RAEN product designer, Jordan Percy, and creative director, Justin Heit, talking about what's new for 2010.