MACHAS

Colab & Jonathan Calugi, sitting in a tree.

There was a time when Italy wasn’t known just for a trembling economic system, the antics of its former Prime Minister and George Clooney’s vacation house. It was a time when the country was churning out great visionaries that were going to influence the rest of the world - Pasolini and Fellini just to name two.

For his first collaboration with Australian eyewear company Colab, Jonathan Calugi pays tribute to the work of fellow countryman Federico Fellini. “At the beginning I wanted to create the most creative sunglasses I could come up with”, Jonathan recollects, “but then I realized that people have to wear them so I decided to take a different route. I was inspired by “8 and 1/2”, a fantastic film with great details, great photography - and great eyewear! I love how Italy was portrait in those years - not today. And Fellini was a genius!!! So I decided to draw some 60’/70 shapes and add a modern twist.”

Colab handpicked Jonathan and gave complete freedom to create, from the shape to the packaging; Jonathan was aware that “each sunglasses is unique and the challenge was to adapt the idea to real life without limiting my creativity. In fact the real challenge was to make something that people will like to wear and not just a piece of art or an illustration. For an illustrator is hard to understand this at first because when you work with colors and shapes you want to use make the most of them - but in this case you realize that less is more.”

Jonathan is really happy with the result. “I think that the shape has definite Italian style, but an Italian style of ‘60s – and that’s a huge difference as I’m not a big fan of my country today. I’ve also designed the cloth and a poster and with my doodle line where everything start from one point to arrive to another starting point. I think the line is a great explanation of this universe!”

To celebrate the “8 ½”  Colab has produced a campaign with a strong 60’s vibe and shot by elite sydney photographer Kristian Taylor-Woods and the Assembly production team.

Jonathan Calugi’s “8 ½” sunglasses are available in selected retailers such Colette and online at http://www.colab.com.au/shop/jonathan-calugi/jca001_8-12/ and comes in a limited edition of 1000 pieces.

Jonathan Calugi portfolio here

(thanks to Abi Bliss)