Tommy Ogara

HS: I think it becomes stranger as it becomes not just a norm for smaller brands, I think that is generally good, but for corporate entities too.

Tommy: We get approached all the time. And, always say no. When you are approached it is just different. It has to happen naturally. I’ve never done a project I didn’t want to do. It’s always been fun.

HS: I think that comes out in the product.

Tommy: I think so too. At the end of the day, when these things come out, three times a year, each is a special living organism between people. It takes time. It is worth it. We get all these emails from kids who want it, and that is really satisfying.

HS: I wanted to ask you about, you know much of the collaborative products and styles are for the Asian market, they drive interest internationally. It’s obviously important to brand building.

Tommy: For sure, with the internet and air travel the world is so small. Things will come out and a few days later people are all over it. It doesn’t always translate, but often it does.

HS: Oh, I know all too well.

Tommy: It’s amazing. Everything is so amazing to me know. I don’t do a ton of interviews, but when we do this kind of thing it is crazy how quickly we get inquiries. I tell my kids information is power. Looking at magazines in Japan, and Hong Kong, they drive the market. What ever the stylist likes, the kids want. It’s amazing what information does to people.

HS: I remember the outlet growing up being so small, and once a month, and now it’s daily.

Tommy: It’s amazing. I check a few of the blogs. But, I’m always traveling and checking things out. When talking to people, people have suddenly seen things within hours. Everything is compressed.

HS: I work in museum’s too, and the juxtaposition of pace from fashion to that is crazy.

Tommy: Did you study curation?

HS: I studied decorative arts and material culture.

Tommy: That’s so funny. As an undergraduate I worked at the State Historical Society. I grew up in South Dakota and Nebraska. I had an aunt that worked in the historical society and she said, “If you want to see something interesting and have a good time, do your work study here.” It was insane. I also worked at the Sheldon doing displays. I worked in both historical museums and a gallery setting. In a weird way, when I do stores and display frames I’m always cautious and I go back to those experiences.

It’s funny. When you go to an F.I.L. Store, it’s all about display. It is like a museum. It reminds me of those internships. You walk into an F.I.L. store and there are museum displays from all around the world. They stock them. You go in, and you feel as if the product is archival. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a side bar explaining the entire product.

We are opening a new store in Beijing next month 8/8 Lucky day. Masunaga X Dita.Masunaga is the factory family who actually created the Eyewear guilds in Fukui so
It is an honor to be working together. They have some real Museum pieces that they made for the Emperor of Japan at the turn of the previous century. Masunaga just created our new “feather collection”. Four frames so light you can barely see them, Titanium rimless metals. The Osprey, Avocet, Heron and Sunbeam. A collaborative
work with a 105 year old company… should be archival but better to wear!