David Bowie is a pure musical chameleon, trendsetter, and an inimitable icon by every measure. In this attention-deficit pop star era, there are few performers that come close to even catching Bowie’s coattails in terms of influences – and that’s why Etnia Barcelona decided to herald the entertainer himself in its newest, limited-edition sunglass collection. The David Bowie capsule pays its respects to two of his most beloved alter egos: the Glam era Ziggy Stardust and his sleek, shadow self The Thin White Duke.
For its Ziggy Stardust tribute, Etnia takes an audacious step forward with a boxy, Mazzucchelli natural acetate frame in three bold colorways. One takes inspiration from the multi-hued striped “spacesuit” worn by Bowie on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust tour; another, black acetate foregrounded by silver pinstripes, is a nod to the patent leather bodysuit from the Aladdin Sane tour. The third pair contains white frames with a translucent blue outline and blue mineral lenses by Barberini, an ode to Bowie’s favorite shades from the era. Miniatures of Stardust’s facial lightning bolt accent the top corners of all pairs.
The Thin White Duke series is the more trim and subtle of the two lines. The shade’s elegant shape recalls the glasses Bowie wore in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth and on his 1976 cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The thin metal frames feature either pink, black, or blue mineral crystal lenses. Etnia Barcelona also has a touch for undercover flair, so breathe on the lenses and the condensation reveals David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane lightning bolt.
Etnia Barcelona prides itself on a firm command of color and for always championing cultural freedom in all forms, as conveyed by its #BeAnartist tagline. That’s why there is no specs company more fitting to represent David Bowie’s own penchant for kaleidoscopic shades and unapologetic range of expression.
A David Bowie Tribute by Etnia Barcelona is available now at the brand’s flagship store in Barcelona and online.
