The Turin-based accessories label Italia Independent has just unveiled its first eyewear collection designed exclusively by the brand’s founder and creative director, Lapo Elkann. Known for his luxury lifestyle and flamboyant sense of style, the eclectic Italian entrepreneur's debut collection is inspired by the three worlds most dear to him—art, cars, and made in Italy vintage.
Elkann is the grandson of late business mogul and renowned man-about-town Gianni Agnelli, who once dominated Italy with his portfolio of enterprises, which included, among many others, Fiat Automobiles and Juventus Football Club. However, over the past decade, Elkann has been steadily claiming his own stake in the Italian luxury market and making a name for himself that extends beyond his aristocratic heritage. Turning his hand to designing, the Laps Collection ("Laps" is how he's known among friends) is the materialization of Elkann's multifaceted identity.
“With the Laps Collection, I wanted to give something of myself. I wanted to seek deep inside myself to turn the passions that have always guided my companies into products,” explains Elkann. "[The Laps Collection] influences and is influenced by different worlds," he continues, "all united by a deep love for beauty.” Designed with exceptional attention to detail, the drop encompasses a total of seven sunglass and five eyeglass frames across three sub-collections titled Art, Automotive, and Made in Italy Vintage Icon.
One of Elkann’s greatest passions, both personally and professionally, is the automotive industry. Alongside an extensive personal collection of luxury vehicles, his most recent business venture, Garage Italia, is an exclusive garage dedicated to the customization of luxury cars, yachts, planes, and helicopters. Drawing on this industry, the Automotive line comprises four designs made from aluminum with optional polarised lenses to be used when driving. In line with the theme, they feature an open gate shifter outline engraved on the nose pads as well as round rivets displaying Garage Italia’s logo.
The second line, Art, combines Elkann’s love of art and the ocean. Reinterpreting the infamous woodblock print The Great Wave of seminal Japanese artist Hokusai, these frames are engraved with waves along the temples and on the nose pads. Made entirely in Japan, all five models in the Art line boast refined frames made from lightweight titanium.
At the heart of everything Elkann creates lies his love for Italy, and nothing captures the quintessential Italian flair better than Fellini’s iconic film La Dolce Vita. With this as inspiration, the Made in Italy Vintage Icon line offers four timeless styles with thick acetate frames in black or tortoise-shell, all of which bear the Italia Independent and Laps Collection logos.
The Laps Collection is available to buy now from all Italia Independent boutiques, select opticians and fashion stores, and on the brand’s website. And for more Italia Independent inspiration, check out the brand's Instagram.
