The Oliver Peoples Airman - The Facts
Adam Simmonds
Posts: 9MI6 Agent
I've been reading these threads for a while now with a growing sense of amusement and - more recently - bemusement, over the theories and misinformation that have been suggested regarding the Oliver Peoples Airmans. I feel that the time has come to shed some light on the matter.
The facts are simple: the Airman (a previously discontinued frame) was chosen in a friend of mine's optician (in London's Soho) by Daniel Craig's stylist. Having sold a good number of Persol 2720 and 2244s as a result of Casino Royale, I figured it a shame that they'd gone and chosen a discontinued frame. I waited until I had confirmation that they were being worn in the film and called Oliver Peoples, with whom I have a very good relationship, and asked them to re-introduce the Airman.
Initially they declined, being a relatively small (non mass-production) company, but after telling them how many Persols were sold worldwide following the previous Bond film, they eventually decided to order an initial 300 pairs, of which 150 had polarised lenses, the other 150 photochromic. Being the entrepreneurial type, I pre-ordered all of their polarised stock, and 20 photochromic. We now have these in stock, of which over 100 have been sold.
It would appear that around June-time, Oliver Peoples realised that they were seriously underestimating the potential demand and decided to have more produced which, as they take four months to make, will not be available until October. I think it pertinent to point out that Oliver Peoples are completely at liberty to do what they want with the Airmans - it's their frame, and if they decide to capitalise on the likely demand, well, good for them. And the Airmans that have been re-made are not in any way branded for the film - they're exactly as they originally were, although I must admit to a bit of frustration over the difference in colour of the end tips.
As far as the latest conspiracy theory goes, Oliver Peoples making glasses for Tom Ford is absurd. That is completely and utterly in the realms of impossibility. UNLESS... there's another pair of sunglasses that are being worn in the film that no one knows about as yet. (And I'm really, really not suggesting that there is another pair!)
I hope that clarifies matters and may the sun shine brightly on those forum members who have received their Airmans.
Adam
The facts are simple: the Airman (a previously discontinued frame) was chosen in a friend of mine's optician (in London's Soho) by Daniel Craig's stylist. Having sold a good number of Persol 2720 and 2244s as a result of Casino Royale, I figured it a shame that they'd gone and chosen a discontinued frame. I waited until I had confirmation that they were being worn in the film and called Oliver Peoples, with whom I have a very good relationship, and asked them to re-introduce the Airman.
Initially they declined, being a relatively small (non mass-production) company, but after telling them how many Persols were sold worldwide following the previous Bond film, they eventually decided to order an initial 300 pairs, of which 150 had polarised lenses, the other 150 photochromic. Being the entrepreneurial type, I pre-ordered all of their polarised stock, and 20 photochromic. We now have these in stock, of which over 100 have been sold.
It would appear that around June-time, Oliver Peoples realised that they were seriously underestimating the potential demand and decided to have more produced which, as they take four months to make, will not be available until October. I think it pertinent to point out that Oliver Peoples are completely at liberty to do what they want with the Airmans - it's their frame, and if they decide to capitalise on the likely demand, well, good for them. And the Airmans that have been re-made are not in any way branded for the film - they're exactly as they originally were, although I must admit to a bit of frustration over the difference in colour of the end tips.
As far as the latest conspiracy theory goes, Oliver Peoples making glasses for Tom Ford is absurd. That is completely and utterly in the realms of impossibility. UNLESS... there's another pair of sunglasses that are being worn in the film that no one knows about as yet. (And I'm really, really not suggesting that there is another pair!)
I hope that clarifies matters and may the sun shine brightly on those forum members who have received their Airmans.
Adam
Comments
Hello Adam,
glad, that you took the occasion to bring up the facts regarding all this.
In a private email from 8. August I have been asking you (your company):
"Is O.P. running additional Airman sunglasses besides this limited edition in 2008 and/or 2009?"
and I have received the reply on this from your company: "No."
In a private email to me from 9th August you wrote: "should Oliver Peoples decide to make more, they won’t be available for many months" and now they will be available in October.
Anyhow.
You are referring the "latest conspiracy theories" but these are not anymore about OP Airman being Tom Ford branded, these rumors have turned out to be false.
The latest INFOS are:
1. There will be the Tom Ford model 108/s 19V available in October 2008
2. These sunglasses will be seen in QoS
3. These sunglasses come in a regular box and an unlimited series. No writing with 007 etc.
4. Tom Ford does not give pics to customers but my dealer confirmed, that the Tom Ford 108 model looks spot on like the OP Airman from A.S. webpage
5. There is no known relation between OP and Tom Ford eyewear, the manufacturing and distribution channels have nothing to do with each other so far.
6. These sunglasses will retail with EUR 285,--
7. The Tom Ford sunglasses will have black leather earpieces.
These infos are officially confirmed by Tom Ford Eyewear in Germany.
I have no idea, how these infos could match together and make sense, I am afraid, that we'll need much more time to bring some more light into the QoS sunglasses question.
I myself tend to weight the info from you, that the personal stylist purchased the OP Airman in London during the preparations of the movie (and I have no doubt about their authenticity) against the info from Tom Ford, who are now officially announcing their 108/s sunglasses as a part of their official involvement with the movie with probably a lot of money being involved.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I suppose that Tom Ford (or any other sunglasses 'designer') may jump on the bandwagon and produce an unabashed copy, but this would surprise me as most of these sunglasses manufacturers wait a good few seasons before copying Oliver Peoples.
Why not then correct format?
I don't really care if they are OP's or TF's but if OP was letting these out as an extremely limited edition of 150 for photochromic and 150 for Polarized and you ordered ALL of the polarized, why then was I able to order the polarized from OP NYC if this was exclusive to you.
Any way you slice it this is a MAJOR faux pas on the part of OP. I don't know how this could have possibly gotten beyond their quality control people.
Again, the numbers don't add up. How can you have all 150 but yet they are available elsewhere but then NO One on earth has the correct version?
X-(
Do you need to hear more?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Personally, I'd rather wear an OP than a TF. I like the idea of a company that specializes in the product that I'm paying five hundred dollars for. Plus I've been wearing their products since 1992 and still like their designs, though not as much as the older retro frames. TF just farms them out to some other company or group.
Speaking of the buy out. I hope OP stays independent of Oakley management wise. Not a fan of Oakley for anything but sports, etc.
I personally trust A.S to the hilt they have never in many years let me down and I cant speak highly enough for them.
Just a thought could the tom ford glasses be from another person in the film ???.
One other thing of note, since Oakley is now owned by Luxottica, who produced Persol and Versace glasses at the time the last movie was made, maybe they still have the rights to provide glasses and wanted their newly acquired top of the line brand displayed.
If you recently purchased a pair you can send them to her and she will switch them out for you or alternatively, she can send the black pieces to you and you can have your local eyewear place do it.
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/monza860/
Zoe has been wonderful to work with and she said she will work to correct the mistakes that Oliver Peoples made regarding the ear pieces. She said to call her directly if you have any problems.
I pushed her on the lenses as well because I wasn't sure if the lenses should be Platinum or Midnight Express (as was previously reported). She reviewed movie stills herself and believes that Platinum is the correct color.
She said the color of the Platinum and Midnight lenses are very similar and even her employees have trouble sometimes differentiating the two. Even though she believes Platinum to be correct, she even went as far to say that she would swap out for the Midnight lenses if anyone wanted that lense instead.
So she has really bent over backwards to make this right. I can't speak for Adam Simmonds because I have had no contact with them but perhaps you gents who have dealt with him will enjoy similar results.
I still think they are OPs. Every photo I have matched up with an actual "in hand" product matches up in every conceivable way from every conceivable angle.
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/monza860/
Great Job...
Thanks Mantis for the heads up...
Any ideas how to put them on i dont want to break £250 worth of glasses and i am not the best at replacing/fixing things.
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/monza860/