Eritrea is a tiny country about the size of Pennsylvania on Africa’s Red Sea Coast. You’ve probably never heard of it. In the nearly 70 years since its first declaration of independence, successive fights to break free from outside rule have ravaged the country. Border disputes are too numerous to name, there is a media blackout and gas prices are nearly $10 a gallon.

In short, it’s not the first place you would look for fashion.

But Eritrea’s colonial past is intimately connected to the Italians that governed it for five decades. Remnants of their obsession with style are immediately evident. Art deco buildings dot the capital’s downtown and cafes serving cappuccino abound.

There is, however, another piece of this style story that owes its existence to a single man: Luca Gnecchi Ruscone. A trip back to his grandfather’s old warehouse in the former colony unearthed a long-buried lot of sunglasses. And here in plain plastic is one of his rare finds.

UNIQUE LOOKS

L.G.R is an intersection of disparate worlds forever linked by a common history. It’s the refinement of the Riviera meets the colonial frontier. The Keren Sunglasses — a prime specimen from the family of 14 styles named after colonial-era cities on the African continent — derives its mystique from an almost unimaginable simplicity. Solid brown acetate encases two amber lenses that reinforce the vintage feel of the frame. There are no hardware or logos here — only effortless Italian style.

DURABILITY

Ruscone went back to the same manufacturers of the sunglasses his grandfather had. The original design is retained, but modern materials make these replicas nearly indestructible. Hinges on the arms allow them to be bent in either direction to prevent against breakage and provide comfort — not the most innovative improvement but a necessary one nonetheless. Here’s where things get interesting: The frame is made from super-flexible acetate that bends like rubber. And the lenses are crafted from tempered glass that’s built to handle scratches and stabs from a razor-sharp knife. It’s a helpful feature even in relatively quieter post-colonial times.

JL

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