Suddenly I see

MANILA, Philippines - Since its inception in 2007, Super by Retrosuperfuture has become something of a phenomenon. The Italian brand has become synonymous with acetate sunglasses, occupying that special place between high end and high street. It all boils down to two things: First, Super is committed to using only the finest materials for its eyewear, manufactured in Como and Treviso. Second, it owes its cult following to its philosophy of constant innovation. Like any other designer label, it releases four collections a year on top of several evergreen styles.

“The shape of one’s face still matters. But with Super you can pick a design or several designs from our line — such as the America or Lucia — that best suits your personality and wardrobe. It is a fashion statement after all,” says Duncan Yu, marketing operation director, while walking me through this season’s designs.

My gaze falls on a Flat Top, so named because its sweatbar cuts a clean, straight line. The pair is in cheetah, with olive green temple tips. I suddenly remember something I read in Monocle: “For any aspiring intellectual, there is only one serious choice when it comes to face furniture: tortoiseshell.” The golden hinges carry a very discreet logo, echoing a detail on my favorite Raf Simons jeans. Score.

I knew the Carl Zeiss lenses were something of a big deal, having been told that NASA uses these, too. But it was only when I put the sunglasses on that I felt the difference: Suddenly, everything looked sharper, the opposite of seeing the world through beer goggles. I had found an item that would not only protect my eyes from the many contrasts in light but could, if need be, also hide the effects of the night before. I was sold.

“These little darkened spectacles are a true testament to the strength of sartorial semantics, the power of fashion, and the intriguing mentality of those who work in it,” said Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman in her book The Meaning of Sunglasses. This is exactly how I feel about my Supers. 

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Super is currently available at LS Pascual, Shangri-La and Power Plant Mall; Aranaz, Greenbelt 5 and Power Plant Mall; Trilogy, Alabang Town Center; and Viktor in Greenbelt 5 and TriNoma Mall. For more information, visit Super Philippines at glitteratisociety.com.