Your passion for music is such a huge influence on Saint Owen. Can you share your history with rock-and-roll and why it’s a driving design force?
(VS) Music has always been such a huge part of our lives that it organically influenced the core of Saint Owen. As a teenager, I went to punk rock shows every weekend. At 18, I took off on tour as road manager for a heavy metal band. For 5 years I travelled around the globe tour managing. And crazy enough, both Michelle and I are married to our childhood sweethearts who just so happen to be in the same band together!
Travel is another factor in what inspires your products. What do you look for when you’re traveling and how does that manifest into a design?
(MH) Travel is such an expansive experience and we find inspiration in so many ways; Through different music scenes like the Zydeco melodies at late-night New Orleans clubs as well scenery like the stunning unearthly landscape of Iceland. I also love to experience the street style of different regions by simply sitting on the patio of a cafe and people watching! Rain or shine, day or night … people all over the world wear sunglasses to accentuate their style. For me, I feel inspired seeing how sunglasses can be both empowering and functional.
Can you explain how your small batch approach makes for a more polished product?
(VS) From the conception of Saint Owen, it was our goal to create a brand with heart; to connect with our community and create a personalized experience for our customers. A huge piece of this mission actualized through manufacturing at small-scale factories and going against the grain of mass production. Every style we create is small batch because we want our customers to feel special and unique when they wear these limited edition pieces. And because we deal with smaller factories, we are able to truly create exclusive details like our signature studded acetate bar and custom grey to red gradient lenses.
What pairs have each of you been living in most recently?
(MH) I have been living in our newest release ANGELO! I have been wearing all the colors but my favorite right now is our gold colorway with an amber lens. It’s just a statement metal frame that is both timeless and relevant and so fun to wear.
We love the WYLDE in this season’s box! What makes this such a perfect spring style? And what’s your ideal outfit to wear them with right now?
(VS) We are beyond excited for WYLDE to be included in CURATEUR this season! It’s a playful yet timeless cat eye shape that can really elevate any outfit. I adore the juxtaposition of a feminine cat eye frame with a more masculine outfit like a patterned pantsuit or distressed jeans with a velvet blazer.
For members that fall in love with the brand through these sunnies, what should they look out for next from Saint Owen? Anything exciting on the horizon?
(VS) Lots of thrilling releases on the Saint Owen horizon! As an anti-seasonal brand focused on last-forever quality and investment pieces, we release new goodies every month as opposed to big seasonal drops. We also just moved into jewelry and clothing as we wanted our passion project to be fully realized through head-to-toe looks!
