Ray-Ban has aligned with DJ Patrick Mason for the latest edition of Ray-Ban Studios, a series of limited edition product collaborations rooted in the brand’s connection to music. The results of the union see the brand’s first ever custom made product, a reinvention of the State Street model. With just 100 handmade pieces, the Berlin based artist has brought flair and finesse to the design process, taking individuality to the next level with a pair of frames that blurs the line between style and art.
FLAUNT had the opportunity to speak to Patrick Mason about the creative process, the inspiration behind the glasses, and the music gig he will never forget.
**What do you most miss about unsanctioned nightlife?**
The gig I will always remember, and to this day will be unmatched was our, SRVD“ debut in Berghain - Panorama Bar two years ago on Christopher Street day. It was Sunday evening, peak time in Panorama bar and I believe I was never more nervous in my entire life. Our live showcase was an hour long, included several outfit changes and reviewed a range from disco over house to techno. The energy in that room that day was indescribable. Naked people dancing in the windows and on top of the bar. Their glistening sweaty bodies intertwined with each other. The sexual vibrations were intense and people were completely lost in the moment. I will never forget the way my heart skipped a beat the second I stepped on stage. It was pure love, affection and dedication to the music and the people.
**Describe ways you've managed to stay creative in the course of the pandemic?**
It has been a very difficult and challenging year, not only for me but for pretty much everyone. It took me quite a while to wrap my head around the fact that I won’t be able to perform on stage for quite a while. I used the immense time on my hands to dive into producing music, and working on some other creative projects which will enroll early next year. So get ready, a storm is coming!
**Tell us about the shoot creative for this capsule and your role in it?**
The story behind the black egg is actually an interpretation of the old saying of what came first: The egg or the chicken“ - another metaphor for creation.
My personal style is ever so changing. But in in a nutshell I love to play with shapes, distortions and deformation. Gender conforming for me is nostalgic and should be a thing of the past. I love deconstructed shapes and designs. My personal style is a reflection of my personality. In order to evolve and to move forward I always question myself and social constructs. The Fashion you wear should mirror your personality and works as communicator with your surroundings. Therefor be playful, experiment and don‘t always take it too seriously.
My go to pair of classic ray bans would be the, Wayfarer“ - of course!
**What did you encounter that you hadn't expected in the process of creating the frames?**
What I enjoyed most at RayBan was working with the people. A brand with so much history, also holds a lot of magic and it reflects in the work ethic of the people who maintain it. I was able to see how the glasses was manufactured and I met with the people who worked on it. I could see how deeply committed and excited they were. For them Ray Ban is not just a sunglasses brand. It is a lifestyle and for some even their legacy. The love and passion they’ve put into this project was extremely inspiring for me.
**What's unique about bringing the ethos of music alive in a physical product?**
The inspiration behind the glasses design, which I named „OBLIVION“ is the creation out of nothingness. Picture the universe long before there was light, planets, stars and life. A black, all consuming void. Then, the Big Bang! Suddenly there is life, light, energy, mass and structure... all created in a blink, so it seems. The design is a Fusion of past, present and future. A continuous loop. Inspired by three different Materials. The top part of the glasses mimicks Obsidian, a volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It stands for the the past. Going back in time, looking at the Mayan culture, there is an old tale of a Mayan king using Obsidians reflective surface as a mirror. They believed that it held the power to connect with their ancestors, asking them for guidance and pass on knowledge. The bottom part of the glasses interprets Amber. It stands for the future. Remembering when i was a child and watching „Jurassic Park“ for the first time. I‘m talking about the scene where the geologists find a piece of Amber which contained a preserved prehistoric mosquito, who’s blood they’ve extracted to recreate dinosaurs.
The final Material which resembles the present in my glasses design is fluorescent acetate. In a continuous closed loop, the past passes through the present and into the future and back - just like the infinity sign. We ultimately create and shape ourselves through our made experiences and the ones yet to be made. We build, destruct and recreate ourselves in a continuous loop in order to find and define our purpose.
**What sort of person do you envision best suits this particular pair of shades? What's special about them?**
I don’t know if you‘ve seen me playing before, but I‘m a very active and enthusiastic DJ. From spins , moonwalks, vogueing and high kicks, i kinda do them all. And through some design modifications like for example the nose clip, I can do all the above without fearing to send the glasses into orbit. So yeah, as soon I‘m able to play proper gigs again, you will see me wearing the Oblivion Shades.
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The 100 pieces, handmade in Italy, will be available at Dover Street Market, [Ray-Ban.com](https://www.ray-ban.com/usa) and Ray-Ban flagship stores on October 26th.
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