CHIMI and Golden Concept: Luxury gifts for accessory lovers

Intersecting understated Scandinavian style with iconic silhouettes, cult Swedish eyewear brand CHIMI makes its long-awaited debut in South Africa this spring. CHIMI has launched at the perfect time for the season’s shimmering days and bright nights. It fulfils the need for unconventional, highly protective, and carefully considered unisex eyewear that makes a statement, from the dance floor to the beach club.

CHIMI, a brand that designs its covetable eyewear collections in Stockholm since 2016, has gained a following among celebrities-in-the-know and style makers with its refined aesthetic and clean silhouettes. Hailey Bieber and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye have worn their modern takes on timeless classics and graphic styles, while Kendall Jenner, Rita Ora, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, and Beyoncé are regular wearers of CHIMI sunglasses.

Fashion Forward Fusion

Creative director Charlie Lindström and CEO Daniel Djurdjevic have conceptualized the designs for the fearlessly creative, active, and progressively fashion-forward consumer, catering to both urban and adventure-fueled outdoor lifestyles. Cue desirable high-performance styles for skiing and running, which stand their ground on the chicest shopping streets from the Swedish capital to Milan. The brand has collaborated with Maison Kitsuné for an edibly colourful collection, and more recently with luxe carmaker Koeingsegg for its limited-edition Forca-G high-velocity titanium aviator. The Forca G Collection also contained a premium racer jacket made out of 60% metal. It’s this spirit of ‘futuristic simplicity’ that subtly infuses all CHIMI’s ranges, from audaciously unconventional to contemporary styles.

CHIMI’s Core collection features 11 signature silhouettes to cater to an array of tastes, each sporting strong sculptural lines, elegant curvature, and bevelled temples. The rectangular 04 and squarely structural 05 styles make striking architectural statements, while the rounded 01 and vintage-inspired oval 03 are enduring classics. Scandinavian minimalism has reinterpreted these classic shapes through a hyper-modern lens. The ultra cool cat-eye of the 06 with its squared-off wings is in hot contest for high drama with the bold oversized 08, while the 11 cuts a striking figure with its androgynous wayfarer style.

Stylishly Crafted, Endlessly Versatile

Heritage producer Mazzucchelli handcrafts the Core styles using premium Italian acetate, resulting in a lightweight and durable product. Each is available in a choice of directional hues for every season, from pared-back ecru to earthy green and brown, deep tortoiseshell, pale or dark grey, to classic black. New seasonal colours like light yellow and orange add warmth for sun-drenched appeal.

Every aspect of the brand lives up to its Scandi-cool vibe, whether the minimalist purity of CHIMI’s Campus Architects-designed flagship store in Stockholm’s Kungsgatan, its newly opened outlet in Paris, its collab with avant-garde French boutique Tom Greyhound, or the monochromatic bodycon allure of CHIMI’s first ready-to-wear apparel launched this past January. The cult brand has made its way to South Africa and aligned with the country’s appetite for high-style eyewear with niche appeal.

All CHIMI’s sunglasses have 100% UVA and UVB protection, anti-scratch, anti-shatter and distortion-free features.

The CHIMI Core collection is available at CHIMI-online.com/za with an RSP of R3,699.00.

The Apple Watch Case You Didn’t know you need

A collection of premium, statement-making tech accessories that capture the global zeitgeist has arrived in South Africa. With a celebrity following and high-fashion street cred, Scandinavian innovator Golden Concept offers a portfolio of Apple Watch cases with personalisation options.

By using Golden Concept’s Apple Watch cases, you can easily upgrade your regular smart watch to a ‘beyond the ordinary’ version with just a single click. You can effortlessly transform a distinctive tech gadget into an object of elevated style, performance, and value. With this transformation, you can create an individualized, hyper-modern timepiece that suits a wide range of refined tastes and needs and is perfect for all occasions.

Pioneering Luxury Tech Accessories Since 2015

Founded in 2015, Golden Concept came to prominence with its audacious custom-made 24k gold iPhone covers, and it’s continued to push the boundaries of form following function with cutting-edge materials, from titanium to carbon fibre. In 2020, the company introduced the world’s first ultra-premium case for the Apple Watch with a value higher than the devices they protect. Golden Concept designers have leveraged the traditional savoir-faire of the Swiss watch industry, working with top artisans to create pieces that stand apart for their immaculate quality, finish and detailing.

Against a tide of ubiquitous design, the bold luxury of these state-of-the-art tech products is seductive. It’s what has led to the brand’s appeal among the Kardashians, and celebrated recording artists like Post Malone, Luis Fonsi, Karol G, DJ-producer David Guetta and DJ Khaled. The high-performance durability and expressive style have given the products credence among football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as well as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Usain Bolt.

Elevating Style and Performance

Central to the Apple Watch Case collection is the Sport Edition, a timeless modern piece with strong lines that remains sought-after for its versatility. The Classic Edition is a sleeker take on the former, while the Royal Edition is an expression of clean-lined elegance with its seamless integrated bracelet. The use of ultra-light, durable titanium for the aptly named Racing Sports models results in products engineered for unbeatable performance.

Taking the Apple Watch Ultra to another level of durability and resilience for athletes, outdoor adventurers and urban explorers alike is the utilitarian Ultra Edition, available in a choice of striking hues in the Transparent series, as well as in Steel and Carbon. Dressier occasions call for the detailing of the Evening Edition, whether in gold, rose gold, silver or with a shimmer of Swarovski Zirconia crystals. All the cases can be further customised with replacement straps and bracelets in an array of colours and materials, while beaded bracelets make for complementary accessories.

Bespoke Luxury for Africa

Meeting the demand in Africa for bespoke luxury products melding meticulous design and precision crafting, the arrival of these products locally is timely. Each Apple Watch Case is engraved with a unique number. In addition to the watch case and bracelet, the box includes a custom-sized screwdriver and screws along with an instruction booklet and warranty card. The Apple Watch Case can be purchased with the appropriate Apple Watch included, or as a standalone item.

Available in limited quantities, find Golden Concept Apple Watch Cases at goldenconcept.co.za and at iStore in Canal Walk and Sandton City, as well as on istore.co.za. Prices start at R16,999 (excl. Apple Watch).