Nadine Lustre designs eyewear made for Asian face
Actress Nadine Lustre said it was while creating her own eyewear collection that she finally understood why a lot of the pieces she previously bought never really fitted her well.
“I learned what it means for eyeglasses to have an Asian fit [low-bridge, high cheekbones],” Lustre said during the recent launch of 9Lives, her collaboration with optical retailer Vision Express.
“I always get so frustrated when I go eyewear shopping because a lot of the pieces don’t look good on me. Apparently, this was because I usually shop abroad. They’re either too big or too small, some even kept falling off. When people think of 9Lives, I want them to say it’s a Filipino brand.”
The collaboration between Lustre and Vision Express started in 2022. “It has taken us two-and-a-half long years to actually bring it to fruition because it’s a mega project,” said Neelam Gopwani Chainani, Vision Express managing director. “It has entailed conceptualizing, designing, manufacturing, and bringing into our stores. We have over 60 stores in the country, so taking it to the last mile—from Nadine’s mind into execution—has taken us all that while.”
9Lives is a 12-piece collection, which has four styles that come in three colors. They are all gender agnostic and face-shape agnostic, and are made from light lenses, which is the season’s trend.
“It’s a good combination of wearable and stylish fashion,” Lustre said as a way to describe the collection. “It’s still on the edgier side. If you look at the colors, they’re not your usual silver, gold, and black. The silver is more on the gunmetal side, while another silver variation has beige details.”
Lucky number
Asked to explain the meaning behind the name 9Lives, Lustre said: “I first thought of NL, my initials. I wanted two words that sound good together, and something that sticks. Also, nine is my lucky number. Yes, it sounds anticlimactic, but it is what it is.”
Lustre also addressed questions related to eye health. “I’m not gonna lie. I don’t think I’m very particular with eye health, although I try to limit my screen time. I’m always doing a lot of desk work. This can’t be avoided, especially with the line of work that I have. I’m always on my phone, too, communicating with everyone, and working on my (social media) content.”
Lustre, who plays one of the leads in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Uninvited,” has achieved so many milestones in 2024. Apart from her show biz-related accomplishments, she has also opened a vegan restaurant in Siargao and launched a new line of wines. For 2025, she said she hopes to do more films and work on her music, as well as launch her brand of plant-based milk.
“A lot of these businesses are really values- and purpose-driven. But for 9Lives, it’s really more of wanting a creative outlet that’s also related to fashion. I don’t know, I might also come up with products for the home in the future,” Lustre told Lifestyle.
“I still have a lot to learn, but I’m confident because I have a solid team. I knew early on that I had to be picky with the people I work with because they represent my brand. I really have to dip my hands into everything. It doesn’t feel right with me if I don’t.”
Because Lustre is very hands-on, Chainani is convinced that she is the perfect person to collaborate with. “She decided on how the lenses should be shaped, how thick the metal should be, how the temple should be styled. She conceptualized everything and even drew the lenses with her own hands,” the executive said.
“There was a good four months of sampling process, where the manufacturers would make the mockups, send them back, and then these get disapproved and then approved. When I saw the collection, I said, ‘all the work was absolutely worth it.’”
Each piece is priced at P2,990, but you can get two for P3,990. They all come with a card with Lustre’s picture.
“We’ve planned some road shows in some of our stores. A fan who buys a pair can have the card signed, and then take pictures with her,” Chainani added.
