In April 2023, Sunglass Hut recruited musician, poet, and actor Dua Saleh to showcase the latest collection of the retailer’s eyewear. Sunglass Hut worked hand-in-hand with Hypebeast to create an all-new HYPEBEAST curated selection featuring an assortment of sporty and experimental sunglasses, including styles from coveted labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Ray-Ban, Versace, Oakley, Armani, and others.
This is not the first time Dua Saleh has dabbled into fashion. After their acting debut on season three of Netflix’s Sex Education as the show’s first nonbinary character, the actor has inspired greater fluid, queer expression through their music and work— including clothing and eyewear.
Who is Dua Saleh?
Dua Saleh is a queer, nonbinary musician and actor, now known for their full-sensory lyricism and their unique voice. During the lockdown, Saleh released their album Crossover, which is an Afrobeats-infused EP that visits concepts surrounding gender and identity, adopting expression and taking apart traditional beauty standards. With their position in acting and music, they have since employed various mediums to leverage gender minority representation.
One of their earlier notable campaigns was Wildfang’s new collection of gender-neutral, accessible clothing featuring two other nonbinary people with different bodies and races. Since then, Saleh has partnered with Sunglass Hut to show off eyewear with tailored and streetwear elements. One highlight from the Hypebeast Curated Selection showcases rectangular shades by Versace, with neon purple frames, yellow-tinted lenses, and the brand’s signature Greca motif on the temples. This was partnered with Saleh’s casual patchwork windbreaker, which Saleh notes, “As someone who’s really fluid, I feel really empowered. It feels really good to express myself in different ways — sometimes in a very loud way, other times in a subtle, soft way. I’m also just an eclectic person, allowing myself to be grounded in indigenous expressions of self.”
What is Sunglass Hut?
This work with proud self-expression has never been more supported than by eyewear retailer Sunglass Hut. The platform has a great selection of men’s and women’s designer sunglasses, inclusive of many different styles and multiple brands, including Ray-Ban, Prada, Gucci, and much more. Some of their best-sellers are namely Ray-Ban’s Clubmaster classic and Versace’s Medusa Biggie sunglasses that come with a gold Medusa medallion on the temple. The rest of their Hypebeast Curated Selection caters to many different styles, further bridging the gap between gender fluidity and fashion.
Other singer and eyewear collaborations
Besides Dua Saleh, the eyewear retailer has worked with other singers to showcase a distinctive collection of unisex glasses. In 2021, Sunglass Hut celebrated its 50th anniversary and facilitated multiple collaborations with several well-loved eyewear brands. From brands including Ray-Ban to Persol, the retailer has released exclusive styles — including one from singer Zayn Malik x Arnette collection.
In October 2021, singer Zayn Malik first collaborated with eyewear company Arnette in producing a new line of optical styles featuring sleek basics and statement shapes. These were highly inspired by retro cars and a 90s feel. As part of celebrating Sunglass Hut’s anniversary, the artist and brand have just released their exclusive style— Drophead. This pair features round metal lenses with a distinctive flat bridge, as well as an exclusive Z lens logo. This fits into the greater inclusivity theme established by Sunglass Hut, as highlighted by Malik, “For me it’s not really about collecting anything specifically. It’s more about collecting pieces that feel true to who I am and that look good.”
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