Gadgets Reading between the lines

Make a spectacle of yourself

27 August, 2008

Page 50

Creeping age and bad eyes. It comes to most of us: we need glasses. Most off-the-shelf spectacles make you look, at worst, bookish like a librarian, or at best, intellectual like a judge.

Launched at the Tax Free World Association exhibition in Cannes back in October, the Maui Readers caught the eye. They are for people who need reading glasses but would like something stylish to hide the fact. These readers boast the patented glare and UV protection of the company's Polarised Plus lens technology.

The glasses have bifocal lenses, so long sight is unimpeded and undistorted, while giving you the power of the close -up so you can read those contracts, proposals or draft press releases while enjoying the outdoors.

They come in three strengths: +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50, and in two styles - the Makaha and the Ho'okipa - with lightweight gloss black or tortoise shell-coloured polycarbonate frames and neutral grey or bronze lenses.

For retailers wanting to stock Maui Readers, there is a showcase available that can accommodate all 12 models - two frames, two lens colours and three strengths.

The company also unveiled four new universal fit frames - Akoni, Hibiscus, Nunui and Maka. Since January, Maui Jim sunglasses have been available in Cyprus, Amsterdam Schipol, Dublin, the new S3 terminal in Paris, Moscow Vnukovo , Domodedovo and Kiev, all DFS UK retail outlets, including those at Luton, Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester, as well as outlets in the Middle East. They retail for around US$199.

For more information, visit mauijim.com