NEW YORK—Mykita and Leica Camera AG have announced a partnership, launching with a debut sunglasses collection. The Mykita|Leica collection centers around new sun lenses which Mykita and Leica engineered together, exclusively for this collection. The lenses are optical grade quality and, paired with Mykita’s distinct and iconic design language, bring the highest level of German engineering to eyewear. The collection was designed in collaboration with the Leica design studio in Munich and handcrafted at the Mykita Haus in Berlin.

The debut collection is made up of two design series: a pure stainless steel concept and a line of hybrid frames that combine handcrafted stainless steel with Mykita’s 3D printed Mylon material. The collection’s Mylon top bar closes the gap between frame and the wearer’s brow to protect eyes from overhead sun rays, mirroring the function of a camera lens hood.

The Leica Eyecare sun lenses are organic 1.6 index lenses, individually ground and polished from a cast lens blank. This process is normally reserved for prescription lenses. The lenses also feature the AquaDura Vision Pro coating, an achromatic anti-reflective coating that provides protection against rear reflections without a color sheen. All models offer 100 percent UV protection and genuine optical clarity.

Mykita’s founder Moritz Krueger said, “It was clear to me that the partnership with Leica, whose legendary reputation needs little explanation, would lead to an authentic product with an honest, functional design and uncompromising quality. The collaboration has revolved around creating an incomparable product in every aspect, and the individual manufacturing process used to make each pair of glasses and every lens sums up the essence of our partnership perfectly.”

Matthias Harsch, chairman of the executive board of Leica Camera AG, said, “With Mykita, the manufactory from Berlin, we have an ideal partner at our side with whom we share not only common values such as innovative strength and the precision of premium craftsmanship made in Germany, but also a commitment to finest quality and a passion for timelessly iconic design. Style-conscious customers can now look forward to a high-quality line of premium sunglasses that benefit from the expertise of both companies.”