Evening Standard - ES Magazine
SEEING A SPIKE
On the hunt for a fresh pair of winter sunglasses? Well, look no further than new London-based brand Maustein. The label is the brainchild of Mauricio Stein, a Brazil-born creative who has lived in the capital for almost 20 years. Having worked with the likes of Coperni, GmbH and Alan Crocetti, Stein draws inspiration from ‘the 1990s/2000s rave scene and the strength of the community that surrounds it’. The spiky design of Maustein’s new collection — which comes in several colourways including baby blue, black and tortoiseshell — could have easily featured in the 1995 music video for Michael and Janet Jackson’s ‘Scream’. ‘I’m particularly interested in the metaverse and CGI, hence my campaign being created by the mega talented artist Mu Kepzo,’ says the designer. They are handmade from bio acetate with polarised lenses, while packaging is also plastic-free and fully recyclable. As for Stein’s future plans for the brand? ‘I’d like to expand into other shapes but keeping the same brand DNA: a direct connection to youth culture and my community — the queer London scene.’ (maustein.com)