Eyewear Line [Joon].FN (FN / FOUR NINES)It just started in 2023 and is not yet well known, but it has a really excellent balance of design, fit, and price. If you want to be ahead of the curve, now is the time.
This series is a seven-part series on the appeal of "FN". The third installment features Kyohei Hattori, a photographer and occasional model. He has recently started wearing eyewear, so what will he choose from "FN"?
Photo_Teppei Hoshida
Text_Keisuke Kimura
Edit_Yuri Sudo
What is FN (FN / FOUR NINES)?
FN (FOUR NINES) was born in 2023 as a new line of Four Nines (999.9). FN (FOUR NINES) was born in 2023 as a new line of eyewear from "FOUR NINES (999.9)". FN fuses the background of manufacturing cultivated up to now with modern sensibilities to create authentic and fresh eyewear.
PROFILE
Born in 1991 in Ibaraki City, Osaka, Japan, she debuted as a fashion model in 2013, and since 2018 has been gaining attention for her life's work, photography, which now accounts for most of her work as a photographer. Recently, she has become addicted to mountain climbing, and her taste in clothing is shifting toward the mountains.
Instagram: @kyoheihattori
It was only recently that I discovered the benefits of sunglasses.
I don't have much of an impression of eyewear from Mr. Hattori, but do you have any?
Hattori: Actually, I only have one. It's a Kurt Cobain-ish, this one.
Oh, it's quite unique!
Hattori: My father envied me, so I gave it to him as a gift (laughs).
Your father is also a very fashionable man.
Hattori: These were a gift from a friend, but I had never worn glasses before. After receiving it, I started wearing them on sunny days and when I drive. Of course, they don't glare, and they are really comfortable.
Do you have good eyesight?
Hattori: I think I have about 1.0. So I did not need glasses. However, you see characters with glasses in movies. I have always admired them because they are portrayed in a cool way.
If you were to wear eyeglasses yourself, what kind of eyeglasses would you like to wear?
Hattori: I like classic things. I like glasses that say, "This is what glasses are for! I like classic glasses. However, I am not very experienced, so I would like to learn a lot from you.
Beauty as a thing is the deciding factor.
We have several models for you today, but let's start with this one. It is a square shape with no height of the lens.
Hattori: It has quite a presence.
Trying on "FN-1251 col.647 orange brown sasa ¥40,700
The straight design of the temples, which is common in vintage frames, gives the frames a sleek appearance when viewed from the side.
Hattori: I have a thin face, so I am a little concerned about the frames sticking out of my face. I feel like I'm being hung up on the glasses. May I try the next model?
This is the first combination of plastic and metal at FN.
Hattori: Oh, it looks luxurious. Compared to the previous model, it also feels softer to the touch.
The one in his hand is "FN-1346 col.0201 Kihaku × Gold ¥47,300
Since they are more flexible than plastic temples, they may indeed give a supple impression. The two materials used in this model make it easy to match with both casual and clean styling.
Hattori: I think it feels more comfortable than the frame I just saw. I don't feel uncomfortable. It looks cooler when it shines through in the light.
This is the first appearance of this model at "FN," but it is a model with a thicker upper part of the frame, which is called a "thermont. Generally, thermont glasses have an arched or straight bridge, but this model has an inverted arch, following the details of the olden days.
Trying on "FN-1547 col.2893 glass brown × antique gold ¥50,600
Hattori: It is classy. It's more mature. I'm sorry I can't speak professionally (laughs). (laughs) I haven't worn it much before.
No problem at all, as we want people like Mr. Hattori who are not familiar with eyewear to wear our products.
Hattori: At the moment, I think it may be the best fit.
I'm glad to hear that. Now, let's look at the last two metal frames.
Hattori: These look like glasses.
Trying on "FN-1647 col.2 silver matte ¥40,700
This is the royal crown punt shape. The top of the frame has a straight cut-out design, which was common in the French vintage of the 1950s.
Hattori: Much better. Even to the untrained eye, the design looks really elaborate. Is there a difference between this and "Four Nines" in that regard?
For "Four Nines," we believe that when you pursue functionality, the shape that inevitably emerges is beautiful. FN, on the other hand, focuses more on design, so many of its models have more challenging designs.
Hattori: I think this crown punt fits pretty well. It could be cute just sitting on a shelf.
Now, let me show you the last one. This model is hexagonal, but the height of the lens is reduced.
Hattori: It's kind of nostalgic.
Trying on "FN-1749 col.4 antique silver ¥40,700
There are two types of silver, one shiny and the other non-shiny.
Hattori: Gold may also blend well with the skin.
Gold is also easy to wear because it is gold matte, whereas yellow gold would be too much.
Hattori: It is really light compared to plastic. It looks like I won't get tired even if I wear it for a long time.
Do you prefer metal to plastic?
Hattori: I feel that metal has more beauty as an object. I like such designs in industrial products as well.
The room is filled with objects selected by Hattori's inimitable sensibility. Accessories and objets d'art that have beauty as objects are also lined up.
I think that's also the reason for the "cute just by being placed" as you mentioned earlier.
Hattori: Yes, that's right. Ultimately, it's a combination with fashion. There are times when metal fits, and there are times when plastic is better. And you choose from here, right?
Please do. By the way, do you plan to put in colored lenses?
Hattori: What, you can do that too?
If colored lenses are inserted, they can also be used as sunglasses.
Hattori: If that happens, what color lens should I put in?
Gray tones are the colors that reduce glare the most. Browns increase contrast, making the ball easier to see for golfers and white lines easier to see for drivers. Green tones suppress the opposite color, red, so the scenery appears softened. Basically, these three colors are the most common.
Hattori: So if you want to drive, you are in the gray.
That's right. There are a variety of concentrations, and a thinner 25% can be used for nighttime operation without discomfort.
I see. But I think I will wear it with clear lenses because I think it will bring out the best of the thing. Finally, let me take a look at the whole body.
What do you think?
Hattori: Yes, it is decided!
One of Mr. Hattori's selections
FN-1647 col.2 silver matte ¥40,700
It is hard to believe that I wore these glasses for the first time today. Maybe it is because I like simple designs. Rather than a combination of various materials, I like materials and colors that are the minimum necessary and 'just the way it is. This pair of glasses is just like that: I prefer a single-color ballpoint pen to a three-color ballpoint pen.
