In a first collaboration, luxury eyewear brand AHLEM and acclaimed British-Ghanaian fashion photographer and artist Campbell Addy were inspired by the bold self-expression of 1960s West Africa as well as Addy’s own experience of diasporic life in modern London.
The limited-edition capsule collection unites two cultures under one timeless and deeply personal vision.
Honouring the work of legendary photographers James Barnor and Malick Sidibé—whose portraiture documented the striking elegance and celebratory spirit of the post-colonial era—the silhouettes find poetry at the intersection of history, geography, and identity.
The collection features two frames—one acetate, one metal—suggest the strength of fusion. Past and present, revelry and discipline, cultural revolution and personal trajectory all coalesce in Addy’s transcendent forms, brought to life by AHLEM’s signature French craftsmanship. Dubbed Campbell Addy, the acetate style harmonizes a strong presence with rigorous aesthetics. Matte-black 8mm acetate, a raw-cut finish, sculpted angles, custom geometric filigree, and bold volumes translate a nostalgic shape into vivid present tense. The metal frame, Campbell Addy 19, exudes confident individuality. Electroplated in 22k gold, the oversize silhouette is refined by exquisite details, including intricate bevels, laser-engraved filigree, a hand-hammered top bar, and brown gradient lenses.