An exciting challenge and a creatively fulfilling journey to translate Masaba’s bold, surreal vision into wearable art.
Drawing inspiration from the timeless elegance of Venus De Milo and Masaba’s unapologetically expressive style, we crafted a range that captures the essence of seaside surrealism. From fluid forms to pearlescent finishes, every frame tells a story — of strength, femininity, and effortless beauty rising from the waves.
Each piece in this collection is a tribute to the modern muse — a fearless spirit who sees the world as her canvas and wears her individuality with pride. Designing for this collaboration meant balancing opulence with precision, and symbolism with wearability, resulting in a collection that feels both iconic and personal.
It’s more than eyewear — it’s a visual narrative of a contemporary Aphrodite, and I’m proud to have shaped that story through design.
An embodiment of the quintessential Island aesthetic, our muse Masaba radiates a lush and luminous beauty, complemented by a razor-sharp, contemporary vision.
Masaba is a revered fashion icon in the Indian fashion landscape, boasting a seasoned career as a designer with a distinctive and robust brand signature. Her discerning eye and style are heavily influenced by symbolic motifs, memorable hues, sleek and distinctive shapes, modern silhouettes, textural intrigue, and fusion twists.
In an exclusive design collaboration with John Jacobs, our muse brings forth her unique and attention-grabbing point of view, curating statement, and unconventional eye-fashion tailored for the new-age fashionista.
As Bryan W. Procter beautifully articulated, "The sea! The sea! the open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free!" - a sentiment that resonates with the spirit of this collaboration.
I S L E
/aɪl/ (n.) a small island
The collection represents an emphasis on refined resort looks with a sense of euphoria and grandeur. A sophisticated approach to resortwear encompassing exquisite silhouettes with precious accessories in a range of tones that add to the elegant summer feel.
Color Palette |
With an emphasis on inspiration from the ocean, this drop reflects the hues of a long isle which is an ultimate resort destination. The cool tones of the shimmering waves of the sea along with the warm hues reflecting mirror rays of the golden-hour sun speak the color palette. The pigments of marine flora and fauna accentuate the luxury sun-lounging experience immersed in affluence.
Concept Iterations
During the initial brainstorming sessions, we aligned on an island-inspired theme that would evoke a sense of escape, fluidity, and natural elegance. To bring this vision to life, we focused on capitalizing on sea shore motifs such as crabs, pearls, and seashells—each symbolizing a unique aspect of the ocean’s mystique. These elements not only added a playful and whimsical touch but also layered the collection with texture, depth, and a strong visual narrative. The goal was to seamlessly weave these inspirations into the design language, creating eyewear that feels both distinctive and emotionally resonant.
From 2D to 3D visualisation
CMFing
For a collection like this, we chose a beach-inspired color palette complemented by fresh, premium acetate chips in translucent, cloudy, and soft hues—evoking a sense of lightness, clarity, and coastal elegance.
Product Iterations
Understanding the manufacturing challenges
Since this collection was developed under the John Jacobs domain, we were allotted a higher design and production budget of 70 RMB per frame—significantly more than the typical 23–30 RMB (approximately 350 INR) allocated for standard model collections.
This allowed us to push boundaries and introduce more intricate mechanisms into the designs, ensuring that while the products appeared simple and elegant on the outside, they were technically advanced within.
To achieve this, multiple specialized molds had to be developed, striking a fine balance between aesthetics, innovation, and manufacturability within the given cost constraints.
Grinding the acetate chips to make the surface and edges smoother
Frame as per CAD
Frame Mold
Batch production of frame
Temple final prototype
Final sample
John Jacobs x Masaba: Bringing Bold Concepts to Reality Through Art, Fashion & Surreal Elegance
The John Jacobs x Masaba collection is a celebration of fearless creativity and refined craftsmanship. By blending surreal coastal inspiration with bold design language, we brought a powerful concept to life—transforming artistic vision into tangible, wearable pieces. This collaboration stands as a testament to how fashion, storytelling, and thoughtful design can converge to create eyewear that is not just functional, but truly iconic.
This capsule takes us to a luxotic vacation at an isle beach capturing surreal and playful seascapes. The isle& is all about beach brunches and sipping the perfect pina colada while devouring a charcuterie as you soak in the sun exhaling effortless elegance watching euphoric sights.
The maximalist aesthetic brings in the larger-than-life energy to the frozen-in-time scenes for the beach-lovers, also a reminder than unexpected stories are still to be discovered even in the most familiar destinations.
Chunky, statement frames with bold elemental details glorifying aristocratic leisure. A design assemblage that reveals its indulgence in elevated travel experiences, grandeur, and extravagance that is peculiar to exotic Islands. The briny, rejuvenating breeze of the sea along with the crisp salt air sets the mood for the range.
The Design collection features intricate motif details in the form of emblems highlighted by tints of luxe metal. These symbols of luxury draw a picture of olive ridley turtles on a beach, seashells slipping through sand, and gleaming pearls in oysters. Heavy chains in distinctive patterns and textures compliment the pronounced eyewear.
In expressing my thoughts on the collection, I emphasize the role of eyewear as a medium of self-expression and self-discovery, akin to the realm of fashion. This artistic journey celebrates the unconventional, the bold, and the beautiful, with each frame narrating a unique story—an embodiment of creativity and individuality. The visually opulent exploration into eye-fashion as a powerful means of self-expression is a testament to the dedicated effort that brought each frame to life. The collaboration between John Jacobs and Masaba Gupta unfolds as a creative symphony, resonating in meticulously crafted frames adorned with metal engravings, etchings, and textures, chosen with precision to encapsulate the enchanting allure of underwater reflections. Designing every detail of this collection marked a personal journey of maturing as a designer, and realizing that inspiration is infinite—we just need to observe and explore.