Tag Archives : Spy

SPY® is happy to announce the signing of world-class professional pedal pusher Dave Zabriskie—cycling’s enigmatic and eccentric time trial hammer-ist and purveyor of DZnuts—to its burgeoning Performance athlete roster. Nicknamed Captain America for his patriotic-styled skin suit, Zabriskie is a seven-time and reigning National Time Trial Champion, and also holds the distinction of winning the Tour of Missouri and the USA Cycling Professional Tour in 2009. Over the last decade, Zabriskie has proven he can put the wood to the cycling world’s best as a general classification (GC) rider having worn yellow in the Tour De France and more recently in the prestigious Tour of California. “Dave’s unique personality fits everything that SPY is about,” says Michael Marckx, SPY CEO and president. “He’s not only a phenomenally gifted athlete, but has a fun and irreverent approach to everything he does. Whether hammering in his Captain America helmet and skin suit, cracking up journalists in his post-race interviews or promoting his own brand of chamois cream, aptly titled DZnuts, Dave embodies the inherent quirkiness in cycling that SPY embraces in all of our cycling endeavors.” Dave’s...

SPY is happy to announce the release of the Daft, the latest in rimless performance eyewear crossing a minimalist’s approach to design with a mad scientist’s twist on technology. “The name Daft itself draws a connotation of an edgy, punk rock style that is evident in all aspects of the design,” says Jim Miller, SPY Performance sales director. “It looks confident and fast, and it’ll make competitors wet their bib shorts if they stare too long.” A sleek, simple design with over-the-top styling, the Daft offers uncompromised performance for everything from cycling to running to screeching burnouts in your TransAm. Packed with advanced technologies and rendered in ultra-lightweight materials, the oversized Daft is a futuristic answer to the age-old question, “Seriously?” And seriously, the Daft is high tech. Built from sturdy, lightweight Grilamid™ and featuring interchangeable 7-Base Victory™ lenses, 100% UV protection, and SPY’s patented Scoop® ventilation system to combat lens fogging, the full-coverage frame offers unobstructed peripheral vision and a fit as snug as spandex (or your favorite acid-washed jeans). Hytrel™ rubber nose pads and flexible temple...

SPY® is happy to help Justin Barcia see through the Seattle Supercross slough—stereotypical rain and mud—with the aid of the SPY WHIP goggle outfitted with the Clear View System™ (CVS). Barcia ripped the muddy holeshot and lead from start to finish to capture his second victory of his rookie season despite the tricky conditions. “I tell you what, that holeshot is so key,” said Barcia. “I’d much rather be in the front and crash than ride around in fourth place. We made some great changes today on the bike. It was a tough track with so many lines, but there was one main line that was so much better than any other. I’ve been waiting for this since Phoenix.” Rainfall soaked the stadium grounds the night before the race—hardly letting up on race day—creating a muddy and rutted-out track. With the rapidly deteriorating dirt and no break in the rain, Barcia chose to run the Clear View System™ during the last practice and both races allowing him to find his happy place among the changing lines of each race. Justin will be looking to build some late-season momentum heading into the next stop of the Monster Energy Supercross season in Salt Lake City, UT on April 27. Stay...

SPY® is happier than a unicorn at a ring toss to announce the arrival of the highly anticipated Happy Lens™—SPY’s patent-pending lens technology that not only improves vision and performance, but helps harmonize mind and mood alike. SPY’s Happy Lens™ lets in the sun’s good rays that promote balance in the body—fostering a positive uplift in mood and alertness—while simultaneously blocking the bad rays. (This is about feeling better.) As an added bonus, it’s also a polarized and color contrast-enhancing lens, giving you the best visual experience possible. (This is about seeing better.) Available only from your friends at SPY, the Happy Lens™ will be offered in your favorite styles along with several new frames so everyone can look better, see better and feel better. Whether you dig vintage-inspired frames or classic wraps, you’ll be happy when any of these Happy Lens™ sunglasses are riding on your face. If you’re eyes are ready to smile too, you can now find the Happy Lens™ at your local SPY dealer at www.spyoptic.com/dealers. To see the entire SPY Happy Lens™ line, go to www.spyoptic.com/happy. To learn how the Happy Lens™ technology works, go...

SPY® is happy to release its bold and bright 2013 Ken Block Signature Collection inspired by fashion’s Day-Glo days that bridged the ‘80s and ‘90s—an era where everything from hip-hop to high-tops exploded with eye-popping color and wild style. It’s another round of a fully loaded, fully customizable collection of shades that could only come from the warped mind of world-class rally car racer and “Hoonigan” Ken Block. “I’m stoked on the new 2013 colorways for my signature SPY Helm sunglasses,” says SPY athlete Ken Block. “We’re keeping the frame design the same as last year, but we went wild on the graphics and colors this year. A lot of inspiration came from late ‘80s and early ‘90s skate graphics and I think they translated well to the frames. They’re dope!” Continuing with his signature Helm frame as the canvas, the 2013 Ken Block Signature Collection features four sizzling colorways fashioned with Spectra® mirrored lenses, and temples emblazoned with stripes, splatter, and concrete crackle patterns. Each pair also includes a bonus set of temples allowing you to create custom looks with a single pair of shades. Built...

SPY Inc. (OTCBB: XSPY) today unveiled the highly anticipated Happy Lens™ family—an array of sunglass styles featuring SPY’s game changing lens technology that not only improves vision and performance, but helps harmonize mind and mood alike. Whether you dig vintage-­‐inspired frames or classic wraps, you’ll be happy when any of these Happy Lens™ sunglasses are sitting on your face. Making its debut February 1, the SPY Happy Lens™ is available in a healthy selection of SPY’s most popular styles. From the timeless Discord and Helm, to popular wraps such as the Dirk, McCoy, Dirty Mo, Logan, Touring, Colt, and General, everyone can experience happiness in their favorite SPY frames. The Farrah receives the Happy treatment for the ladies, while athletes and performance freaks will enjoy the all-­‐new Cutter and its Fast Track™ lens changing system. And finally, a few of SPY’s classically styled Crosstown Collection pieces—the Beachwood,Haight and all-­‐new Alcatraz—get Happy so that fashion purists can look as good as they will feel. The SPY Happy Lens™ will be featured in the always-­‐styley black colorway, along with new resplendent matte orange and matte...

SPY® (OTCBB: XSPY) and PFO Global announced today that the two companies have partnered to bring SPY ARC® Digital, a digital Rx solution, to Eye Care Providers (ECP’s) across the country. Utilizing PFO Global’s world-class digital lens surfacing capabilities on optically correct, distortion free SPY ARC® lenses, SPY will enable people with ophthalmic needs to “See. More. Better.” “It is critical that SPY provide its customers with solutions that are simple for them while maximizing the price/value relationship of SPY products,” says Jim Sepanek, SPY VP of Rx. “By partnering with PFO Global, the SPY ARC® Digital Rx program packages SPY’s unique frame point of view with a multitude of digital free-form ARC® lens options to provide the patient with an authentic SPY visual experience.” SPY’s patented ARC® lens (Accurate Radius Curvature) provides optically correct, distortion-free viewing at all angles, ensuring against comfort and eyestrain. SPY’s unique, proprietary ARC® design technology paired with PFO Global’s lens production experience will bring SPY’s Rx program to the next level. “We are thrilled to be working with SPY to combine our superior technology...

SPY Inc. (OTCBB: XSPY) today announced a strategic partnership with WestGroupe, appointing the optical powerhouse as the distributor of SPY® optical and sun products in the independent optical channel throughout Canada.  Since 1994, Southern California-based SPY has been innovating sunglasses and goggles designs, delivering unmatched performance, style and a uniquely irreverent point of view to a fervent customer base.  The addition of ophthalmic frames opens SPY’s reach to customers who have a passion for the SPY brand and the active lifestyle that goes along with it, and who also need vision correction. “WestGroupe brings more than 50 years of leadership in the optical channel in Canada,” says Jim Sepanek, SPY vice president of Optical.  “More important is their shared enthusiasm for the SPY brand, their appreciation of those things that Californians and Canadians like to do in the dirt, snow, water and roadways, and belief that Canadians enjoy great style as much as we do south of the border.” “SPY brings a fresh attitude and stylistic product sensibility to the Canadian market,” says Michael Suliteanu, president of WestGroupe. “Adding SPY to our brand portfolio...

SPY Inc. (OTCBB: XSPY) today announced the East Coast debut of its newest ophthalmic collection at Vision Expo East in New York, March 23, 2012, through March 25, 2012, at the Javits Center, booth No. 1475. The Southern California–based eyewear brand added 14 new styles to its Rx line for Spring 2012, inspired by the brand’s active lifestyle heritage, penchant for timeless style and modern materials and construction, and its disregard for the usual. “The newest additions to the 2012 SPY Rx collection reflect the fusion of our bi-coastal influences,” says Jim Sepanek, SPY vice president of Optical.  “Vision Expo is the perfect opportunity for us to bring our unique viewpoint to an expanded optical market in the east.  We combined clean, modern fronts with temples that evoke an attitude that is distinctly SPY—fun and irreverent, born in the beaches, mountains and dirt tracks of So Cal.  Rich acetate structures have been fashioned into very wearable shapes that utilize classic styling elements to provide a fresh, bold look.” Interested parties may make appointments to be among the first to see the newest additions to the SPY Rx collection in New York by contacting...

CARLSBAD, Calif.—SPY Optic™ today announced a consulting agreement with optical industry veteran, Jim Pritts. He will facilitate research and development of lens technologies, working closely with the Company on product design and development, sourcing, quality, technology communication, intellectual property and prior art, and marketing and training. “Jim, aka ‘The Wizard of Light’, is a legend in the business and there isn’t much he doesn’t know, from optics and development to sourcing and production and even into the sales and marketing conversation, especially as that relates to what the marketplace embraces technology-wise and, therefore, the opportunities for SPY to further enhance the performance and appeal of its eyewear,” says Carol Montgomery, SPY® CEO.  “He has a great passion for the business and we’re looking forward to working with him across the breadth of our product lines in addition to pursuing new concepts we believe no one has yet considered.” With degrees in optics and marketing and more than 30 years’ experience in the optical industry, Pritts is popularly regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on performance eyewear....

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Orange 21 (OTCBB: ORNG) today announced the hiring of Jim Sepanek as vice president, Optical, effective May 9, 2011. Sepanek, an executive with nearly 20 years experience in the optical industry, will lead business development and sales for SPY® and the Company’s licensed other products as it evolves its global presence in the optical category.  He will report directly to Orange 21 President Michael Marckx. “As we expand the relevance of our brands into complimentary channels, we anticipate Jim will enhance our ophthalmic competencies and operational efficiencies,” says Marckx. “The optical category has long been an interest to the business, and this addition to our executive team will allow us the opportunity to exploit exciting and previously untapped opportunities for our brands.” Sepanek previously served as vice president of Business Development at Signature Eyewear where he was responsible for brand management, key account sales and product design and development.  Prior to that, he held executive positions at Rem Eyewear and Revo, Inc., respectively. “SPY Optic™ is uniquely positioned to expand the authenticity of its Southern California...