STATE X Maxwell – A Collab that Gives Back
When you’re working on a collaborative design and a global pandemic hits that helps push Americans to take a closer look at racial injustice, it rearranges your priorities. It certainly did for us at STATE and for our partner, three-time Grammy winner, and modern soul star – Maxwell, in our creation of the limited-edition REUNION sunglass.
Normally we would start by sharing our pride in our design and craftsmanship, but, in this case, above all else, STATE is proud to contribute a portion of sales from STATE X Maxwell to the Vision Council’s Open Your Eyes Scholarship (O-YES). Born out of the struggles of 2020 and seeking to provide more opportunities to teens in Black and Brown communities, O-YES provides full tuition, an internship, and mentorship to high school seniors who aspire to become opticians. For Maxwell, this project is more than a pair of sunglasses, it’s a way to give back, and he looks forward to joining the O-YES board.
We do still want to tell you about the sunglasses though…
A true artist, Maxwell’s talents extend far beyond the musical realm. Always known for his style and a lifetime glasses wearer, it was only a matter of time before he began to design for himself. STATE is thrilled to collaborate with Maxwell on his first sunglass design – REUNION. The name REUNION is a reference to the song from Maxwell’s debut album ‘Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite,’ and a word that means so much more in these times.
“I called the first pair REUNION because the world has been divided in so many ways… digital, geopolitical, gender discrimination, you name it, it’s happening, and it has to stop. REUNION is a promise, if not a guarantee, that we can come back together as the closing of the song clearly says ‘we’re back together.’” said Maxwell. Given Maxwell’s message of love, the February release of the collab is fitting, right on top of Valentine’s Day.
The design of REUNION takes inspiration from Maxwell’s trademark trailblazing modern soul sound. Blending soft and sharp lines, the design comes together much like a music composition. “We wanted to make something classic and timeless connected to songs I have written,” says Maxwell.
Adding to the complexity of collaborating together for the first time, of course, was the pandemic. Over the course of many Zoom meetings, texts, and calls, Maxwell and STATE designer, Nico Roseillier, were able to design the REUNION as a stand-alone sun style fitting of Maxwell’s trademark sound and STATE’s reputation for American luxury eyewear.
Crafted in STATE’s Chicago factory, REUNION is available in two colorways, a sultry blue smoke with brown gradient lenses, and a sandblasted matte black with blue gradient lenses. Each pair of sunglasses will be packaged with a card sharing a personal message from Maxwell, as well as a custom cleaning cloth.
STATE X Maxwell REUNION is now available – but quantities of this special collaboration are extremely limited, with only 200 units of each color produced. Don’t delay in getting yourself an amazing pair of sunglasses and contributing to a great cause.