Corrine Hunt Canadian First Nations artist co-designer of the 2010 Olympic
medals is also the creative talent behind AYA Accessories: a one-of-kind
eyewear collection

VANCOUVER , Nov. 2 /CNW/ - Vancouver-based companies, Suntech Optics and Claudia Alan Custom Accessories, which recently launched AYA Eyewear, is thrilled with the recent announcement that Corrine Hunt's artistic talents are being utilized for the 2010 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games, where she has been named the official medal designer. Corrine Hunt is responsible for creating the unique and one-of-kind Olympic medals that all winning athletes will sport proudly during the upcoming 2010 winter games. AYA Eyewear is available at fine retailers, select museums and galleries across Canada . For more information visit, www.claudiaalan.com

Carla D'Angelo, founder and president of Claudia Alan , who has been a creative consultant responsible for developing a number of Suntech Optics' eyewear lines over the years, has always loved native art. She had this idea over seven years ago to incorporate aboriginal art into eyewear. Claudia Alan commissioned featured Canadian artist Corrine Hunt of First Nations in 2008 to develop artwork for a one-of-a-kind, authentic First Nations Eyewear Collection incorporating elements of nature. "I have so enjoyed working with Corrine Hunt on the creative development of AYA Eyewear and learning about the First Nations Kwakiutl and Tlingit heritage. Seeing Corrine apply her native roots through the creative process and translating nature-themed details into the AYA Eyewear frames is so inspiring."

About the Featured Artist - Corrine Hunt

Born in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1959, Corrine Hunt has been creating contemporary art that reflects the themes and traditions of her First Nations Kwakiutl and Tlingit heritage for more than 22 years. Corrine's eyewear artworks are exclusive to the Claudia Alan Aya line. Corrine Hunt continues to establish her creative career in 2010 as the co-designer for the 2010 Olympic medals.

The First Nation inspired artwork etched on the side arms of the eyewear frames incorporate contemporary nature-inspired designs including:

Raven

The Raven is a symbol of the power of the unknown. He's a bringer of light to the world - a guardian of magic, and is cunning and boisterous.

Wolf

The Wolf represents family togetherness and communication. The Wolf mates for life and is the family protector.

Sun

The Sun represents the healing light from the Creator and is symbolic of nourishment, truth, honesty and clarity.

Hummingbird

The Hummingbird symbolizes comfort and healing; the spirit bearer of good news. Legend has it that he puts the twinkle in the stars.

    
    About the AYA Eyewear Collection:

    AYA means exist, colourful, beautiful, loved, wisdom, miracle and sign.
    

It represents The Pacific Northwest. The natural beauty of our land and animals. Fragile yet surviving, supernatural, spiritual. Enchanting and awesome. Raw and Peaceful - lands of contrast. The beauty of First Nations art is fluid and graceful and the beauty of the product is subtly elegant.

The Pacific Northwest Accessory Collection, featuring authentic First Nations artwork is composed of high quality ready-to-wear reading glasses and sunglasses.

The ready-to-wear custom designed reading glasses include 4 styles for men and women. Composed of plastic, metal and combination frames, the Aya logo is inset into all temple tips. Frames range in price from $35 - $60 and come in a variety of subtly elegant colours including, deep red and cream and black and white, incorporating the contemporary First Nations designs. The Esme, a special acetate or handmade zyl frame retailing for $60 . It is the most impactful showcase style in the collection making an exceptional statement. High quality materials have been carefully chosen to ensure increased durability.

A quality microfiber cleaning cloth with exclusive First Nations design screened on and specially embossed eyewear cases have been designed and will be for sale as part of the collection. Several of these premium frames are of optical quality standards so that prescription lenses can also be used.

The playful designs of the raven and hummingbird take flight on 3 other styles of reading glasses, priced at $39 , available in weak (1.50), medium (2.00) and strong (2.50). Salma is a ladies plastic frame with the eagle design. Toni is a unisex metal with hummingbird design, and Daniel is another unisex semi rimless with 2 eagles playing design.

Seek clarity with 3 styles of sunglasses for men and women, priced at $35 and presented in a high quality finish, injection plastics with frosted design application.

"As a Canadian eyewear company based in the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Suntech Optics couldn't be more proud or happy for Corrine Hunt . Her artistic talents, which grace the current designs of AYA, our one-of-a-kind First Nations Eyewear Collection, will gain an even wider appreciation through her inspired designs on the 2010 Olympic medals. Every athlete that stands on the podium next year will receive something truly special," comments James Murray , President and COO, Suntech Optics.

$2 from the sale of every AYA accessory will be donated to ONEXONE, which supports local charity initiatives including First Nations Breakfast Program.

About ONEXONE:

We live in a world where we often forget the simplicity of not only celebrating life but preserving it. ONEXONE began with a simple dream to honour one life and blossomed into an extraordinary and passionate movement to help so many more. Joelle Adler founded ONEXONE to celebrate the life and times of her spiritual force, her late husband Lou Adler . She never dreamt that ONEXONE would become a global force with a mission to help preserve a quality of life for children locally and globally; every child's birthright.

As a non-profit foundation, we endeavour to celebrate and preserve the value of LIFE. The dream and vision of a small group of people has resonated on a large scale.

About the Suntech Optics:

Suntech Optics, the name behind one of Canada's leading eyewear companies since 1990, has been providing an eye for style with its Infokus readers, Mac & Jac and Kensie sunglasses as well as other in-house brands. For more information about Suntech Optics, please visit www.suntechoptics.com and for more information about Claudia Alan Custom Accessories please visit www.claudiaalan.com

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Pamela Kennedy, PK Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Kevin Greenwood, Suntech Optics, [phone], [email protected]