Mikey Feb’s Fresh Raen Shades Are an Instant Hit

Everything Mikey February produces is concept rich.

It’s what makes him so good at this job and why MF’s contracts are still iron-clad, despite being in the post-surf industry explosion age where there’s never been so many good surfers — and while other talented waveriders, particularly freesurfers, are finding themselves out of work.

Mikey’s a masterful storyteller, and his latest offering – a timeless, elegant signature Raen shade (Kwela), a curated run at a larger line (Zafrique), and an effortlessly stylish editorial shoot, powered by Mikey’s agency Spearhead Collective and shot by fellow South African Kent Andreasen – is no exception. In fact, if you’re sick to death of the servo sunnies (gas/petrol station, for all our non-Antipodean readers) movement that’s over-run surfdom in recent years, it’s damn refreshing. 

Let’s start with Mikey’s signature shade – the Kwela. It’s no mean feat to conjure a pair of men’s shades that stand out, fit in enough to wear daily, and also universally suit most faces of either sex. The Kwela are simultaneously modern yet classic, and – taking into account the variety of shades (as in, of colour): recycled black with an agave lens; negroni with a green lens; sage opal with an agave lens; sencha with an aria lens – you’ve got something for literally all occasions. Furthermore, at USD $170 a pop, they’re solid value for a pair of shades whose hinges open and close like the door of a German car.

Now it has to be pointed out that Mikey’s blessed with the ineffable talent of making anything look good – especially when his signature silhouette is pared with with tweed, pleated slacks and fuzzy jumpers (bravo stylist Isabella Peerutin) – but such is the wearability of the Kwelas that you can even be relatively confident gifting them to a significant other. Which is a sure sign of a sunglasses winner. In our humble opinion, the sencha/aria combo is particularly nice. 

Moving through Mikey’s ‘Zafrique’ display case, there’s a couple of big, bold silhouettes straight off the beak of some jazz greats — seen in the ‘Mystiq’ and the ‘Zouk’ (if cutting a strong figure is your thing), and also the Zelti. Which is a more quintessentially classic, round-lensed piece that’ll look sleek and on-trend from the moment you slip them on your beak ’til the day that you die. 

Raen have long been a Stab favourite – like, 20 years plus! – as has Mikey Feb. Unsurprisingly, when the two combine in thoughtful fashion then it’s a sartorial home run.

Sleek shades in a multitude of tasteful colours live here.