Elizabeth Lomond Joins Focus Group West

Press Release

September 1, 2010

West Hollywood, CA—Focus Group West announces that eyewear designer Elizabeth Lomond will be joining their product development team to work on upcoming projects.

Designer and President of Focus Group West, Blake Kuwahara says, "We are extremely excited to have Liz join us at a time when our business is expanding.  Thomas [Ferguson] and I have worked together with Liz for over 5 years and know her to be not only a wonderful colleague and an excellent designer with a keen aesthetic awareness, but highly organized and efficient - a rare combination of talents which has been the key to her success."

With over 11 years of experience in product development and eyewear design, Elizabeth Lomond will be joining the rest of the FGW team – Blake Kuwahara, fellow designer Thomas Ferguson, as well as architect John Lum, graphic designers Heather Chan and Becky Chan, and PR specialist Niki Ostin.

Liz most recently worked on the highly successful launch of a girls’ optical line for Converse and Converse Heritage, a limited edition collection of eyewear and sunglasses sold in such high-end specialty stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Holt Renfrew. She has developed and designed numerous worldwide eyewear brands including Converse, Barbie, and Jones New York. Previously, as Director of Product Development at REM Eyewear, she played a key role in the strategic planning of licensed brands and multiple private-label collections.

While known in the industry for her sophisticated style and color sensibility, behind the scenes Liz’s strong organizational skills, understanding of corporate compliance programs, and experience as a design liaison with licensors gives her a unique skill set to take a well-honed and balanced approach to design and development.

“Liz will be a great asset to our clients moving forward.  We are all very glad to welcome her to our creative team,” said Ferguson.

More information about Focus Group West can be found at: www.focusgroupwest.com

Press Contact:

Niki Ostin

310.446.7700

niki@focusgroupwest.com

Menswear S/S 2011: Focus Group West Heads to Milan

 Neil Barrett Show - Menswear S/S 2011

Check out some of the behind-the-scene action from Milan Fashion Week.  FGW hit the town and snagged some of the best seats in the house.  Also check out our design blog: The Aesthetic Omnivore for more coverage of the John Varvatos and Neil Barrett shows.

The Red Carpet at Dolce & Gabbana's 20th Menswear Anniversary Event

 Blake Kuwahara & Thomas Ferguson at the John Varvatos entrance

Blake Kuwahara, John Varvatos, & Thomas Ferguson - Milan, 2010

Thomas Ferguson & Blake Kuwahara pre-show at Neil Barrett S/S 2011

Blake Kuwahara backstage at the Neil Barrett Show    

 Thomas Ferguson backstage at the Neil Barrett Show

FGW visits Italy

Thomas and Blake of Focus Group West had the great opportunity to take in some of the best runway shows during this years Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy.  It was a whirlwind trip full of planes, trains, and automobiles water boats.

We've arrived!!!

Making our way through town.

On the train headed for a quick trip to Lake Como.

Thomas at Lake Como

Blake at Lake Como

There's always time for pizza...

...and Prada!

The Flagship Prada store at the Galleria in Milano.

The Galleria - Milano, Italy

There are lots more pictures where these came from.  Be sure to check out our design blog - The Aesthetic Omnivore for more coverage and a glimpse behind-the-scenes at Fashion Week S/S 2011.

Focus Group West heads to Milan

Fashion Week, here we come!  Blake and Thomas of the FGW design team are spending the next few days in Milan for Men's Fashion Week.  We'll be sure to post pictures and updates - and perhaps some spring/summer 2011 fashion commentary - ASAP.

More to come...

Thomas Ferguson featured in March 2010 Eyecare Business

FGW on The Optical Vision Site

Our friends over at The Optical Vision Site have once again featured news about FGW on their blog.  Check out their coverage of the upcoming episode of Thomas Ferguson on the Style Network's "What I Hate About Me"!!

What I Hate About Me - Style Network

As mentioned in November, FGW's very own Thomas Ferguson taped a segment for an upcoming Style Network show.  We can now divulge the details:

About the show - Women identify the ten things they dislike most about themselves, such as relationship issues, vices, physical flaws, or out-of-control finances, and then a rotating panel of experts (including boxer Laila Ali, nutritionist Rachel Beller and radio host Emily Morse) offers advice about how to makeover their lives and directly deal with these issues.  (source: TVTango)

With the help of Thomas Ferguson as the "eyewear expert" and product from Dan Deutsch Optical Outlook, the segment is a guide to teach women how to find their perfect pair of shades.

Be sure to check out the episode on Janauary 30th @ 9pm

Check your local listings.

Visit www.MyStyle.com for more information about the show.

Happy Holidays!

All of us at Focus Group West wish you the best during this holiday season. 

Here's to a safe, successful, and happy 2010.

 We will be spending the next few weeks with our family and friends and will resume blog updates in January.  Happy Holidays!!

Thomas Ferguson: Top Secret Assignment

 Focus Group West's very own Thomas Ferguson just shot a special eyewear education segment for an upcoming TV show premiering in January 2010.   

 

We can't yet divulge the details but be sure to check back.  

We will post updates soon!

Not Just Vision features Blake and Thomas in the top 100

click image above to view

Special thanks to Not Just Vision and Dick van der Niet

Who Is: Thomas Ferguson - Part 1 and Part 2

Our interview series continues with Thomas Ferguson of Focus Group West.

The Place: Los Angeles lunch spot, Tart Restaurant

Clad in a casual dark jeans/t-shirt look (and great sunglasses) Thomas looked like a celebrity incognito as we dashed into the restaurant of his choice for a quick drink and some nachos. It’s obvious that Thomas has great taste and an understated sense of style that always seems just right for the occasion. I found myself wanting to drill him on trends, movies, music, and of course, what I was wearing. Refraining from the latter (just to be on the safe side), we got into a great conversation about his work with FGW, history in eyewear, and on what he finds inspiring.

DP: Since everyone in LA seems to be a transplant, I always ask interviewees: What brought you out to Los Angeles?

TF: Well, coincidentally, this actually is my 10th year here. I celebrated over the weekend. It’s been a long and interesting 10 years. I moved out in creative pursuits and stumbled upon a part-time job, working for a small eyewear company doing PR and things took off from there. I ended up becoming a licensed Optician and became an assistant manager at a large chain dispensary. Within no time, I found myself as full-time manager with my own store. Next thing I knew, I was moving on to REM to venture into the wholesale side of the business and found myself drawn to the creative aspects of design and development. One thing lead to another and 10 years later here we are.

DP: How did you end up doing what you are doing?

TF: I started working as a design assistant for Blake about 4 years ago.  It was for the launch of Carolina Herrera Eyewear and John Varvatos Eyewear for Base Curve (a luxury division of the REM Eyewear in Los Angeles). After an intense year of design assistant work and Blake’s mentoring, I took on some of my own projects, some private label, and started developing product from there. I then became the Manager of Product Development for REM, became the lead designer of Lucky Brand Spectacles and Sunglasses, continued working on private label brands, as well as with John (Varvatos, that is) and Mrs. Herrera.

DP: So you and Blake must work well creatively.

TF: He’s been doing this for years and I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him. The respect we have for each other’s opinions makes us a good team in terms of working on different projects together. As a result, when he decided to create FGW, he asked me to take on the role of designer and developer for Focus Group West.

Who Is: Thomas Ferguson

Coming Soon!

Eyewear Trends: Summer/Fall 2009

Our very own Thomas Ferguson is featured on The Optical Vision Site with his take on upcoming eyewear trends for this summer and fall.
Check it out here:http://theopticalvisionsite.com/eyewear/eyewear-trends-summer-fall-2009/