Punters at Mona Foma 2022 will be able to see things a little differently with the help of a new bespoke pair of sunglasses from Tasmanian festival Mona Foma and boutique eyewear label EPØKHE. Beyond sheer street cred, the Mona Foma x EPØKHE sunnies will also be key to unlocking a speccy festival experience only wearers can witness. EPØKHE sunglass-toting festival goers in Hobart will be granted exclusive access to a bizarre and unexpected immersive adventure, not available to their frameless friends.
The Mona Foma x EPØKHE collaboration brings together two Tasmanian cultural heavyweights in Mona Foma Artistic Director and Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie, and pro-surfer and EPØKHE founder Dion Agius. Agius was born, raised and now resides on Tassie’s east coast, while die-hard Tasmanian Ritchie is known for his prolific sunglasses collection—it’s the kind of dreamy duo only Tasmania could conjure up.
The Mona Foma glasses offer a new take on EPØKHE’s ever-popular ‘SZEX’ model and feature polarised lenses in a gradient sunrise scheme. Designed in Tasmania, the bio-acetate black frames are adorned with gold detailing and paired with a specially designed chromatic case and cleaning cloth.
Released just in time for summer, and available for pre-order now, the Mona Foma x EPØKHE sunglasses are readymade for long days at festivals, extended sunsets and late-night antics.
Brain Ritchie, Artistic Director, Mona Foma, says: ‘I’m well known for wearing sunglasses at any hour of the day: when it’s cloudy, after midnight, to meet the Premier. Who cares? Sunnies are the must-have festival accessory. And rumour has it that this special pair of specs will enable a polarising festival experience like no other. There’s really only one way to find out.’
Dion Agius, Founder, EPØKHE Eyewear, says: ‘People underestimate the spiciness of the Tassie summer sun. So we’ve teamed up with Mona Foma to protect the eyeballs of festival goers. Because how can one expect to observe all the art, music and weirdness on offer this year if you have burnt eyeballs?!’
Mona Foma—Mona’s Festival of Music and Art—is a high-summer program of art, live music, theatre, performance, dance and other experimental fun. Originally launched in Hobart in 2009, the festival relocated to Launceston in 2019 before expanding to a dual-city format in 2021.
EPØKHE Eyewear was founded in 2012 by friends Dion Agius, Kai Neville and Mitch Coleborn. With a focus on classic optical shapes and modern stylings, all EPØKHE frames are designed in Australia and hand-crafted from acetate and metal. EPØKHE Eyewear is manufactured using the highest quality optics, providing 100% UV protection, optical quality and scratch resistance.
Mona Foma will take place over two weekends in January 2022, across venues and locations around Tasmania. The festival will kick off in Launceston from 21–23 January before travelling south to Hobart over the weekend of 28–30 January. For more information and to sign up to the mailing list for festival and program updates please visit: mofo.net.au
Retailing at $250, the Mona Foma x EPØKHE Limited Edition Polarised Sunglasses are available for pre-order from 4 November 2021, with delivery expected in December 2021.
The full Mona Foma 2022 program will be announced 3 December, with tickets on sale 6 December.
For more information or to pre-order a pair of Mona Foma x EPØKHE sunglasses, please visit: epokhe.monafoma.net.au
