apanese industrial designer Kazuo Kawasaki is grateful to Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin for making his eyeglass frame famous but admits he likes Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as well.
"She is very good-looking," Kawasaki said of his most famous customer. "She would look good in any glasses."
Kawasaki also designed the distinctive red and white wheelchair he uses. He lost the use of his legs in a car accident 30 years ago.
Kawasaki wears the clear-rim MP-705, an updated version of Palin's MP-704 model. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Palin's frame is a Kawasaki MP-704 in 34 gray from Matsunaga Optical Manufacturing Co. It is made of Titanium and mounts the lenses using a screwless tension system. They sell for around $375. With lenses they run about $700.
Palin, who is nearsighted with astigmatism, had the rectangular lenses custom made by Home Optics, an eyeglass boutique in Chugiak, Alaska. Home Optics owner Joy Leedham said Palin looked at 300 frames in her kitchen in late December trying to find a fashion-forward look. She ultimately narrowed the choice down to five designs before settling on Kawasaki's design with the help of her family.
Kawasaki shows one of his lightest models at a Tokyo store. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin began wearing the Kawasaki design in December. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File) |
Kawasaki designed his own wheelchair. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)