Some partnerships make for a stylishly natural fit. So it is with Taiwanese actor Eddie Peng and Boss Eyewear, who have collaborated on a showcase for the brand’s spring/summer 2017 season. It’s the third time they’ve worked together. Peng has a youthful masculinity that is a seamless match with Boss, making him the ideal brand ambassador for the new collection.
The new sunglasses and optical frames feature an unusual cork insert lining the inside of the aluminium temples. The highly elastic and water repellent properties of cork and the elegant design make these glasses a perfect fit for summer. The range is primarily finished in a range of matte colours.
“I am so happy to be introducing this new collection for 2017. What I love is how each season manages to be fresh and innovative yet feel classic and timeless. That is how I feel Boss Eyewear stays ahead of the curve,” says Peng.
Peng moved to Canada at the age of 13 and, following a serendipitous introduction to show business in 2002, has gone onto to enjoy a successful acting career in television dramas and hit movies. Best known for his dedication to every role, he has earned a reputation for performances that are gritty and realistic.
He is a top box-office draw throughout Asia and starred in many of last year’s blockbusters: Operation Mekong, Call of Heroes, Cold War 2 and Zhang Yimou’s The Great Wall with Matt Damon and Willem Dafoe. This year he appears in three new films: Duckweed, The Tales of Wukong and The Great Escape.
Which style did you like most from the spring/summer Boss Eyewear shoot?
This is such a hard question to answer because I like almost every style they let me try on. I have always preferred a matte finish over gloss, and I like the matte colours in the new collection. Boss has also introduced cork into the aluminium temples, which is an innovation. The frames are surprisingly lightweight too.
Tell us about shooting in New York. Are there any anecdotes from on set?
We did the shoot in autumn and it was such a great experience working with Karim Sadli, one of the best fashion photographers in the world now. It was our first time working together and I think we had a good chemistry. He is extremely passionate, very intelligent, and exudes a nice rhythm. He’s a very cool guy. In between shoots, I managed to find time to go out on my own and I cycled around Manhattan. It’s not something I get to do often when I am in Asia.
What’s the message in the Boss Eyewear spring/summer campaign?
Everyone keeps saying this year is going to be a challenge but I hope this campaign can help restore hope and bring some positivity. How you look at the world is important. If we view every day with uncertainty and negativity, it becomes self-fulfilling. We need to be confident and optimistic, and set out to make each day brighter and better than before.
What has been keeping you busy and what’s coming up this year?
We recently launched my new film The Great Wall, a Hollywood action movie directed by the legendary Zhang Yimou. Hopefully it will do as well in the West as it has done in Asia. I have three new movies coming out this year. The first, a nostalgic drama, Duckweed, was released during Lunar New Year. Then there’s The Tales of Wukong, in which I play the Monkey God. It’s exciting for me to be given the chance to play such a legendary character and I am looking forward to the film’s release in summer. I am also in The Great Escape, a war-time action thriller directed by Hong Kong’s award-winning director Ann Hui.
