Specs designer eyes China market

Annette Esto is surprised by many Chinese women who wear glasses without lenses, just for fashion. [Photo provided to China Daily]

With her bright orange hair, Annette Esto cuts a striking figure in Beijing.

The Danish spectacles designer and CEO of Fleye, a designer eyewear brand that she launched in Europe a decade ago, is a woman of very individual style, from her hair down to her clothes. And now she is bringing some of her fashion sense to the streets of China.

"The period of people purchasing brands has started to fade away and what they need is to wear something that is a little special," says Esto, who brought her brand to China last year.

As one would expect from such a colorful woman, Esto's frame designs play with color, as well as materials and texture.

Some of her spectacles even offer the option of changing the color on parts of the frame so wearers can match them to their clothes or nail color.

Esto, who has not formally studied design, says she takes inspiration from many places. The shape of a car or pattern on a table can give her ideas.

"You've got to look at the detail," she says. "And you've got to look at many different things."

The 54-year-old designer likes to travel and enjoys mountain climbing.