Hong Kong, Framed: A. SOCIETY × Universal Works

They say fashion tells a story, but for Dina Yassin,…

Universal Works never planned on eyewear until a meeting with Hong Kong studio A. SOCIETY turned talk into prototypes and then into a collaboration. “We hadn’t done eyewear before. What changed? We met these guys. It’s about people. We always come back to people,” co-founder David Keyte says. The line that follows feels like the brief for the whole project: keep it human, keep it useful, let the city speak through the details.

The result is a three-frame capsule that reads Hong Kong into form and colour. Each design takes its name from a district or shoreline (Aberdeen, Stanley, Kowloon) and wears a palette already familiar to Universal Works loyalists: shades of olive, brown, navy, and grey, each model offered in three colourways. The collaboration began as a six-month exchange of references, materials, and mood, a back-and-forth that kept the frames grounded in both brands’ sensibilities.

Aberdeen is cut from acetate and sized with presence. Stanley takes the classic pantos silhouette because it flatters most faces. Both carry A. SOCIETY’s signature metal tip at the arm ends, a quiet cue that doubles as counterweight so the bridge does not carry the whole load. The branding whispers, the balance does the talking.

Top Left: Aberdeen Green Havana, Bottom Left: Stanley Honey, Bottom Right: Kowloon Brown Honey;

Kowloon switches materials and attitude. The lightweight titanium chassis ships with blue-light lenses you can swap for prescription optics, and a removable magnetic sun clip clicks on when the day turns bright. At the hinge, A. SOCIETY’s patented A. Flex screwless system delivers flex, fit, and long-haul durability. It is engineering you feel after hours of wear rather than in a spec sheet.

The sun clip gets its own ritual. A magnetic pendant necklace or jacket pin holds it when you head indoors, both cut in the shape of old water-point symbols hand-painted on Hong Kong streets. Universal Works first noticed these fading marks on trips years ago and recognised a kinship with the brand’s recurring Ghost Patch detail. The collaboration lifts that vernacular without turning it into noise.

He Styles: Jacket in Black, Kowloon Sunglasses in Silver Grey, Neckerchoef in Navy, and Olive Tee.

Even the unboxing sticks to the working brief. A. SOCIETY’s technical drawings print across the packaging like small blueprints, a nod to the studio’s method. Each pair also lands with a soft drawstring pouch sewn from Universal Works fabric off-cuts, a practical reuse that keeps materials in circulation.

Beyond the frames, the capsule extends into a short run of clothing printed with the same utility symbols seen on the accessories. It is a neat loop from pavement to pendant to sleeve to temple arm, a city’s informal language translated into wearable cues.

He Styles (Bottom Left): Olive Tee, Neckerchoef in Navy, and Aberdeen Sunglasses in Navy; She Styles: Jacket in Black, Neckerchoef in Olive, Stanley Sunglasses in Honey

Availability is straightforward. The collaboration is out now online and in stores at Universal Works and A. SOCIETY, including Shop 312, K11 MUSEA, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

For context, A. SOCIETY is independent, Hong Kong-born, and Asia-shaped, drawing on underground art and music to deliver handcrafted statement eyewear with an inclusive approach to fit and price. Universal Works filters Midlands workwear, sport, and subculture through decades of menswear experience, a people-first label that builds modern utility into everything it makes. The partnership slots naturally into both narratives.

Three frames, one conversation: material, craft, form, fit. A city mapped into everyday objects that earn their space on a face.

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Dina Yassin

They say fashion tells a story, but for Dina Yassin, it’s more than just storytelling—it’s an art, a science, and a little bit of magic. As the Co-Founder, Chief Storyteller, and Editor-in-Chief of GAZETTA—among many other titles—she’s the woman behind the words, the visionary shaping narratives, and the creative force redefining luxury fashion journalism in the digital age. With over two decades of experience in luxury brand consulting, creative direction, and trend forecasting, Dina has worked with some of the most coveted names in the industry—think Van Cleef & Arpels, Kenzo, Bvlgari, Hermès, and Chloe—all while keeping her finger firmly on the pulse of what’s next. Her work has graced the pages of Vogue Arabia, Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveler, Mojeh Magazine, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, 7 Corriere, and The Rake—among many other top-tier titles—solidifying her reputation as a fashion and luxury thought leader. But here’s the twist—Dina isn’t just reporting on the future; she’s creating it. Under her leadership, GAZETTA introduced EVVIE 7, an AI-driven journalist pushing the boundaries of editorial innovation. Because in a world where algorithms influence aesthetics as much as designers, Dina ensures GAZETTA stays one step ahead, seamlessly blending technology, culture, and high fashion into a platform that speaks to the modern, forward-thinking luxury consumer. Beyond her editorial expertise, Dina is a renowned luxury brand consultant, trend strategist, and creative powerhouse who thrives at the intersection of fashion, culture, and digital storytelling. Whether she’s consulting on luxury branding, forecasting emerging trends, directing high-profile fashion campaigns, or curating immersive experiences, she’s always asking the big questions—What’s next? Who’s shaping it? And most importantly, how do we make it unforgettable? One thing is certain: Dina Yassin is always at the forefront of what’s next.