A SPECTACLE maker has collaborated with the UK’s first openly HIV+ mayor to create a one-off pair of sunglasses to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights.

The unique shades from Cubitts and designer Philip Normal, who is mayor of Lambeth Council, feature a house made up of the transgender flag colours, with a beaming rainbow of the inclusive Pride flag colours.

They also have green accents to celebrate Philip’s recent election as the mayor of London’s leafy Lambeth borough and its green spaces, which include Clapham Common and Brockwell Park.

The one-of-a-kind frame was designed to mark the end of Pride month and continue the flag-waving throughout July.

It will be auctioned off with 100 per cent of the proceeds being donated to Philip’s choice of charity, the Albert Kennedy Trust.

Philip Normal said: “Designing these sunglasses in collaboration with Cubitts was a dream project.

“When I started designing, I had my chosen charity as Mayor of Lambeth in mind, the Albert Kennedy Trust – a charity that supports young LGBTQ+ people who are homeless or facing homelessness.

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe inclusive environment that celebrates their identity.

“I wanted to incorporate the inclusive pride flag, and so the idea of a house with the rainbow coming out of the door and the sides being cartoon bushes came about.

“The initial shape of the glasses is one of my favourite shapes of all time, and it’s the perfect foundation for a fabulous inclusive house.”

Liz Moffatt, from Cubitts, said: “We opened our first Cubitts store in Soho back in 2014, and this is the first year since then that we haven’t been able to enjoy the Pride month celebrations with our customers and neighbours.

“We were disappointed, but we decided there is nothing stopping us celebrating all year round.

“Philip is a longtime Cubitts wearer, so the collaboration came about very organically.

“It was a natural choice to celebrate both his achievements and contribution to the LGBTQ+ community and the wonderful work that AKT does across the UK while raising money for and awareness for such an important cause.”

The Albert Kennedy Trust supports LGBTQ+ young people in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment by providing them with safe homes and employment, education and training.

Carrie Reiners, director of fundraising at the Albert Kennedy Trust, said: “Demand for our services right now is at an all-time high and during Covid-19, we’ve seen a 40 per cent national increase in demand due to abuse levels and lack of employment for those ineligible for furlough.

“The donation from the Cubitts × Philip Normal collaboration will contribute to getting the 24 per cent of LGBTQ+ homeless people into safe homes and help those unemployed due to Covid-19 get back into work or training.”

Those looking to snap up the unique creation can enter the silent auction by sending their highest bid to [email protected] and will be notified if they have won by 01.08.2020.

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