Being a cyclist, I have a special place in my heart for anything crafted from carbon fiber. The odd thing about my affinity for this light-weight material is that I actually think it's beautiful in addition to being space-agey and advanced. Heck, in my more romantic moments, carbon fiber kind of reminds me of a very rare leather, like python.

Naturally, I love the idea of carbon fiber sunglasses, even if I don't love the uber-sporty shapes most sunglass makers use in the creation of these super light shades. Sever, a small design company within Lapo Elkman's new venture Italia Independent, produces street-worthy carbon fiber sunglasses. Not too aggressive or sporty, these shades are the perfect example of modern, unisex sun protection.