PEAKY BLINDERS TOMMY SHELBY’S GLASSES WERE DESIGNED IN SCOTLAND

PEAKY Blinders is preparing to air its highly-anticipated final season and local Glasgow eyewear company IOLLA created the now trademark glasses of Tommy Shelby. 

Played by Cillian Murphy, the beloved protagonist of Peaky Blinders looked to Glasgow for his eyewear inspiration, donning a pair of bespoke IOLLA glasses in 2019’s fifth season. 

Whilst Tommy Shelby's exact glasses are not available to buy, following huge customer demand IOLLA designed a similar, retro style frame, meaning that fans of the show like theshowbizlion.com can replicate Tommy’s look for themselves in time for the final season with the classic ‘MacDonald’ frames. The petite, statement making frames bring Peaky Blinders’ vintage style to life, with signature IOLLA engraved tips. Fans can also visit one of IOLLA’s welcoming showrooms to learn about the design process in more detail, and even take a closer look at some early prototypes.

Approached in 2018 by Alison McCosh, Costume Designer for Peaky Blinders, IOLLA founder and frame designer Stefan Hunter worked closely with the BBC production; producing various prototypes and even attending a pre-filming fitting with Cillian Murphy to ensure the frames were the perfect fit for the renowned Tommy Shelby. 

Set to make a highly anticipated return to our screens this month for the sixth and final season, IOLLA’s epic collaboration with the BBC drama will go down in the brand’s history, as one of the all-time classic characters modelled his very own IOLLA frames. With actors like Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy set to star alongside Cillian Murphy, the final season is sure to be more unmissable television. 

Stefan Hunter, Founder of IOLLA said: “The culmination of a huge amount of hard work and collaboration, it’s been a joy to see such an iconic character wear a pair of IOLLA frames. When we were approached in the summer of 2018, we couldn’t have imagined the journey we would go on with the production and it’s really incredible to have our homegrown business be part of Peaky Blinders history. We can’t wait to tune into the new series to see how things will end for the famous Tommy Shelby!” 

IOLLA launched in 2015, introducing a better way to buy eyewear with their offering of complete prescription glasses and sunglasses for £75. Their mission is to help people look and feel great, empowering glasses wearers to build an eyewear wardrobe thanks to their diverse range of unique frame designs and affordable price point.

For more information and to keep up to date with all things IOLLA check out their website and follow them on Instagram:

www.iolla.com

https://www.instagram.com/iolla/ 

HOLLYWOOD STAR SENDS SCOTS BAND THE RONAINS AN EMOTIONAL MESSAGE

SCOTS band The Ronains received a touching message of encouragement from Hollywood star Peaky Blinders and Guardians of The Galaxy actor Tommy Flanagan during mental health awareness week. 

Tommy who also played an alcoholic with mental health issues in hit crime drama Sons of Anarchy, has been following the Clydebank band for the past year and has championed their work. 

The Braveheart actor sent bass player Jim, singer Debbie, drummer Linzi and guitarist LP a message of support after they let him hear their brand new single, a powerful cover of Flower of Scotland which they are releasing on Friday May 21.

The track is available for 79p on preorder now from iTunes and Amazon and the band are hopeful it will chart. 

Tommy,  who has been filming the new series of Peaky Blinders in Chicago, as well as new series of Tower sent the band a message after bass player Jim told him he was finding the music business difficult during lockdown.

Tommy wrote: “Life’s highs will be overshadowed by the sometimes overwhelming lows. But the clock keeps ticking. 

“Time will reveal the why the who the wtf. If what you’re doing brings you love and joy end of, you win!

“Do not give up! Adjust and reset when required. ‘Hard work and heartache’ life of an artist. Enjoy the highs when they come.

“Few people want to see you succeed, no matter what they say.
Beware of that s***e!
You guys got tons of talent. Keep doing the work. You’re going to get to wherever ‘there’ is.
Best TF.”

Bass player Jim Reid said: “Tommy is one of my favourite actors and I've watched him in everything from Braveheart and Guardians of The Galaxy to Sons of Anarchy and Peaky Blinders.  I’m a huge fan. It’s a deep message he sent us. I’d told Tommy that I was finding lockdown hard as a musician and he wrote this incredible letter of encouragement."

The band have been playing their version of Flower of Scotland at live gigs for a while but decided to record and release it to reflect the recent achievement in Scottish sport.

Jim said: “We recorded a powerful rocky verson of Flower of Scotland because we wanted to celebrate the success of the national football team and reaching the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 26 years. 

“The Scottish rugby team have done well and boxer Josh Taylor is fighting in Las Vegas for our country too.

We are proud of our Scottish roots and this song means everything to us.”

Singer Debbie, whose soaring vocals feature in the song, added: 'It's quite terrifying taking on such a huge, Iconic song, but if you don't reach for the sky you'll never be amongst the stars.”

The song is available for Pre-order now on Amazon and iTunes by clicking on the 2 links below.

AMAZON ➡️ https://amzn.to/3un9po9 - 79p

ITUNES ➡️ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/flower-of-scotland-single/1564971257?ls=1&app=itunes 69p