“THE LOSS OF A BELOVED PAIR OF

VINTAGE SUNNIES GAVE ME THE FINAL PUSH.”

AHLEM was launched in 2014 by Parisian-born, Los Angeles-based designer, Ahlem Manai-Platt. Following ten years in fashion Manai-Platt saw her future in perfect vision. "I live in glasses," she says of the apparent career move into eyewear, which first sparked interest among friends at a café in Paris. "We were discussing goals, and I showed the group a sketch from my notebook. The expressed excitement gave me the guts; the loss of a beloved pair of vintage sunnies shortly thereafter gave me the final push. And that's how the brand was born."

In 1981 Anne et Valentin opened a small frame shop in a beautiful location in the historic 15th century city of Toulouse in the south of France.  Quickly, they discovered that the frame selection in France at the time was very poor.  The only way to improve their selection for their customers was create, design and manufacture their own collection.

The first small collection was of colored acetates which debuted in their own shop and also with a few early adopter opticians internationally.  In 1994 the first titanium frames were introduced.

Today Anne et Valentin is sold in 20 countries in the finest boutiques.  Still, it is a small company, employing under thirty people globally.

“We want people to have pleasure in choosing a frame, where this choice is usually difficult.”

The frames embody a timeless beauty and strength with a chic, modern bent.

Founded by Bill Barton and Patty Perreira, Barton Perreira achieves innovation in the eyewear industry through impeccable craftsmanship and design without compromise.

A dedication to quality is at the heart of co-founder Bill Barton's approach to all aspects of Barton Perreira, from the manufacturing process behind each impeccably crafted frame to the level of service customers receive. Throughout his 30-plus year career, Barton has harnessed that dedication, along with his passion for product and instinct for business, to deliver impressive growth, brand recognition, and industry prestige to every eyewear company he touches.
                                                                                                    

For designer Patty Perreira, conceptualizing Barton Perreira's timelessly chic frames is as much an intuitive process as it is a skill born out of thirty years in the eyewear business. An avid collector, she draws her inspiration from the ingenuity of the past, whether it's through mid-century modern architecture, art, fashion, or vintage motorcycles. She values pieces that tell a story, which are often re-interpreted and re-imagined in her collections.

THE INSPIRATION – THE STYLE

FREE, BOLD, COLORFUL, FACE A FACE’S STYLE HAS A REAL CHARACTER!

Far from standardized fashion diktats and conformist trends , each collection  asserts its artistic temperament , drawing its inspiration from the sources of Modern Art, architecture and contemporary design.

FACE A FACE frames are developed within the design studio directed by Pascal Jaulent resembling small subtle pieces of architecture, playing with volumes, shapes, material and textures.

The frames express themselves through a unique color range which is a true FACE A FACE trademark.

FACE A FACE eyewear will reveal your individual personality and underline the boldness, the  modernity, the seduction of an independent, creative object of design.

THE STORY – THE SPIRIT – THE ORIGINS

In 1995 FACE A FACE is created by Pascal Jaulent and Nadine Roth as a French eyewear design company, based on modernity and creativity without compromise. FACE A FACE is fabulous and French, high end, rich in color and expression.

The founder Pascal Jaulent has a passion for human and social issues and for ethnology and his dream was to become an urban planner. His studies at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (Paris Management School) led him to first join the financial departments of large companies (Nestlé, Dior ) before his desire to work for a smaller company was fulfilled as General Manager of Lunettes Lafont Paris.

He discovered the amazing connections between the work of an architect and humans as well as the technical and fashion components of creative eyewear.

Fukui, Japan is one of the three largest production regions for optical frames in the world, along with China and Italy. 97% of Japanese-made optical frames are manufactured in Fukui. Masunaga Optical premiered the production of eyeglasses in Fukui in 1905. The company founder Gozaemon Masunaga brought in skilled craftsmen from Osaka and Tokyo with the ambition of setting the optical industry solidly in place in Fukui.

He entered into the industry the hard way, and at first the eyeglasses manufactured in Fukui were regarded to be third-rate in the world. In order to raise the quality standards of the products, Gozaemon established a guild like system where full-fledged craftsmen could create their own businesses. Owing to this system, the number of eyeglass craftsmen increased gradually, and the optical industry spread all over Fukui.

There are as many as 200 manual processes involved in making an optical frame. Generally, productivity is low when one company is in charge of all the processes. However, Masunaga Optical is the only company in Japan that has a factory in charge of all processes from raw materials to production and finish in an integrated way. The integrated production system improves the detail and quality. For example, when Masunaga Optical develops a new model, the molds are always built in-house. If there is a problem in the wear comfort that can be felt only after completing one pair of glasses, it will be corrected in the previous process’ promptly.

The company’s mission statement since the establishment is “We manufacture excellent eyeglasses. We want to make a profit if we can, but we don’t hesitate to take a loss. It is always in our thoughts to manufacture excellent eyeglasses.” These words are still the basis of the conduct code of employees even more than 100 years after its establishment.

Founded in 1967, Mitsuhiro Matsuda’s Nicole Company quickly became one of the most influential eyewear fashion houses in the world. Known for intricately detailed, yet surprisingly restrained interpretations of classic eyeglass frame styles, Matsuda’s eyewear designs became a favorite of celebrities and design aficionados throughout the world.

The mission of Matsuda Eyewear is to design and manufacture the best eyeglasses - period.

Painstakingly crafted by hand in the artisanal eyewear workshops of Japan, each Matsuda spectacle creation represents over 40 years of design history and heritage. Only the finest materials, including celluloid acetate, titanium, sterling silver, 18k solid gold, and 22.5k gold plating are used in each eyeglass frame creation. Matsuda’s legendary Japanese eyewear collection has long been known for its exquisite craftsmanship and impeccable attention to detail, design, and use of engraved metals. A longtime favorite of celebrities and fans of luxury eyewear, pop culture boosted Matsuda in the early 90’s when Linda Hamilton a.k.a. Sara Connor donned Matsuda sunglasses in the blockbuster film, Terminator 2.

Matsuda fulfills this decade’s need for understated luxury eyewear. The newly re-launched portfolio is defined by 3 distinct eyewear collections:

• The Matsuda Precious Collection makes use of luxurious materials, including hand engraved sterling silver, solid 18k gold, and buffalo horn.

• The Matsuda Essential Collection features new designs drawing upon classic Matsuda frame details made of pure titanium, stainless steel, and premium Japanese acetate.

• The Matsuda Heritage Collection consists of limited production re-issues of best-selling original styles.

Matsuda Eyeglasses was launched in the US in 1985 and had great success in the independent eyewear market. Matsuda spectacles was known for his impeccable attention to detail, design, and materials. The Matsuda Eyewear Collection is still to this day known for their very ornate highly detailed eyeglass frames. A true pinnacle of high-end luxury eyewear.

A constant search for innovation, the visionary use of materials and a wealth of experience in eyewear design are the defining elements behind MYKITA’s collections. A key factor in the company’s success is its holistic business philosophy, which brings together expertise from all disciplines under a single roof, the MYKITA HAUS. It thrives on the power of a self-contained network that enables interdisciplinary research and the transfer of technologies. This all-encompassing mentality is also reflected in the MYKITA Shops; the unique retail concept unites the firm’s own design principles with optical precision made in Germany.