October 2011

Meima Eyewear

1st October 2011 Anthony Meima’s original design goal was to create jewellery. The eyewear industry and customers are fortunate that he changed his mind! Once Meima started optical studies, he became intrigued with the creation of frames. “I worked as a Product Manager for Beausoleil and Christian Lacroix, and became fascinated with acetate. Then I started to make my own designs by hand, and bought my own machine, which I had at home, then a second machine!  I made prototypes for Chloë and frames for fashion shows.”

This is clearly a man who persists.  And that persistence has paid off with his beautiful collections that are sold globally. As we chat in his charming little atelier in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, Meima expresses his passion for design and frames, and particularly his love of acetate.  “Acetate is fabulous”, he enthuses, as he spreads a multitude of acetate colorations and gradations on the table, “and I really understand what goes into a pair of frames, and what makes quality frames expensive, because I made my own. The construction of my frames in particular, is quite special, because of the thickness that I like on the temples.  What is sad is that it’s more and more difficult to find artisans to make frames like this, young people are not going into this trade.”

Meimas’s collections include ophthalmic and sunglass styles for men and women, with everything handmade in France.  Certain styles have a thin strip of crystal in the design, giving the frame a luminous sheen and feeling of light. “I find inspiration everywhere, especially with travel, and people in the streets, or in the bus,” says Meima, “plus, the style and influence of the Bauhaus period is another inspiration.  I don’t want to make crazy frames; I like classical shapes with a modern look.”

And this Meima has achieved with grace and elegance. www.meima.fr JG