Boutiques

A UK hotspot for original, fine frames

Owner/director Gerry Sondh is all for embracing unique design. His carefully curated collection of frames includes top-notch brands from around the world like Ørgreen Optics, Jacques Marie Mage and theo, and new arrival in the store from Berlin, Kuboraum. “We’re known for what we do,” he says, and that goes for the frames, the eyecare, the advice available, and the special events in-store. These are  just re-starting with a MYKITA + Kuboraum showcase for December.

Since launching his shop in 2007, Sondh has found fans across the Peterborough area and further afield who know they can rely on the selection of frames, and in the current climate, buy multiple pairs. “Our work is a bit different right now. There’s less browsing, but many more bookings and bookings ahead. More people who are working from home in this area are looking for eyewear to suit several needs. They like that we are here, with a top selection of frames, and that they don’t need to travel into London to find something new.”

Asked about how he started and with which collections, Sondh talks about having lots of great “family-like” connections with favourite, long-term brands. They include a strong relationship with Ørgreen whose collection is hugely popular at the store. “I’ve been working with Ørgreen Optics for 15 years. When we opened in 2007, we sold a load of the titanium Pussycats and Vildebeests and that was just a warm-up to what has been a really excellent relationship. Over the years, we have just continued to do really, really well with the collection, the electro-colours and combinations, and the consistency of small details like small hinges and screws suits us perfectly. I appreciate this type of close relationship with our brands and the travel to HQ to spend time with the team.”

Located in a small arcade of independent shops, just off Peterborough town centre and near the historic cathedral, the Oculist team – Gerry, Rob Gilbert and Hannah Castle – promise over 1000 frames and sunglasses to choose from at any one time in the store, and take a remarkable and keen interest in new and high-quality designs. “Our analysis on returns is taken very seriously, our collections really do get put under scrutiny,” says Sondh, “and we take detailed records of any problems. By doing that we know we are selling very high-level eyewear to our customers and that satisfaction will always remain high.”

Independent brands stocked at The Oculist include FACE A FACE, Kuboraum, LINDBERG, Maui Jim, Mykita, Ørgreen Optics, Oliver Peoples, and THEO.

Westgate Arcade, Peterborough, PE1 1PY – www.theoculist.com

Eyestylist visited The Oculist in November 2021 in person. If you have a unique store and would like to get in touch to tell us more, contact us at [email protected] – The feature above was written by Clodagh Norton for Eyestylist.com – all rights reserved.

Beautiful Roma Norte district welcomes the handcrafted eyewear brand

The elegant tree-lined boulevard Colima (Roma Norte) interspersed with Art Deco houses has seen the opening of the new MYKITA Shop, housed in a 1950s Bauhaus-inspired building. The store is designed to offer an ‘immersive’ MYKITA experience, with three levels and an overall space of 700 square metres. Alongside their established design classics and latest eyewear collections which are all handcrafted at the MYKITA HAUS in Berlin, the shop – as is typical of the German brand’s retail concept – offers a comprehensive optical service with state-of-the-art instruments and lenses by ZEISS.

The interior architectural concept seeks to preserve the open, airy character of the building, originally conceived as a flower shop with large windows and two interior fountains now repurposed as large planters. Visitors access the first floor directly via the external stairs and are welcomed into a spacious eyewear gallery with consultation areas. The current collections are displayed on the freestanding curved MYKITA WALL; the laboratory used for lens cutting and fitting, frame adjustments and repairs sits just behind the reception desk. Stunning white terrazzo flooring, oak furniture and pastel blue powder-coated steel furnishings come together to achieve a clean and effortless composition of colour and surfaces that is characteristically in tune with the MYKITA aesthetic.

On the split level, an eye-opening experience of Mexican coffee awaits: inspired by the sensory world of MYKITA and Colonia Roma, the Laboratorio coffee bar is the latest brainchild from the makers behind the third-wave coffee institution Rompeolas – a steam of coffee experts dedicated to exploring, recovering, conserving and valuing the flavours of the best coffee beans produced in Mexico.

MYKITA now has 16 shops worldwide in Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Osaka, Paris, Taipei, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich. www.mykita.com

‘Eyewear By Olga’ is a luxury eyewear retailer, or – as the owner likes to call it – an ‘EYE PAD’ founded in 2011 by optician, designer and fashion enthusiast Olga Trentin. The ‘PAD’ is located in the centre of Mississauga, Canada in the neighbourhood of Port Credit. The interior of the store itself is a feast for the eyes; packed with colour, exploding with textiles and featuring artisanal furnishings throughout. The shop first appeared on Eyestylist in October 2011.

We would love it if you could give us a short synopsis of the story / journey behind ‘Eyewear by Olga’…It’s such a funny story actually; I went to visit a friend in an optical store that I frequently shopped at, but my friend was busy serving a client. So, I picked up a frame that caught my eye and handed it to her client swiftly leaving the store afterwards so that I wouldn’t be intruding. Later, my friend told me that her client had purchased the frame I picked for her – and so, I was offered a job at her company as a frame stylist. I loved this job so much that I eventually became an optician and later on, a manager. I was able to learn a lot about the business and realized how much more I had to offer the optical industry. That’s when I decided to go on my own by opening my very own ‘EYE PAD’.

I took a pen and paper and started sketching the ‘PAD’; ribbons on the ceilings was the first idea that came to mind – ribbons are known to fill a space with lots of cheer – I felt that I had to add them to the design. I didn’t want a typical retail look, but something different and yet, timeless. I also didn’t want a cold and clinical office feel, so the ribbons also added that soft element to the design. I then mainly picked warm colours but added a pop of colour with our back wall and chairs. I felt that the chairs in particular had to be unique and so – after doing some research – we found the perfect choice: ‘The Eye Chair’ by Jackie Choi – it was originally a college project of hers that was presented all over Britain from BBC to Harrods and so it became one of my favourite elements to the ‘PAD’. The design feature was a low backrest to support runback for ergonomic reasons but as well as that it makes a strong visual statement; it looks like a hollow eye when viewed head on, they are quite the conversation starter. Our display cases feature a light coloured onyx to bring a certain warmth and a natural feel we wanted to implement, this is also why you won’t find any bright lights in our ‘PAD’ – we want our clients to have a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

What have been the biggest struggles you and your store have faced through COVID-19? The element of the unknown regarding COVID-19 really frightened us; we closed our store for about three months in order to keep everyone safe. We quickly realized that our industry really was essential because clients were still in need of our services and so we had to find a way to make it work for everyone while being as safe as possible. It was a little bit of a struggle at first, but we managed to make it work; we would order contact lenses online and have them directly delivered to our clients, we would pre-order eyeglass lenses online and have clients do a door drop off with their frames to prevent any contact. When we finally started to open our doors for appointments, we took one client at a time, each customer had a mandatory COVID-19 questionnaire to be filled out, and temperatures were taken at the door. We also disinfected each frame that was tried/touched and disinfected all surfaces between appointments, floors were washed daily as well. Then of course masks were mandatory for everyone and our staff were double masked with shields worn on top too. I think most people understood why we did all of this and felt safe coming in to see us. We all had to work  together and we continue to do so to make this strange and scary environment feel as safe as possible for us all.

What are your favourite frames from your current collection and why are they your favourite? Oh wow, so many to choose from! If I had to choose one, I’d say my favourite frame in my current collection is the ‘Dita – Revoir’. It was originally released as a sunglass and is now offered as an ophthalmic. It is such an elegant bridgeless cat-eye and as the ‘Dita’ website describes it “spans the brow to resemble wings extended in flight”. I love the space between the wing point and the lens as it gives it some edge while keeping its elegance overall. (more…)

“La Vue est Belle” : the chic, French style of a brand new store in the South of France

L’Opticienne is a stylish, boutique opticians founded by Manon Favand, located in an historic building in the commune of Uzès in the south of France. Favand first conceived the idea of having her own boutique after she had completed her training as an optician. After that, and throughout various highs and lows on her journey as a professional in the field of optics, the idea was refined: eventually the delightful L’Opticienne was born. Above: the small traditional French shop front with floral decorations is eye-catching and welcoming 

The idea was to provide a space or to create a new dimension in the realm of eyewear that would enhance all the facets of the optical profession, in turn providing customers with quality frames that would also be fun, beautiful and above all – an asset to their wearer. This was an incredibly ambitious dream for Manon as she says “she had almost given up on the idea, many times” – but when the building that housed her mother and grandmother’s ‘second hand’ shop became available, she could not ignore the sign to finally take a leap into the unknown.

L’Opticienne signifies the culmination of Favand’s idea – which had been maturing for years – of a feminine, creative and beautiful store run by a woman in an industry and a profession that was, and arguably still is, predominantly male dominated. Her passion to create something new and fresh and to support the success of independent designers is apparent throughout her business; working solely with eyewear designers and brands who meet her standards of quality and passion for their work. The layout and design of the store itself was carried out by local craftsmen which further exemplifies the point made by Favand to carve a new path for growing professionals to follow.

After one year in business, Favand has found great success as an optician. An intuitive creative with a thirst for diversity and interdependence within her field of work, Favand states that “this business is my universe; it is my philosophy and I am happy and proud to share it every day.” If her sheer devotion and passion for her store isn’t enough to invoke a desire for a visit – what is? Manon Favand opened her store in November 2020. She features a wide range of well-known and lesser known independent brands in her store including Henau Eyewear, Essedue, RES/REI, La Brique et la Violette, and sustainable label NO IDOLS. 

L’Opticienne – Manon Favand, place du Duché 30700 UZES, France.

This interview was written by Victoria G. L. Brunton exclusively for Eyestylist.com.