Featured

Black-and-white photo of a man with short hair wearing white sunglasses and a sleeveless shirt, sitting outdoors in a park.

Kuro Athletics: a rare independent eyewear concept

2nd May 2026

…for the world of sport: technical, precise..with fully integrated prescription capabilities

Gary Black’s independent sports eyewear brand continues to release new tech-driven sun styles in a market saturated by big names, with the advantage that from the outset the concept was all about raising standards. “I founded Kuro Athletics out of a personal need as an athlete. Having competed in multiple Ironman 140.6 and 70.3 races, as well as 29029’s 3-Day, 3x Mountain Marathon, I know first-hand the challenge of finding eyewear that truly performs. I didn’t want just another pair of sports glasses – I wanted to create something,” he says in his mission statement that introduces new products for 2026, Aplomado and Peregrine.

Kuro Athletics is built on three key pillars: clean design, premium materials, and first-of-its-kind technology. According to Black, a leader in independent optical retailing in the US who has designed the collection from the ground up, there is a gap in the market for Rx-compatible, high-performance eyewear and a need to raise the standard. Inspired by the precision and speed of falcons, each frame is designed for clarity, comfort, and durability –all while staying lightweight and logo-free. Initially launched around the concept of mono lens architecture, the brand has also expanded its offering to include classic Rx-able designs optimised for everyday sport, and weighing just 26 grams. Pictured above, the Aplomado wrap – inspired by the Aplomado Falcon – a swift and agile bird of prey – a frame with all round appeal for all sports activities

Close-up of dark green sunglasses with brown lenses and orange, textured nose pads; hinge and temple detail visible. — Aplomado by Kuro Athletics

Made and engineered in Japan, the Aplomado has a streamlined wrap front combined with extremely sleek beta titanium temples, creating a product that is featherlight, minimal in structure, and which, importantly, has been tested by athletes. “Every aspect of Kuro Athletics reflects the athlete’s journey – whether running, cycling, or pushing endurance limits. We manufacture in Japan, ensuring each pair meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and quality. For me, it’s about providing athletes with the tools to perform at their best – without distractions.”

The Peregrine – named after the Peregrine Falcon – the fastest bird on the planet – has been conceived as a piece of sports gear that will enhance the reaction time and clarity of the athlete. Specifically designed for runners, the style features a mono-lens shield design with double injected temples with metal core and comes in different versions for men and women.

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

Wraparound single-lens sunglasses with brown tint and red/black temples, product shot. — The Peregrine: Rx ready integrated mono-lens shield – optimised for running

With minimallised visual branding (no massive logos), both new models come in extensive colourways which enhance the cool and attractive aesthetic of each piece, sometimes with a nostalgic nod to classic frames but always ensuring there is a solid contemporary look about the designs, however streamlined.

Kuro Athletics’ products boast prescription lenses offering vibrant colour enhancement, polarized clarity, and rapid light adaptive technologies – all via an advanced Rx program which utilizes digital free-form Rx technology to match high curvature wraparound designs. Lightweight and impact-resistant, the shield lenses offer panoramic vision both vertically and peripherally, “guaranteeing” says Black “an unrivalled visual experience for every athlete”.

Find out more about Kuro Athletics at www.kuroathletics.com

Kuro first appeared on Eyestylist.com in 2024: https://www.eyestylist.com/2024/07/kuro-athletics-where-action-creates-clarity/

Boutiques

Looking back: outstanding eyewear destinations that continue to thrive

28th April 2026

In our reporting through 15 years, Eyestylist has visited and written about a large number of unique optical stores. Here are some of the outstanding ones that continue to do something bold and unique….

1 La Shaperie – featured on Eyestylist.com on 1st November 2014

It’s a brilliant edgy concept “for Shaves, Shades & Shapes” in the centre of Paris, where you can have a cool Parisian cut and select your next favourite frame. Located off the busy Rue de Rivoli in a cosy village-like atmosphere with several interesting bars and restaurants, the owners of La Shaperie are optical people with a terrific passion for independent labels….. Above: the store is still located in this central Paris location. Read the feature : https://www.eyestylist.com/2014/11/la-shaperie/

2 Gogosha has featured on Eyestylist.com multiple times in the last 15 years

Julia Gogosha’s Echo Park flagship is now close to 8 years old. When we talked to her for a feature in 2020, she described it with a twinkle in her eye. “A Tetris cathedral artspace playground is how I imagined it…with different sources of inspiration, including artists, sculptors and works of art for which I am passionate….” Read the Eyestylist feature from 2020: https://www.eyestylist.com/?s=Gogosha

3 Eyewear by Olga, Ontario – one of the first stores to appear on Eyestylist.com

Eyewear by Olga featured on Eyestylist.com in 2011 and in 2021. A luxury eyewear retailer, or – as owner Olga Trentin likes to call it – an ‘EYE PAD’ it was first founded in 2011. 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. Read the feature at https://www.eyestylist.com/2021/10/eyewear-by-olga-2/

4 Optica Toscana – another of the first stores to appear on Eyestylist.com in 2011

We first wrote about Optica Toscana when the designer of the Eyestylist website had just returned from a weekend in Madrid, and took some pictures for us. It has always been one of the stores in Europe that is consistently mentioned and recommended for its style and atmosphere and incredible selection of specs. The old-fashioned flagship shop (above – C/ de Hortaleza, 70 central Madrid) is a former seed store full of tiny old wooden drawers, bursting with exciting-looking frames. Blasts of colour are dotted around the wood displays.

Since 2011 we have visited Optica Toscana’s stunning Barcelona store and written about the shop in Mallorca which opened in 2015. Read the feature about the Madrid store at https://www.eyestylist.com/2011/11/optica-toscana-madrid/

5 reVOLVER Ibiza featured in July 2015

We always remember writing this feature in July 2015 as we got a really sensational response from Jean-Paul when we suggested it. Created in 2008 by husband and wife team Jean-Paul and Catherine Sanchez, reVOLVER has become a reference point for cutting-edge fashion and style on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza with a carefully curated brand mix and a fantastic choice of fine sunglasses… today the store is located at Carrer del Bisbe Azara 1, 07800 Ibiza. Read the feature: https://www.eyestylist.com/?s=revolver

To find more recommended and leading stores around the world featured on Eyestylist.com, visit our boutiques section: https://www.eyestylist.com/category/boutiques/

Portrait of an older woman with gray hair and red glasses against a black background, wearing a gold satin blouse.

Reviews

Ørgreen Optics: Acetate Cut and Imaginary Lines

27th April 2026

Ørgreen Optics reveals new series of optical frames for Spring/Summer, continuing the refinement and essential aesthetics of their modern multi-material eyewear concepts

This month, the releases by the Danish eyewear company include Prime Plaza, a woman’s optical frame with an acetate front and titanium temples. The large open shape is the result of focusing on the clarity of the shape and colour rather than adding detail. The colour satin peach pink is one of the defining tones in acetate, softening the look of an otherwise bold design. Above: model wears Prime Plaza in the Acetate Cut collection at Ørgreen Optics – the frame is available in a range of colourways including Satin Peach Pink with Matt Gold (pictured), Honey Havana and Matt Gold and a sophisticated Satin Clear Blue with Matt Rose Gold.

Acetate Cut: model Prime Plaza, a lightweight statement design by Ørgreen Optics

With Imaginary Lines, the new model Navarro (below) perfectly demonstrates the current trend for sports-influenced aviator frames. This style from Ørgreen reimagines the 1980s classic aviator look in a unisex variation that is striking in its minimalist shape.

Close-up of black metal round eyeglasses with a double bridge, resting on a light background. — Nivarro in the Imaginary Lines collection by Ørgreen Optics – a super lightweight aviator design created in pure titanium and beta-titanium

With its sleek double bridge design and lens shape, the lightweight Nivarro style translates a fashion favourite into an everyday wearable design that is light and comfortable. The frame comes in a choice of finishes, from Shiny Gun to Matt Gold. Find out more at www.orgreenoptics.com

Find out about more of the recent frames at Ørgreen Optics: https://www.eyestylist.com/2026/01/mido-2026-orgreen-optics/

Boutiques

StureOptikern opens second store in Stockholm

16th April 2026

Boutique news, Europe: Sofia Johansson Opazo announces the opening of her new independent Stockholm “galleria”, specialising in luxury sunglasses: “the idea was to create something a bit more edgy and 100% focused on sunglasses”

The new StureOptikern store provides a curated selection of sunglasses by StureOptikern in a neighbouring area of Stockholm. Located less then 10 minutes by foot from the original store, the new space is designed for a different clientele. “Our small cosy sunglasses galleria is in a perfect location for lunch and shopping, a destination for the ones who really know what they want!”

We asked Sofia how she selected brands for the space. She told Eyestylist: “We more or less asked our best and closest suppliers who wanted to jump onboard for this project – it was a little bit “last man standing” and “if you snooze you loose!” We had some brands who actually did and now they regret it. But then, we also know our brands and customers very well. For example, we carry a lot of brands that are not really “approved” by our business in general. Less independent brands are left in our store and that is for two reasons – they have opened too many doors too close to us and aren’t that “selective”. They are always quite hard to work with, we need fast decisions, high marketing interest and social media awareness – we need them to be very aware of our Nordic market and our sense of fashion because we are very early adopters.”
Sofia says the dream is 100% that this new location will be a hot spot for all seasons coming, anything from the latest sunglasses to ski googles! “The location and interior is also quite unique”, she says, “I really hope people will find the new place to widen their sunglass wardrobe!” Above: Sofia Johansson Opazo in the new galleria in Stockholm

Linda Farrow and ALPAGOTA are featured in the new store alongside a mix of luxury fashion labels and independent eyewear brands

Asked to brief us on the key trends customers are looking for she told Eyestylist: “To be totally honest, we don’t really do trends! Our customer is so brand aware and also very driven about what we think and recommend, therefore I’m very proud of my confident team. The whole minimalistic “MiuMiu” trend more or less started in our store, we had a big event with two of Sweden and the Nordics’ biggest influencers and after that the trend exploded – in Europe, but as I said – we are early adopters!
Every brand has its own DNA and for us we need to find OUR customer in each brand – that means everything can’t look the same. We have to select what type of person the brand stands for in our store. Therefore the selection can look different in our store versus others. We hate it when the agents says: “This is a bestseller! A big NO-from us then!”

Sofia is consistent in her deep research of the optical market and connection with eyewear brands around the world and she travels to multiple international eyewear events and showrooms throughout the year to stay apace of what’s happening from a global perspective. We asked about designs she has her eye on for the new season: “Overall I would say that I’m a sucker for a big pilot with a gradient lens, you can never go wrong with that, but as I said, it depends on the look you are going for! You need a wardrobe of 3-4 pieces to match with the rest of your wardobe, because let’s be real, you don’t have one pair of shoes or one handbag!”

An attention to detail in store: providing an ambience for Stockholm’s influencers and luxury eyewear customers

The store is big on collabs and several of the very latest launches are already available in the new store – sometimes they are created with input from StureOptikern to fit the demographic perfectly. “We have dropped a limited edition Loewe frame in a special colour, and we are releasing a very very limited edition with Oscar Magnuson in Havana. In June, I have sourced a colour that has never been made by Moscot – with an aperitivo lens that’s also photochromic….
That collab actually took place in my head last summer when I really felt that Latin music was coming back for 2026. I was right! Bad Bunny onstage for Super Bowl and Karol G killing it at Coachella this year really spoke to my gut feeling. Inspired by vibes from Latin America, the colour “Tequila” took its form and will land on our shelves in early June!”

Find out more about the new StureOptikern store in Stockholm at www.https://stureoptikern.se

StureOptikern/ MOOD City, Regeringsgatan 48 11144 Stockholm, Sweden

Reviews

Pallas: Masunaga x Kenzo Takada

15th April 2026

Part of the collaboration collection MASUNAGA x Kenzo Takada, Pallas represents the pinnacle of Masunaga’s handcrafted titanium eyewear – the frame is one of eight exquisite new models in the collaboration collection – now part of K三

With its refined sophistication, model Pallas stands out with its combination of crafted parts and patterns – created in titanium with titanium/beta titanium temples. This is a new all-metal construction with an ultra-thin wire rim and brow that varies in thickness – from 3.0 mm to 4.5 mm. Delicate lined patterns are engraved on the front of the brow, while arabesque motifs accent the bridge and temple points. The frame is pictured in a luxurious navy with gold: the navy front has a shiny finish at the brow, a technique which highlights the lined patterns. Seen from different angles the gold shines through the ultra-thin wire rim, adding a subtle yet luxurious accent to the frame.

Since its launch in 2014 in Paris, France, the Masunaga x Kenzo Takada collaboration has produced high-quality luxury eyewear combining vintage inspired elements with fashion forward contemporary design. Today the collection is part of “K三” – pronounced K-3, the luxury home and lifestyle brand founded by Kenzo Takada and Jonathan Bouchet Manheim. Unveiled in January 2020 in Paris at Maison & Objet the leading home décor fair, K三 is a colourful ode to life. With the support of his team, the Japanese designer created furniture, home textiles and accessories inspired by Eastern and Western aesthetics with a modern twist. After the death of the designer in 2020, his team has continued his legacy and work – and the unique eyewear collaboration, MASUNAGA x Kenzo Takada under the K三 brand (https://k-3.com/).