The brand has created its own “MicroFactory” in Finland to be able to support new forms, bespoke work and artist-led collections
Paloceras has created a new set-up for the small-scale production of some of its most creative models, and invested in new technology by Genera, a pioneer in the development of 3D printing systems – from Austria. Describing it as a “MicroFactory”, the eyewear brand has successfully implemented the technology for printing the coloured material alongside a complete system for hand finishing (as well as polishing/tumbling) the frames in the traditional way allowing for complete control in-house. Alexis Perron-Corriveau, Design Director told Eyestylist: “The MicroFactory is for the production of a part of our collection: the manufacturing of the more experimental pieces. Hydroceras, and two other projects coming up – obviously this is separate from our main line and the Pebble Sun and Optical collections. We received a grant from the Finnish government and we were able to install the machines in September – and hired a full-time industrial designer who has expertise in 3D printing….it’s super interesting for us as we are not limited by traditional manufacturing techniques. We can do crazy frames and a lot of things are possible with this. It gives us another edge. In our core acetate collections we are also using some technologies that have just been developed – that’s the press moulding of the acetate to create inflated shapes. With the new investment and the MicroFactory, again we feel we are able to do something very different, pushing eyewear design even further. We can say we are already planning to acquire an additional new machine from Genera that will allow us to use custom colours on the spot.”
Paloceras will exhibit officially for the first time at MIDO 2026. The team told Eyestylist that they have a major new launch coming as well as other new projects to be revealed in the next weeks. They said: “We are looking forward to meeting our retail customers, some who we have never met face to face. We are both looking forward to meeting people who are interested in our product as we believe it is so different from anything that is exhibited at Mido or Silmo. So we will be excited to make new connections and show the product and see people smile.”
www.paloceras.com
theo eyewear: inspired by the subtle definition of make up
theo’s latest release is inspired by the art of make up and its powers of enhancing our features and gaze – to highlight who you are
The new frame series by theo is conceived like make up as pure expression, with the ability to add subtle definition to our facial features – without taking over or overpowering the face. The collection features titanium and acetate, combining precision and lightness with layers of warmth and texture for the ultimate expression. Each of the five frames has been built in “visual layers”, telling a story and creating an interplay of soft details and bold design – in combination colours.
The “make up” designs are built in visual layers and finished with a “recognizable theo twist” – playful, unexpected, and always expressive. They include a soft round shape, a cat-eye, a panto, a geometric shape and a modified square with rounded corners. The selection of colour contrasts make the face feel alive, without ever going too far, in combinations that are typical of the brand: pink and red, bright blue and yellow, neon green and tortoise or tone-on-tone bright blue. Find out more at www.theo.be
Our most popular interview features of 2025….
This year, Eyestylist has interviewed designers, changemakers and retailers from across the world. This content explores current trends in optical retailing as well as the directions in independent eyewear design, from different perspectives. We have been fortunate to be able to highlight some exceptional entrepreneurial designers, innovators, opticians and changemakers….throughout the year. Here are the top 6 interviews, the most read on our website, and with the most clicks on social…
1.. Margaux Darrigade and Sophie Mailles, La Belle Vue Opticien (pictured above)
“We opened the store in May 2021, in the Pédebert park in Soorts-Hossegor,” says Margaux and Sophie with pride and excitement. “We have been opticians for 16 and 14 years respectively. We worked together in an optical shop for 8 years before becoming partners….Read the 2025 Eyestylist feature: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/11/french-optical-boutique-la-belle-vue-opticien-sw-france/
2. Alexis Perron-Corriveau and Mika Matikainen, Founders, Paloceras
The emerging eyewear house, Paloceras is quietly establishing itself on the global fashion map. In May 2025, the brand marked a significant milestone with a launch in New York, unveiling two new silhouettes in its acclaimed Pebble collection, alongside a striking palette of new colours and combinations across the entire range. The eyewear brand tells us they have new things coming in the early part of 2026, and will be exhibiting at MIDO for the very first time…read the Eyestylist feature: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/05/alexis-perron-corriveau-and-mika-matikainen-founders-paloceras/
3. Xenia Glutz von Blotzheim, Co-Founder, Frame the Future
Xenia Glutz von Blotzheim works as an impact consultant and she has co-founded the industry initiative “Frame the Future.” She supports companies in weaving sustainability into their brand management and business models. At MYKITA, she still leads the corporate responsibility strategy and CSR communications, driving the company’s transformation into a sustainability pioneer in the eyewear industry. Read the 2025 Eyestylist interview: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/11/xenia-glutz-von-blotzheim-co-founder-frame-the-future/
4. Carlo Sestini, Sestini
Independent eyewear label, SESTINI was created in 2020 by entrepreneur/influencer, Carlo Sestini. Made by artisans in Italy, the eponymous eyewear collection has a prestigious luxury design adhering to the finest levels of quality. With pieces created as collectibles, honouring craftsmanship, traditional techniques and Italian expertise, the designs have a freshness and elegance that feels discreet and yet perfectly curated. Eyestylist met Carlo at The Dorchester in London in December 2025 to learn more about Sestini and the story behind the creation of the brand. Read the 2025 Eyestylist feature at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/12/carlo-sestini-sestini/
5. Gaëtan Gaye, Alpagota
Gaëtan Gaye is a Belgian entrepreneur, brand builder and business developer in the field of modern luxury. With a background in the fine watchmaking industry, where he worked for one of the world’s three leading luxury groups, he draws on his 15 years of expertise to further enhance the eyewear experience and its desirability. His scented eyewear formulas under the brand Alpagota have caught the imagination of luxury optical retailers worldwide, delivering a brand new experience to aficionados of fine frames. Read the 2025 Eyestylist interview: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/09/gaetan-gaye-alpagota/
6. Carola Nomden, Ørgreen
Carola Nomden is an eyewear designer with a wealth of experience in the optical field, previously working at SAFILO and Prada. She is known for her creative expertise and modern, cosmopolitan aesthetic, particularly in sunglasses. Carola has joined Ørgreen as the Danish company brings together a creative team to rival many of Europe’s finest. Eyestylist asked her to share her perspective on her work and creative passion. Read the 2025 Eyestylist interview: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/01/carola-nomden-on-joining-orgreen-optics/
Round eyewear: Morel x Jean Nouvel
More than five years ago, the French eyewear company, MOREL launched a collaboration with French architect, Jean Nouvel. The partnership marked a deliberate crossing of disciplines, translating architectural excellence into optical design through pared-back forms, precise lines and a focus on material quality.
This season marks a new episode in the relationship between MOREL and Jean Nouvel as the latest collaboration collection, marked by round eyewear with a “bold and assertive” character, launches. With architecture-inspired round shapes and bold lines, combined with subtlety in titanium and acetate, each piece is designed to balance structure with a contemporary design language.
Compared with previous models in the line, these new styles feature thinner profiles and a bold new colour palette with the highlighted tones, fir green and teal blue, and terracotta for the titanium models. There are also softer, more masculine tones for acetate, presented in a range of elegant natural browns, a new alternative to Nouvel’s signature colour, black. Find out more about MOREL par Jean Nouvel at https://www.eyestylist.com/2024/11/morel-par-jean-nouvel-the-latest-collection-has-arrived/
Independent optical retailers + flagship stores: highlights 2025
These stores, including some new openings or redesigns, have caught our eye in 2025. From Seoul to Los Angeles, Lyon to Tokyo, Milan to Mexico City, we have selected some of the most striking interior concepts that have come to our attention either thanks to our researchers behind the scenes or via contacts we are lucky to have nurtured over the years. These stores highlight the interior design focus and direction this year, and a desire to create unique spaces for optical retail and the presentation of the finest independent and luxury eyewear collections.
Eyestylist.com continues to invite store founders and entrepreneurs in the optical retail scene to get in touch with updates about the most avantgarde and uniquely designed optical stores around the globe. We’ve highlighted 8 favourite concepts this year…to refresh your memory on all the stores we have written about in 2025, visit our Boutiques section at https://www.eyestylist.com/category/boutiques/
1.reworks120, Seoul, South Korea (image above)
First opened in 2019, in Garosu-gil, Gangnam, Seoul — a well-known fashion district in the city, premium optical store reworks120 is a special find in this area that is also home to impressive flagship stores such as Gentle Monster. “The shop has an intentionally cozy and curated atmosphere,” Sean Lee told Eyestylist.com. “There are two floors, each designed with a different concept….read the feature: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/11/south-korea-reworks120-seoul/
2. Loulou Opticiens, Lyon, France
The French independent store LOULOU has created a fresh high-end space with attention paid to every detail – a space to present some of the world’s most prestigious collections of eyewear. We talked to Michael Lalande, Loulou’s founder about setting up shop in 2017, and his latest project in rue Gasparin. Read the feature: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/12/loulou-opticiens-lyon-a-new-minimalist-interior/
3 tö, Setagaya City , Tokyo
Styled after Hiromi Toh’s Japanese name Tou, the optical store, tö eyewear lab is more like a gallery than a traditional eyewear shop. After a career as an eyewear stylist in mass media, Toh created the space with the idea of proposing a new world of eyewear, where consultations are by appointment only. The eyewear enthusiast is invited to discover this creative world quietly, at their own pace, without the noise and distraction of a more common retail space.
Located in a residential area outside central Tokyo, there are no signboards on the building and no traditional shop front. tö is located along a quiet street, close to a temple, and like an art gallery features a large glass window displaying special eyewear designs as works of art. Find out more at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/08/to-setagaya-city-tokyo-japan/
4. l.a. eyeworks, Los Angeles, US
Comprising two buildings connected by a pergola-covered walkway, the new l.a. eyeworks’ retail campus is set on a corner property that includes on-site parking for customers. “We needed room for the expanding width of our ideas,” notes Director of Communications Brent Zerger. “We refer to it as a campus in the sense of a place to exchange ideas and make discoveries.” In development for nearly two years, the project was designed by Frank Escher and Ravi GuneWardena, principals of L.A.-based Escher GuneWardena Architecture – find out more on the link: https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/10/l-a-eyeworks-an-impressive-new-retail-campus-has-opened-in-los-angeles/
5. La Belle Vue Opticien, SW France
La Belle Vue, choosing frames is an experience that is pleasurable, interactive and perfectly lovely. Here, you enter a pastel-toned world that the owners describe as inspired by California, “a mix of chill, lifestyle, and fashion under the South Western French sun”. Disco balls, pretty neon lights, quirky tubular seats and soft white swivel armchairs all come together in a fresh pastel-toned interior trimmed with light green and black leopard print drawers and soft, elegant satin curtains. Find out more at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/11/french-optical-boutique-la-belle-vue-opticien-sw-france/
6. Vava flagship store, Oporto, Portugal
Vava’s impressive 300m2 concept store is located on the historic Passos Manuel at number 66, and has three distinctive levels. Conceived as an expansive and experimental space, Silva describes it more as an art installation than a store, lit by neon lights and lined with mirror walls and details such as gradient colour palettes and fluo tones…find out more at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/03/vava-eyewear-concept-store-porto/
7. Dr. York, Mexico City, Mexico
8. Punto Ottico Humaneyes, Milan, Italy
In Autumn 2025, Punto Ottico Humaneyes reopened in Milan following an extensive re-design. The 88 m² space was reimagined with a new contemporary aesthetic, enhancing the functionality and efficiency of the interior and focusing on the customer, who is invited to experience a light and harmonious atmosphere. Elegant and minimal, the interior features include fine oak panelling, delicate marble finishes, an eye-catching eyewear display made of lightweight painted steel with integrated LED strips and vertical mirrors, and luxurious leather armchairs by Flexform. Find out more at https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/10/punto-ottico-humaneyes-milan/
This feature was written exclusively by the writers at Eyestylist.com. All rights reserved.