In a new conversation series with personalities in optics, we talked to Daniel Brunson, the owner of Hicks Brunson Eyewear in Tulsa – whose taste for great glasses and luxury brands we’ve come to enjoy @hicksbrunson and @daniel.g.brunson on Instagram. The store is located at 2020 Utica Square, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114. Above: Daniel wears Orion by Masunaga x Kenzo Takada
1/What’s your USP at Hicks Brunson? We carry a wide selection of independent eyewear that skews towards the high-end luxury segment, and we take opticianry seriously. We take as much time as needed to style and fit our clients, and we get to know them on a personal level so we can understand their unique needs.
2/From where has your taste for luxury eyewear grown and evolved? I brought Tom Davies eyewear into my store in 2007, and at that point I realized the importance and the value of working with independent designers. I met Tom in person a few years later at Vision Expo West in 2009, and I realized he was someone I wanted to continue to partner with. I eventually carried his luxury horn and sterling silver frames. I even carried two sunglasses he once made that had salmon skin on the frame fronts. He and I reminisced about the salmon skin frames at Vision Expo East this year, and we both agreed that we don’t think anyone else has probably ever used salmon skin on a frame. I eventually went on to carry luxury brands like Leisure Society known for 18K and 24k gold plating. My most recent luxury brand acquisition was bringing in T Henri this year at Vision Expo East. I am very excited about working with Tyler and his beautiful line all inspired by the world’s rarest performance vehicles.
3/What frame are you wearing today? Today I am wearing my newest frame, which is a model by Gotti Switzerland called Pieper. It is actually a sunglasses frame that I converted to an optical by making Transitions XTRActive Brown lenses for it. It is a navigator shape in matte gold titanium. The coolest feature is the Spin & Stow temples. The hinges have a spin feature so you can rotate them 180 degrees before folding them so they lay perfectly flat against the wrapped frame front. This allows them to fold up in a more compact way so as to fit into a smaller case than would otherwise be possible.
4/ Do you have a go-to frame for special events and parties? That would my signature special event look, which is a frame by Masunaga. It is the model 000 in classic black. I love this frame for the bold and thick silhouette, the seven-barrel titanium hinge, and the fact that it has been made since the 1960s which makes it iconic in my mind. I have recently updated the lenses to the new Transitions XTRActive Polarized technology.
