designer eyewear

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/

Loulou Opticiens, Lyon – an exceptional redesign

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/

tö eyewear lab – Tokyo, Japan

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/

Interior: l.a. eyeworks’ new retail campus in Los Angeles

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/

La Belle Vue Opticien: colour, energy, individual character

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/

Vava flagship store in Oporto, Portugal, showcasing the complete collection by the avantgarde eyewear brand

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/

Dr. York has featured many times on Eyestylist.com: this year we wrote about the installation in the Mexico City store

7. Dr. York, Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City’s Dr. York shared their installation project by renowned Mexican artists Pablo Kobayashi & Lucia Aumann . The installation created a bold statement for the store which expressed their commitment to arts collaborations and close integration with the Dr. York community.
“We decided at the end of 2024 to begin defining possible ideas,” the artists explain. “The final piece acts as a ‘modulator’ of the dynamics that José and Laura generate [in the store] and that uniquely define the characteristic atmosphere of the place.
A series of characters manifest behind the curtain asynchronously, suggesting that something is happening. In a constant game of colours that intensify and attenuate with each change in pressure, you see something regardless of whether it is visually perceived as a defined silhouette. The curtain does not divide. It rather suggests other layers, other depths, and other presences.” Find out more….https://www.eyestylist.com/2025/09/mexico-artists-kobayashi-aumann-at-dr-york-optical-boutique/
Punto Ottico Humaneyes, new Milan interior

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.

Designer Vera Wang

Vera Wang Eyewear: the eponymous designer headlines in campaign

Wang wears the sunglasses and optical styles from the new “haute” collection, produced by Kenmark Eyewear

Vera Wang, the internationally celebrated designer, has featured again in her own campaign, this time created in black and white, wearing both the sunglasses and optical styles on the streets of New York. Capturing an elevated blend of modern sophistication and playful flair, a signature of the designer, this collection is handmade in Italy and designed to complement Vera Wang’s most luxurious fashion collection, Vera Wang Haute. Above: the designer, Vera Wang wearing the bold Baseline shield sunglasses, one of the many standout styles in the range

Backcourt in the Vera Wang Haute collection, produced by Kenmark

The thick cut temples of the Backcourt sunglasses create a bold and sporty touch in this model which also boasts beveled edges. The style comes in three classy colourways, including the ultramarine pictured above.

Netta in the Vera Wang Haute collection

Among the statement pieces in the optical range is model Netta, a dramatic cat eye with a bevelled structure, available in classic tones of black, ivory and mahogany (seen above).

About Vera Wang / Vera Wang is an internationally acclaimed designer celebrated for her contemporary, elegant approach to bridal and ready-to-wear fashion. Beginning her career at Vogue, Wang launched her own label in 1990, quickly revolutionising bridalwear with a distinctive blend of high fashion and modern romance. Her brand has since grown into a global lifestyle empire—all marked by her refined yet daring aesthetic.  For more information about the Vera Wang Eyewear collection visit https://kenmarkeyewear.com

Glacier Optics sports eyewear

Glacier Optics: made in the Alps

The “made in the Alps” sports eyewear label has released a video to highlight how their Glacier frames are created

Glacier Optics, a specialist sports eyewear label with a particular passion for high altitude activities, have released a new video to explain their production process and the work that goes into producing their frames “behind the scenes”. The label – co-founded by Arnaud Cottet and Benoit Goncourt, snow sports enthusiasts from Switzerland, works with the 30-year-old manufacturer, Lucal Lunettes in Oyonnax, France, and company owner / eyewear authority, Jean Calamand. Their frames even feature the maker’s name with the phrase ‘Fabriqué chez Jean’ featured inside the temple.

Jean Calamand of Lucal in Oyonnax, France – a third generation eyewear producer and innovator in French eyewear production – the company is zero waste

By collaborating with Jean, in the heart of the iconic French eyewear region, the Jura, the brand wishes to affirm its commitment to supporting local, dedicated and forward-thinking production for the creation of highly specialised sustainable sports products. At Lucal, spectacle-making techniques and know-how is passed from generation to generation. The designers and artisans working there today have traditional skills. Alongside this, they have real expertise in using cutting-edge technology – combining the two to create high-quality designs.

Pierredar sunglasses in production in Oyonnax

“By collaborating with Jean, at the heart of this iconic eyewear region, we are affirming our commitment to supporting local, dedicated and forward-thinking production. Because for us, that is what it means to be ‘made in the Alps'” Glacier Optics

Moiry sunglasses by Glacier Optics – removable side shields and Zeiss sun lenses – described as an all-rounder for sport and everyday wear

In 2025, the Glacier Optics product range includes sunglasses developed for a full range of sports in recycled stainless steel, titanium or a 3D printed material – PA12. Additionally, Glacier fits the models with high-quality protective Zeiss sun lenses and are accompanied by finely crafted accessories should the wearer require additional leather inserts or sunglass cords. Glacier Optics has also developed their own elegant Swiss made leather case locally in a collaboration with one of the last remaining tanners in Switzerland, Jürg Zeller. To watch the new video about the making of Glacier Optics frames visit: https://glacieroptics.com/blogs/journal/fabrique-chez-jean