Photographed by Ned Matura


From left: JACQUES DURAND Intrados from Gramercy Eyewear; AURA 1700 from Chlogan Eyewear; NOMAD 2675N from Morel; MATSUDA 2027 from Matsuda Eyewear  



From left: GEEK EYEWEAR New Yorker from LBI Eyewear; ROBERT MARC 858 from Robert Marc; BIGGU 769 from Menizzi; IGREEN CUSTOM V4.23 from Thema – A Family Factory


Care to venture a guess at one of the hot spots in optical? As consolidation wanders the landscape of so many vendors and retail-driven landscapes, the ability to shine with entrepreneurial spirit grows with determination and creativity on numerous facets in eyewear. Just a decade or few ago, it seemed the valiant single store optical shop and eyewear practice was on the verge of extinction.

Not so! Independent ECPs are making powerful headway with new and innovative angles to their dispenser and retailer initiatives. And much of it is due to careful scrutiny of the products and services at their avail. Layer on the fresh delivery of independent eyewear brands pushing the creative side of their highly personalEYEzed brands, and the scene is ripe for powerful independent thinking.

And in a world where the ability to think in a manner that marches to one’s own drum, may we present some of the brands you can depend on when your patient/customer comes in looking for some fiercely devoted one-to-one service and some eyewear that speaks to their inner ME-ness.

— James J. Spina