I’ll be honest with you. We’re obsessed with eyewear and have the best selection of glasses in town.
We are EXCLUSIVE area retailers for most of our eyewear collections.
We know you’re here because you support independent local business. We support independent businesses, too, and we’ve hand-picked every frame in our optical just for you!
We are long-time glasses wearers, and glasses lovers.
We’re not just another big box optical. We curate an always changing selection of some truly special frames. Come try on a few of the literally hundreds of frames we keep in stock, or let us special order the perfect piece for you. We choose each frame personally, and hope that you love what you walk away with.
Don’t be fooled! While they might look full of different name brands, most frames in Big Box optical stores are made by one or two giant manufacturers.
The solution? Buy Independent Frames!
What are independent frame lines?
Our independently owned eyewear designers are small companies which are not owned by networks of multibillion dollar corporate conglomerates. Rather than brand recognition, our designers rely on high quality materials and stylish design to make unique eyewear which stands out from the crowd. We partner with eyewear designers which share our values of ethical production, exceptional quality, and high value.
These are just some of our amazing eyewear partners!
Jisco
Made in Spain. Inspired by landscapes and luminosity of the Mediterranean. Jisco believes it’s our responsibility to design, source and manufacture products in a conscious way that is good for our community and good for the planet.
State Optical Co.
STATE Optical Co. is a first-of-its-kind brand of luxury American eyewear built from the ground up in Chicago (Dr. Iwona’s hometown!). These frames are meticulously handcrafted to be a genuine expression of one's personal style and distinct personality with no compromises whatsoever.
IL/LA
ILLA is for the colorful. The unique. The effortlessly eye-catching statement makers who are exquisite in their craft and extraordinary in their approach. This unique Italian-artisan fashion eyewear collection puts your style first with fashion-forward frames that value quality and attitude over brand. Wearable and attainable, yet bold and artistic; ILLA is fashion for the person who truly loves eyewear.
NW77th
Originating from Seattle, WA, many of the NW77th frames are named after the streets of the city. The colorful designs are inspired by young city dwellers, made to withstand their high-energy lifestyles. . From the bold colors to the funky, modern shapes, NW77th is meant to bring a fun, fresh, and exciting element to the optical industry.
Modo
Light and luxurious, Modo combines chic styles with featherweight acetates and flexible Beta Titanium 153 in paper thin construction. These frames are seriously as comfortable as they are stylish.
Eco
ECO frames are made out of Biobased castor oil acetates and 95% recycled stainless steel. They look and feel great on you and they are great for the environment. ECO has donated and planted a tree for every frame sold… so far over 2 million trees!
Bôhten
Bôhten produces lightweight handmade frames sourced from sustainable material in Africa and assembled in Japan. These incredible glasses reflect the beautiful sourcing of their materials in Ghana. Support a sustainable, responsible Black-owned business today!
Paradigm
Paradigm is what makes glasses the epitome of cool. Classic, but far from understated, these frames make a statement with geometric metal and bold acetates.
Vernon Gantry
High quality, fairly priced eyewear that is EXCLUSIVELY through local opticals. Each Vernon Gantry frame is stamped “eye support local business” so you know you’ve made a difference!
Scott Harris
In Scott Harris Shapiro’s own words, "Eyewear should fit both your face and your personality naturally, and it should be unique enough to fit them both perfectly." Both fun and functional, explore all of the colors that Scott Harris offers.
Erkers 1879
Founded in St. Louis in 1879, the Erkers family has been dedicated to the craft of beautiful eyewear for over 145 years. As the 5th-generation of Erkers, they now strive to uphold the family's legacy through handcrafted eyewear capable of lasting a lifetime.
C-Zone
C-Zone produces fashionable, colorful, stainless steel frames using a unique Swiss technique for applying vibrant color. Comfort is very important to the line so the collection is very face-friendly and includes a special range of petite sizes for women and a group of large-sized men’s frames. C-Zone’s contemporary styling is targeted at people who aren’t afraid to put a little color in their style.
Social Responsibility
National Forest Foundation: 50 Million for Our Forests
Every purchase of Paradigm, Jhane Barnes, Original Penguin, Lilly Pulitzer, or Kensie Eyewear supports the tree-planting efforts of the National Forest Foundation. When we restore our forests, we are ensuring that our forests can continue to provide wildlife habitat, supply water to millions of Americans, and help fight climate change!
MODO x Seva: Buy A Frame, Help A Child See
Every purchase of a MODO frame supports Seva’s work in rural schools. Seva is a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives and strengthens communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness since 1978. Seva trains local eye care providers and develops self-sustaining eye programs around the world.
ECO: One Frame - One Tree
ECO® was “born recycled” in 2009, with the start of the program ONE FRAME – ONE TREE, in partnership with the NGO Trees for the Future. Since then, ECO® has donated and planted a tree for every frame sold. So far, ECO® has planted over 2 million trees!
Want to shop around a bit before you arrive? Check out our eyewear site to browse frames for in-store try on! Our online store currently only has a fraction of our myriad of in-store and special order styles.
Make An Appointment!
We do humbly request that all optical services be done by appointment during this time due to public health regulations.