Frames

Acetate and titanium, from workshops you won't find at the mall.

Every frame on our wall comes from a small, independent maker. Below are the collections we carry most of the year, what the two main materials are like to live with, and what each shape costs.

Rows of frames laid out in a shop display tray

Collections by maker

Three makers we always keep on the wall.

Round tortoiseshell acetate glasses on a white surface

Tern & Tallow

Montréal, QC · acetate

A two-person workshop that cuts fronts from block acetate and tumbles them for days before polishing by hand. Mostly rounds and soft panto shapes in tortoise, honey, oxblood and clear, in eye sizes from 46 to 52.

Frames $240–$340

Thin round glasses with a black rim and fine gold metal temples

Kumo Atelier

Sabae, Japan · titanium

Fine titanium rims, half-rims and rimless mounts from a family workshop. A full pair weighs around 15 grams, and the hinges are small enough to disappear on the side of your head. Finishes in gold, gunmetal, matte black and champagne.

Frames $380–$520

A clear crystal frame with thin metal temples on a pale grey surface

Odessa Vale

Lyon, France · acetate

Cat-eyes, soft hexagons and crystal fronts in blush, smoke and champagne. Odessa Vale releases small runs twice a year, so what's here in spring is rarely here by fall.

Frames $280–$390

Also on the wall: Fennick Eyeworks from Vancouver (thick acetate squares, $260–$360) and Lowmoor from Yorkshire (acetate fronts with metal bridges, $300–$420).

Materials

Acetate or titanium: how each one lives day to day.

Acetate

What it is: A plant-based plastic made in layered sheets, which is where the depth in tortoise and horn patterns comes from.
How it wears: Warm to the touch, with some weight and presence on the face. Colours stay rich for years with normal care.
Adjusting: We warm the temples to shape them, so changes are gradual and done in the shop.
If it breaks: A cracked front usually means a new front from the maker. Hinges can often be replaced.

Titanium

What it is: A light, strong metal that doesn't rust, often finished in gold, gunmetal or matte tones.
How it wears: Very light, with thin rims that put the attention on your face rather than the frame.
Adjusting: Nose pads on adjustable arms let us fine-tune how the frame sits, in a few minutes.
If it breaks: Titanium needs a specialised weld, so breaks usually go back to the maker for repair.

Shapes and price ranges

What each shape costs on our wall.

Frame prices are for the frame alone. Lenses are priced separately, with every option on the lenses page.

Shape	What it's like	Who makes it	Frame price
Round	Soft and bookish, works in fine metal or thick acetate	Tern & Tallow, Kumo Atelier	$240–$480
Panto	A round with a flatter top, the shape most people try first	Tern & Tallow, Lowmoor	$260–$420
Square	Straight lines and strong corners, often in thicker acetate	Fennick Eyeworks	$260–$360
Cat-eye	Lifted outer corners, from subtle to dramatic	Odessa Vale	$280–$390
Browline	A heavier top bar with a thin metal lower rim	Lowmoor	$320–$420
Rimless	Lenses mounted with small screws, barely any frame at all	Kumo Atelier	$420–$520

Try them on Lens prices