Anyone who wears glasses knows that finding the perfect pair to look through and be looked at is not always easy. However, thanks to today’s ever-evolving fashion trends, the selection of spectacles in Budapest now goes beyond the old-school frames of traditional optic shops. From glasses made of vinyl to colorful wooden wonders, alternative options in Budapest can boost your look with handmade Hungarian design. Here we present three cool Budapest-based eyewear brands.
Concept Eyewear
Concept Eyewear started out in 2014 from a school project. Children at a Steiner-based Waldorf school had to create an everyday object, and one of the dads decided to make glasses. He fell in love with the profession so much that he soon designed a complete collection. Teaming up with current owner, Anna Pap, together they learned all the tips and the tricks within two years, recruited a talented team, developed this unique idea and launched Concept Eyewear. At this Budapest-based workshop they make one-of-a-kind sunglasses and prescription frames using wood and acetate. From cutting and polishing to treating with oils, manufacturing a frame takes about four to five weeks here, every single one going through the careful hands of no fewer than eight employees. Concept glasses are truly unique and come in a limited number. However, if someone is looking for something extra, the team would be happy to create completely customized glasses at the store.
Update: Closed
Tipton Eyeworks
Hungarian-American designer Zachary Tipton created his first glasses in ’98, when he just couldn’t find anything to his liking. He then made a couple more for his closest friends using vinyl from his dad’s precious collection, trying to bring his designs to perfection. He launched Tipton Eyeworks in Budapest in 2004 together with his brother, and they presented their first collection of glasses made from vinyl and cellulose acetate, “Vinylize”. They soon came up with another concept and launched their second collection, “Cinematique”, a series of glasses decorated with 16-35 mm frames from films on the sides. Today, Tipton is an internationally acclaimed brand that has sold glasses to celebrities such as Elton John, Robbie Williams and Quentin Tarantino. Tipton’s creative and characteristic glasses are generally black, but there are a few transparent frames as well. They are not the cheapest option, but serve as trustworthy spectacles for several years.
Tipton Eyeworks
FacebookWebsiteAddress: Budapest 1056, Irányi utca 20 Thinwood Thinwood is a Budapest-based company specializing in innovative designer eyewear made of high-quality light-weight wood. Their handcrafted frames come in all kinds of harmonious color combinations, offering customers comfortable yet stylish spectacles. Glasses go through about 50 manufacturing processes at the store, and all parts are made on the spot. Thanks to the extremely light-weight wood they use, these glasses weigh only 6-8 grams and are equipped with silicone nose pads for extra comfort. The frames are only 0.6 mm wide before coating, and even after, they are no wider than 1 mm, making them comfortable and sophisticated. The talented team is proud to provide a lifetime guarantee for every part made especially at the store.
Thinwood
FacebookWebsiteAddress: Budapest 1054, Aulich utca 8
