WE SEE THROUGH YOU

l.a.Eyeworks has been creating original, invigorating eyeglasses since 1979. Designed by the company’s co-owners, Gai Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds, l.a.Eyeworks’ iconoclastic glasses have changed the way people think about eyewear.  l.a.Eyeworks’ designs are immediately recognizable for their modern strokes and bold color innovations, infiltrating the popular culture landscape in everything from art to movies.  Hand-designed and hand-made, the frames provoke personality and identity.  

Gherardi and McReynolds have also redefined perceptions with explosive marketing concepts that meld trademark humor, “low-brow” materials, politically charged messages, and spiritual encouragements.  With two namesake retail stores in Southern California, l.a.Eyeworks frames are also distributed to exclusive retailers and opticians worldwide.  Privately owned and operated, l.a.Eyeworks is a company fiercely proud of its independence.

The History

The l.a.Eyeworks partners met in high school in Huntington Beach, California.  Immediately inseparable, they found they had innumerable traits in common, including a deep love of eyewear.  After a decade of assorted jobs in the optical business (and lots of hi-jinks on the side) the two decided to open their own store, in a revolutionary gallery style, on then-quiet Melrose Avenue in 1979.   Realizing they couldn’t find the types of glasses they wanted to sell, Gherardi and McReynolds began to design the l.a.Eyeworks collection. Their first frame, “The Beat,” was inspired by a classic chunky plastic frame, but the duo made it contemporary with over twenty-two outrageous colors.  The frames were further customized with hand-drilling, sandblasting, and unique applications of materials. The intent was always to question prevailing notions of fashion and to accentuate personality.

l.a.Eyeworks frames are made by opticians, for opticians, to inspire opticians.  When you are in love with this brand, you cannot help but share it. These are made for you.

Plastic Passion

l.a.Eyeworks acetate frames are hand-finished in artisanal factories in Italy and France.  The plastic material is primarily from renowned Italian producer Mazzuchelli, and often, color laminates and surface treatments are custom made specifically for l.a.Eyeworks.  The cutting technique is architectural and computer-aided, using multi-planed surfaces and strong edges.  Frames are hand-finished and attention to detail is paramount.  The manufacturing process takes weeks of careful steps to arrive at the finished product.  The results are frames that fit perfectly and colors that glow. 

Metal Magic 

The finest quality metal frames in the world are manufactured in Japan.  That is why l.a.Eyeworks has gone east to realize our groundbreaking metal designs.  Titanium is the material, chosen for its lightweight resilience and comfort.  Frames are sculpted and molded into 3-dimensional surfaces.  They are far from flat.   Shapes are dynamic and innovative and look amazing on the face.  Color is the strongest story of all.  Gradient colors are applied by hand to the frame surface.  Charcoal fades to bronze while a finely milled edge creates a beautifully tailored edge.  Each color choice is unique to our brand, and is created by the designers for that frame. Important point: each temple tip is a hand-chosen Mazzuchelli zyl that complements the custom colors of the titanium frames.  The result: a metal frame that not only looks great on the face, but is also an amazing object to behold. 

Limited Edition Frames

l.a.Eyeworks frames are made in limited edition quantities.  What does this mean?  It means that the colors, shapes and forms are much more diverse than a mainstream collection and made in much smaller quantities for a very custom fit.  We also sell to a very limited, exclusive range of independent retailers and opticians.  We have frames for big heads, petite bridges, small pd’s and everyone in-between.  There are frames for high myopes, hyperopes and presbyopes.