Skip to main content

State Optical Co. Makes Luxury Handcrafted Glasses the American Way

You need a pair of glasses. At least you have an abundance of options. Walk into your local optometrist and there before you are row upon row of frames: Ray Bans, Ralph Lauren, Persol, hell, Tiffany & Co.  even got into the frame game. Except, they’re all largely owned and manufactured by one company: Luxottica.

Luxottica owns 28 of the largest frame labels in the world, allowing them something close to a monopoly, marking up prices to whatever they feel like, while manufacturing 90% of the frames in countries like Brazil, India, and China.
Therefore, we are excited to learn State Optical Co. is seeing American manufacturing through a new lens– as makers of luxury eyewear right here in the USA.

State Optical Co.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Enter Scott Shapiro who knows his eyewear: his family owns Europa Eyewear. The idea for State Optical had been kicking around Shapiro’s head for a while when he met cousins Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley. Franchi and Stanley were already making eyewear in California and Shapiro knew he’d found the perfect partners to make State Optical a reality. Franchi and Stanley took Shapiro up on his offer to move to Chicago and there they started State Optical Co. in a large factory with machinery sourced from all over the world

Recommended Videos

Shapiro also teamed up with Blake Kuwahara, that mad genius visionary of optometry. Kuwahara is internationally recognized for his designs, which draw inspiration from classic frames, but that are somehow fantastically unique. When it’s something you wear everyday, shouldn’t it say something about you? And shouldn’t it be the best?

State Optical Co.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not the type to rush perfection, each State Optical frame takes about 14 days to complete in their Chicago factory. It requires 75 individual steps to craft the frames, much of which is done by real humans. Frames are named for Chicago streets; the logo even pays homage to Illinois becoming the 21st state in the union. It’s American sensibility and heritage updated– and worn proudly on your face. You can even tour their factory on Tuesdays and Fridays!

State Optical’s attention to detail and human touch mean these are some seriously impressive glasses. Beyond just looking great, they created a special hinge with a company in Germany that prevents the arms from loosening, leading to the wildly annoying slippage most Four Eyes are acutely aware of. Each frame is hand polished and designed to last, because luxury should also mean quality.

And, just in time for summer, State Optical has released a line of sunglasses. They feature the same bold designs, interesting colors, and superb craftsmanship.

It’s time to see glasses in a whole new way.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
Audemars Piguet unveils the dazzling 38mm Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon
A Code 11.59 with a selfwinding flying tourbillon
Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon

Audemars Piguet gave the Code 11.59 a beautiful retouch that takes it to the next level: the 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon.

Every single element on this model, from the casing to the lug, screams luxury. For starters, the lugs are accentuated by brilliant-cut diamonds of multiple sizes. Audemars Piguet also set some diamonds on the casing to complete the whole look.

Read more
Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm: Retro vibes meet modern style in a compact design
Smaller Citizen Tsuyosa timepieces
Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm

Smaller case sizes are trendy, and every brand wants a piece of the pie.

Citizen just rolled out new Tsuyosa timepieces, designed to keep up with the changing times. While the brand worked on 40 mm Tsuyosa watches, it is now downscaling the size, just a little bit, to 37 mm. Thanks to its striking colors, the Tsuyosa collection has dominated the industry in the past two years. Well, this is the perfect time to take over again with a watch that has a compact size. Even though this watch is smaller than the 40 mm version, it still sits perfectly on the wrist.

Read more
Sorel, Madeira, and bourbon? Bardstown says yes with this Manhattan riff
This unusual recipe shows off the French Oak finish of a fine bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon Communion Cocktail

Bardstown is going bold with its latest cocktail offering --  the drink stars the bourbon brand's new release, its Cathedral French Oak bourbon. It also makes use of Sorel Liqueur, a hibiscus-flavored liqueur inspired by the traditional Caribbean tea drink. Hibiscus is a great ingredient to incorporate into cocktails, as it has both a sharp, berry-like quality and a floral softness, and Sorel incorporates ingredients like ginger, cassia, and cloves as well as hibiscus to give the liqueur a spicy note.

There's also Maderia in this cocktail, which is a much-maligned wine style but one that's becoming increasingly popular in cocktail circles, where its fortified nature and bold sweetness make it an interesting substitution for vermouth. In fact, this cocktail is really a kind of Manhattan variation, with bourbon rather than rye, the addition of a floral liqueur, and the use of Maderia in place of the vermouth.

Read more