Process Case study Perspective Contact
EM · 02 — PROCESS
The Work

From a first conversation to a packaged, retail-ready collection.

One team, one timeline, one point of contact. The work below is what a typical engagement looks like — most launches take between three and six months from first call to first shipment, depending on design complexity.

Section · I — Before we start

We try to be honest about whether eyewear is the right move.

Not every brand should launch eyewear, or rework the eyewear they already have. Some collections won't translate well into frames. Some customer bases won't carry the price point. Some teams aren't ready for the operational lift. We would rather say that early than three months in.

The first conversation is mostly questions — about your brand, your customers, your retail footprint, and what success would look like for you. If it's a fit, we'll say so. If it isn't, we'll say that too.

Hands inspecting a tortoise acetate frame.
First sample inspection
Section · II — The work

Six stages, one workflow.

Each stage has a defined output and a clear point of sign-off. You are never wondering what happens next, and never managing more than one team to find out.

  1. 01

    Brand understanding

    Weeks 1 — 2 · Discovery

    We spend time with your existing work — collections, lookbooks, materials, retail spaces, customer profile. The goal is to understand the brand well enough that the eyewear feels like it belongs in the line, rather than like an accessory bolted on to it.

    OutputA short written direction document and a shared moodboard.
    White-gloved hands holding raw acetate block and finished tortoiseshell frame.
  2. 02

    Design direction

    Weeks 2 — 4 · Concept

    Silhouettes, material palette, colourways and hardware choices. We bring an eyewear lens to your aesthetic — flagging the places where a beautiful idea won't manufacture well, and proposing alternatives that keep the intent intact.

    OutputTechnical sketches, material samples, and a shortlisted collection brief.
    Technical drawings, prototype frames, and lenses on a design desk.
  3. 03

    Sampling

    Weeks 4 — 12 · Prototyping

    Physical prototypes you can hold, wear and test. We iterate on fit, weight, hinge feel, finish and material until each frame is something you would be willing to put your name on. Tooling is only committed once the samples are right.

    OutputTwo to three rounds of physical samples, with notes from each round.
    Sample frames, leather swatches, and material references on a studio table.
  4. 04

    Packaging integration

    Weeks 6 — 10 · In parallel

    Case, cloth, sleeve, outer box and insert — sourced and produced in step with the frames. The unboxing is designed alongside the product, so the customer's first interaction with the eyewear is not a generic optical kit dropped into a branded bag.

    OutputA complete packaging system, costed and ready for production.
    Packaging system: case, cloth, and presentation box.
  5. 05

    Production & QC

    Weeks 12 — 28 · Manufacturing, QC

    Frames are produced under our oversight and inspected unit by unit. We check alignment, hinge tension, polish, lens fit and finish — and we share what we find. If something fails, it doesn't ship, and we tell you why.

    OutputFinished frames with per-batch QC reports.
    White-gloved hands polishing a metal frame.
  6. 06

    Logistics & delivery

    Week 28 onward · Fulfilment

    Packed, labelled and shipped to your warehouse, retail partners or fulfilment provider. You receive retail-ready product, not work in progress that still needs handling on your end.

    OutputShipment confirmation, packing lists, retail paperwork.
    Packed cartons with shipping labels, ready for freight.
Section · III — After the launch
White-gloved hands polishing a metal frame.
Final polish, before despatch

The relationship does not end at the first shipment.

We stay involved through re-orders, range extensions, and the inevitable small corrections that come from seeing a product in the hands of real customers. If a hinge is sitting a fraction too tight, or a colour is photographing differently in store, we want to know — and we want to fix it.

Most of the brands we work with come back for a second drop within twelve to eighteen months.

Section · IV — If you're considering it

If you're thinking about a first eyewear collection, we would be happy to talk it through.

The first conversation is just that — a conversation. No deck, no pitch, no pressure to commit.

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