STATE Optical Co. Sets Out to Establish America As the New Epicenter for Luxury Eyewear
New American-made luxury eyewear brand now offers 12 unique styles that embody the artfulness and attention to detail that American craftsmanship should be best known for
CHICAGO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, STATE Optical Co. officially launches to optical offices across the U.S. with a collection of American-made luxury acetate frames designed for America's innovators, entrepreneurs, free thinkers, limit pushers, and status quo changers - or as STATE calls them, the "New Originals." The launch collection consists of 12 unique styles in a range of color palettes, each named after a popular Chicago street, paying homage to the brand's Chicago origin. The eyewear, which retails for about $350, is divided between ophthalmic frames and sunglasses and is currently available at approximately 140 optical retailers in cities across the country.
STATE Optical is the collaboration between husband and wife team, Scott and Amanda Shapiro, eyewear executive Jerry Wolowicz, entrepreneurial cousins Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley, and award-winning eyewear designer Blake Kuwahara. Mr. Kuwahara is a former optometrist whose eyewear is celebrated by fashion media and worn by celebrities.
Benefiting from Mr. Kuwahara's fashion eye, STATE's eyewear combines groundbreaking design with an optometrist's POV, focusing as much on look and style as fit and comfort.
"It's important for me that eyewear not only looks good on the face, but feels good in the hand. It's both visual and tactile," said Mr. Kuwahara. "It's about the subtleties of the curves and the attention to the milling and polishing that makes a frame special. Because I was able to work directly with Marc and Jason on the execution of the frames, we were able to bring those nuances out in this collection."
Each frame's temple tip echoes the STATE logo, a pyramid comprised of 21 individual "dots" (representing America's 21st state, Illinois) skillfully cut then filled by hand with clear epoxy and polished. The acetate palette is sophisticated and nuanced with colors and structures chosen specifically to enhance the frames' silhouettes and flatter the face.
STATE becomes one of a few eyewear brands designed and manufactured exclusively in America, with an office and factory headquartered just outside of Chicago. The company promotes a culture of thoughtfulness through craftsmanship, and prides itself on employing an elite group of skilled artisans who take pride in handcrafting each pair of glasses, which is an arduous process that takes 70 steps to complete. All frames are fully manufactured on premise using top of the line machinery sourced from all over the world.
"Right or wrong, Americans have an immediate connotation to something that's made in Italy. Made in France. Made in China," said Scott Shapiro, CEO and Co-Founder of STATE Optical Co. "It's been so long since products were regularly made here in the US, that this generation's palate has been cleansed. STATE was founded to redefine what it means to be 'made in America,' and do something that's never been done in our industry; produce gorgeously crafted American luxury eyewear."
To find out more, go to stateopticalco.com.
About STATE Optical Co.
STATE Optical Co. is a family-owned and run eyewear company based out of Vernon Hills, IL. The company's proprietary manufacturing plant exclusively makes STATE eyeglasses and sunglasses. STATE is a collaboration between industry staple Europa International and lead craftsmen (and cousins) Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366900
SOURCE STATE Optical Co.
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