British eyewear maker Tom Davies was the filmmakers’ choice to produce new versions of cinema’s most iconic frames for the epic new film The Matrix Resurrections.
Confirming his position as Hollywood’s glasses designer of choice, Davies supplied over 200 bespoke pairs for the upcoming feature, including those worn by lead characters Neo and Trinity.
He also designed a new version of the famous nose-clip sunglasses worn by the character Morpheus. The Matrix series of films are celebrated for their character-defining eyewear, making the commission one of the most sought-after in Hollywood.
Tom Davies has been dubbed ‘the Willy Wonka of eyewear’ because of his habit of using gold business cards and making glasses out of unusual materials such as crushed meteorites and buffalo horn in his Brentford, West London factory, where glasses are handmade.
He rose to fame after making glasses for celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Heston Blumenthal, Carrie Fisher and Susannah Constantine. He has gone on to create glasses for around a dozen Hollywood films.
The Matrix Resurrections is an all-new film that explores the next chapter in the groundbreaking franchise and is Davies’ biggest Hollywood project to date. Davies carefully considered what each pair of glasses would say about each character, their role in the film and what filmmaker Lana Wachowski wanted to project to her audience.
In my view, there is nothing in the creative industry that has such a fundamental impact on someone’s appearance as eyewear. A well-designed pair of spectacles can completely change how people perceive an actor onscreen.
The glasses worn by the characters in The Matrix series are a key element of each look, so this was the most creatively challenging Hollywood commission I have ever had,’ he continued. It was a huge honour to be chosen to create all of the eyewear for The Matrix Resurrections, and terrific to work with the legendary costume designer Lindsay Pugh and the brilliant production team. I can’t wait to see the film – and all my frames – up on the big screen. – Tom Davies
Interview with Tom Davies & Costume Designer Lindsay Pugh Talk About Matrix Eyewear
In The Matrix, Neo wore rimless frames. I had a nod to that design in my design by floating the lens from the centre of the frame, like it would in rimless, but with a frame shell around it. This gives something totally unique and innovative but recognizable to the viewer.
Speaking about the challenge of creating a new version of Morpheus’s nose-clip glasses, Davies said:
How do you replace something so iconic? They sent me the original Morpheus nose-clip. They had it pulled out of storage and I got it in this box lined with tissue paper. I was holding it thinking ‘my God, what a piece of film history. And I had to create a new version.
To order individual eyewear pieces from the movie, visit iWearBritain.com
Please contact your Tom Davies or Catch London sales representative to order a limited edition Matrix Resurrections eyewear movie kit (while supplies last) including:
- 4 frames as seen in movie (Morpheus clip, Bugs sunglasses, purple and red/orange acetate ophthalmic
- 2 hanging banners
- 1 window sticker
- 2 showcards
