Introducing Kirk & Kirk Sunglasses SS2024
The World’s First Handmade Acrylic Sunglasses
The Kirk family have been shaping optics for over a century. Since Sidney and Percy Kirk converted a dilapidated sewing machine into a lens cutter in 1919, they have pushed the boundaries of eyewear.
Today this British family business is run by Jason and Karen Kirk who will be exhibiting for the first time at Pitti Uomo to introduce the first and only, hand-made acrylic sunglass collection in the world. It has taken five years to develop this unique material which is incredibly light and allows for a bold, chunky frame to be worn comfortably all day.
Creative Director Karen Kirk has a fascination with colour analysis; where colours correspond to seasons, based upon variations of warm and cool tones. Enter Iris Lavender, Crimson Red, Cool Lilac, Cheeky Raspberry, Classic Tortoiseshell and warmer tones including Corn Yellow, Tiger Orange, Earthly Walnut and Zen Sage.
Complementing the distinct palette are its retro-inspired iconic shapes, each of which give the collection its contemporary edge culminating with design innovation through a unique sandblasting technique that has enabled Kirk & Kirk to re-shape their very own grade of Italian acrylic.
“Throughout the creative design process I was focused on standout colours that are flattering to the wearer and their skin tone, rather than finding the right accessory to match an outfit.”
In her quest to flex the design process, Karen Kirk also opted to incorporate the use of metal for the temples, juxtaposing the fronts and spring joints in matted acrylic with Alpaca Silver temples, an alloy of Copper, Nickel and Zinc, often used in jewellery because of its flexibility and durability. Offset by a myriad of gradient lenses, this unique collection echoes a bold wave of sculptural inspiration.
For Pitti Uomo, the brand is showcasing eight shapes, each available in eight colours plus a series of limited-edition colours for Spring/Summer ‘24. All frames are hand-crafted in Italy, finished to the highest optical standards and fitted with fully protective high-grade lenses. Launching at Pitti Uomo in January and available in store from February 2024.
About Kirk and Kirk
Kirk & Kirk is a British eyewear brand, whose frames are produced from start to finish in one factory in France. They are unique and recognizable due to their use of colour, which is partly due to their choice of materials.
Handmade from their own special grade of Italian acrylic, their material weighs a fraction compared to conventional acetate, allowing them to produce chunky-looking frames that are extremely light and very comfortable to wear. Not only that but their frames are 100% recyclable.
Handmade from their own special grade of Italian acrylic, their material weighs a fraction compared to conventional acetate, allowing them to produce chunky-looking frames that are extremely light and very comfortable to wear.
Not only that but their frames are 100% recyclable.
The Kirk family have been in optics for over a hundred years.
Inspired by the innovative approach of Sidney and Percy Kirk, Jason and Karen uphold the family legacy, pushing the boundaries of eyewear, exciting and inspiring through their unique use of materials and colour.
Sidney and Percy Kirk took a magnanimous view of the profession. They believed that if the industry was successful, they would be successful, so they worked generously offering other optical folk support in setting up London factories or producing advertising books that opticians were free to use to promote their shops.
They were innovators. They developed the first flexible nose-pads, The Facifit, a game changer in retail optics. They even created a bullet proof glass that Sir Malcolm Campbell used in his goggles to set the world water speed record in the 1930s.
Three generations later, Jason Kirk, Sidney’s grandson and Karen Kirk, the Creative Director, use Kirk Brothers’ principles to guide their ship.
Jason and Karen Kirk started in optics in 1992 and built their company with retail stores and even a UK factory until they sold it twenty years later.
The Vivarium Collection 2015 used under-stated colours to highlight elements of handmade jewellery on the frames. Produced by craftsmen in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, each frame was adorned with a small Sterling Silver or 9 carat gold animal, ranging from intricate flies to noble stallions.
In 2017, the iconic Kaleidoscope Collection was launched. 8mm laminated acrylic with combination of colour that played in the light to give different hues according to the thickness of each element of the frame.
In 2019 Kirk & Kirk went even further emphasising the weight benefits of acrylic. The Centena collection is hand-made from 10mm acrylic, an innovation that allows the presence of a chunky, confident piece but with all the comfort of a super light-weight frame.
In 2020, the mini-collection, Matte Centena was born, a sub-set in sand-blasted matte colours that is the ultimate expression of the bold, presence of Kirk & Kirk eyewear.
The 2021 Centiles collections combines some of the attributes of earlier Kirk & Kirk eyewear, using laminated materials but in 10mm thickness.
Read more about this brand on TEF Magazine or visit their website.
More on Kirk and Kirk
Silmo Eyewear Exhibition Vlog Part 2 | Exploring #KirkandKirk #SabineBe & More!
In the vibrant world of fashion and innovation, The Optical Gallery’s, Nik continues his journey around Silmo Paris in his Part 2 vlog. He finds himself immersed in a whirlwind of creativity and style, exploring the very essence of cutting-edge eyewear trends....
The Eyes Have It // A brand new podcast by Kirk & Kirk
Kirk & Kirk are releasing a new series of podcasts called “The Eyes Have It”. Co-founder Jason Kirk meets luminaries from the worlds of sport, music, film and fashion in a series of intimate discussions that not only reveal their relationships with...
Kirk and Kirk // Reinforcements Have Arrived
The Kirk & Kirk team is happy to announce that Nick Boys has joined their team. Nick will cover the South of England while Andy Heslop will continue to look after the North and Scotland. [bne_testimonials layout=”slider”...
Kirk and Kirk // Limited Kaleidoscopes
Our friends at Kirk & Kirk Eyewear have launched a limited edition collection of nine, brand-new frame combinations. There are only 30 sets in the world, all based on the most popular styles from their Kaleidoscope Collection, which are only available through the...
Kirk and Kirk // London Design Festival Pop-Up shop
Iconic British eyewear designers KIRK & KIRK has opened a special pop up shop to celebrate London Design Festival. The innovative shop is part of the brand’s major expansion plans after a boom in demand following the pandemic. The award winning UK designers...
KIRK & KIRK // NEW CENTILES COLLECTION
New for 2022 is the Kirk & Kirk Centiles Collection, which is an evolution of the Centena Collection. This collection is Kirk & Kirk’s first to combine the two-toned colour pattern made popular in their Kaleidoscope range with the chunky presence of the 10mm...
Kirk and Kirk // New Kaleidoscope Shapes
British designers Kirk & Kirk have launched two new shapes in their iconic Kaleidoscope Collection for the Autumn season, both heralding a vintage touch. Drawing on the popularity of Bert and Guy in the Centena collection, FINN is a double bridge unisex frame with...
Kirk & Kirk // New Limited Edition Line
New for Spring, Kirk and Kirk releases their latest super-limited collection frames. Based on the Matte Centena Collection, there are only thirty sets available to independent opticians worldwide. Three shapes – Sam, Jarvis and Horace – in three never-before-released...
TEFtalk // Unboxing Kirk and Kirk
While all eyewear shows are cancelled, I am missing out on many new frame launches. Luckily, every now and then, a little box arrives at TEF HQ with some amazing independent eyewear inside. This time, a world exclusive for TEF Magazine, the brand new Horace by Kirk...
Amazing Eyewear – Made in France // Kirk & Kirk
Although it’s one of the most well-known British brands, the beautiful handmade frames from Kirk and Kirk are manufactured by skilled craftsmen in France, and therefore an obvious contender for our “Amazing Eyewear – Made in France”...
