l.a.Eyeworks is an exciting brand for us to carry because it embodies everything we, at Sphere, hold dear in a brand: independence, individuality, and inclusivity. Read more below to learn about how l.a.Eyeworks truly embodies all L.A. has to offer and why they are one of our faves!
“You haven’t truly made it in L.A. if you’ve never worn glasses from l.a.Eyeworks.” – Los Angeles Times
History
l.a.Eyeworks was created by inseparable high school friends Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi in 1979. After both training as opticians and gaining experience in the industry, they, on impulse, decided to to “challenge the prevailing norms of eyewear with proposals for a new, provocative revelation of the face,” and opened a single storefront on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
Their vision was to challenge the status quo around glasses, which they not only accomplished but along the way became an L.A. “institution, a clearinghouse for the creative elite, and a symbol of queer culture in the ascendant,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Their ad campaigns have become iconic in L.A. with billboards spanning the skylines highlighting the LGBTQ+ community before the acronym existed, showing celebrities wearing styles you’ve never imagined, and eyewear that expressed a combination of opulence and otherworldliness.
After over 40 years in business, l.a.Eyeworks is still independently owned by McReynolds and Gherardi with 2 stores in L.A. and a select few independent retailers around the world, including Sphere!
Style and Quality
l.a.Eyeworks frames are bold and imaginative, meant for those who can’t help but stand out. Each frame is designed and hand-sketched by McReynalds and Gherardi and fabricated in Italy through a combination of technology and hand-finished crafting with the finest materials. They are constantly reimagining their processes and styles and to ensure ideal construction, functionality, and design for their eyewear because, like their mantra says, “A face is a work of art. It deserves a great frame.”
