5 Independent Eyewear Brands with Stores in New York City
Along with everything these days, you can shop for your next pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses online. But while it may be convenient to be able to shop any time of day or night, many people prefer to try on a pair of glasses--in fact, multiple pairs of glasses--before purchasing them. Luckily for you, five of the top independent eyewear brands have New York City storefronts. Whether you browse their websites and try glasses on in the store or browse the store and buy online, you'll be getting your hands on quality eyewear that's both unique and creative. What's more New York than that?
1. Illesteva
Born in New York in 2009, Illesteva has its original location at 49 Prince Street in SoHo, and another storefront on the Upper East Side at 814 Lexington Avenue. This independent eyewear brand features glasses designed in NYC and handcrafted in France and Italy. Look for celeb-inspired pieces or consider the best-selling "Leonard" in classic tortoise. Whichever style you choose, don't be fooled by its apparent simplicity: These quality pieces take nearly 50 steps to produce--per pair!