Silmo Optical Trade Show, Paris 2025
Silmo Optical Trade Show, Paris 2025
I spoke with the frame manufacturing technician of Nenu Eyewear, a brand created for women who love colour, creativity and style. This brand is inspired by the impressionists and reflect the vibrant colours and unique patterns. A few special models were created for the show, which I was told were a lot harder to make then first imagined.
I had the privilege to sit and talk to Tokio Saito, a Japanese craftsman who started manufacturing his own eyewear about 15 years ago. What he has created are simple yet high quality frames using the finest Japanese materials and made out of single blocks to eliminate the need for soldering.
There were 2 other Japanese manufacturers I talked to. First was the more well-known Matsuda, whose eyewear is hand crafted in Sabae, Japan and takes up to two years to create. They use the finest metals in manufacturing including titanium, stainless steel, sterling silver and 18k solid gold. The acetate is all Japanese and derived from cotton being cured for 3 months. This helps produce uniquely rich colours and high durability, whilst giving ultimate comfort. The other was Ptolemy 48. They also manufacture in Sabae, Japan and their frames take 6 months to complete. Their frames feature extremely detailed inlaid engravings in the arms of the frame, which can only be done by a handful of craftsmen. This craftmanship and quality highlighted why Japanese spectacles and materials are at the forefront of our industry.
Next up were some wooden frame manufacturers. Now remember we already stock Feb 31st Italian handmade wooden frames, so it was interesting to see what else was different. First up were Nina Mur, who do some “funky” wooden frames. This was shapes and colours, all wood with colourful fronts.
Then I came across an Italian wooden frame manufacturer called W-eye. They were innovative as they use different materials for the fronts of their wooden frames from soda cans to other recyclable materials.
I ventured into a small booth of a French company making wooden frames, called Sebastien Geslin. The creator of this brand was a shoemaker who couldn’t find the eyewear he wanted and using his technical knowledge studied wooden forms and brought his creation to life. These frames are made of different woods in their natural colours and are either one wood or a mix of different woods to give a variance in colours. He has also injected resin in some models to give them a bit of colour without looking cheap. This brand was one which oozed luxury. A special hinge on the frames allows you to move the arms to different angles enhancing their comfort as needed.
Moving on from here, I came across a couple of companies who manufacture frames with buffalo horn. Both companies are based in Germany where their frames are made. I had an interesting chat with the technical director of Hoffman, who explained where the buffalo horn comes from and the ranges they do and how these frames are manufactured. Buffalo horn comes only in a few shades and to enhance the colours, they add silk or wood or even gold flecks into the buffalo horn layers. I was shown how they repair these frames if ever they got broken. This fascinating process bonds new horn into the existing frame, which is then polished and finished in such a way that even I couldn’t make out the frame had ever undergone a repair.
These were frames from a material I couldn’t have imagined having spectacle frames made from, which was very comfortable and long lasting and all eco-friendly with all waste being use either to make jewellery or for fertilisers. Eventually I was allowed to have a go at learning how to adjust buffalo horn to introduce flex into it which would enable me to fit it perfectly for each customers’ head.
Another high fashion brand I came across was Francis Klein. These are all made in France with precious stones set into them. These are highly colourful and for those who are brave enough to wear colour and style.
Finally, it was time for me to return home, my head reeling with the vast amount of stuff I had seen, people I had talked to and tired sore legs. What I took back home with me was the stories these manufacturers had about their enterprises and their passion about their brands. These were the real people behind the stories. I valued the human connections I made at the show. The family run businesses – some in their fourth generation now. All of this resonated with me because our business is all about family from being family run to providing outstanding eyecare for your family.
