EYES on HARD FACTS

97% Of Eyewear Is Made In China. 8% Owns Up To It.

That’s the headline that came to us from an article on LinkedIn written by supplier, friend of the shop and all-round font of optical knowledge, Jason Kirk.  With his express permission, we’re sharing it with you – because why rewrite hard facts in what’s been put in a very straightforward way?!

“Have you ever wondered why your glasses boast an aspirational brand name but they feel like cheap crap?

That’s probably because they are cheap crap.

I’m not certain how precise those numbers are in the headline but that is my estimate – yep, I made it up – but it’s probably on the generous side!

You might well ask why somebody who proports to champion the eyewear industry is bringing the value of designer glasses into question. Well, it’s because I want to see some honesty and transparency.

I’d love you to know the truth about where and how your glasses are made. Are they really “Made In Italy” like it says on the side? How much say does Ted Baker have in his frame design and production? How much did you spend on those Off White sunglasses – was that value for money?

What are you actually paying for?

Once you know the truth, you can make an informed decision. Nobody is going to judge you, least of all me but let’s have the facts and then decide.

Next time you go to buy a pair of sunglasses or optical glasses, try to look past the branding and interrogate the quality of the frame”

At EYES on St Albans the majority of the frames we stock are not made in China.  Those that are, we get from designers that we know insist on the highest quality production – so when you do ‘interrogate’ the frame (and yes, that gives us ideas of shining a bright light on it and asking it difficult questions) you will see detailing, workmanship and the quality that we insist on. 

We are part of the small percentage who a) know and b) are happy to share everything we know about the collections we stock in store.  If we don’t know, we’ll find out.  If something changes that we’re not happy with, we don’t stock that collection again (and in some cases will return whatever stock we’re holding). 

Just like Jason, we don’t judge.  The rest of us (including Jason) may question Jez’s choice of shirts at times but we’ll never judge the glasses you currently have.

What we will say though is that we’re committed to providing a range of brilliantly made, affordable designer glasses with the best quality of lenses with honesty, transparency, eyecare of excellence and customer service that’s given us over 500 5* star reviews over the last 6 years.  And that we do that every day.

Want to come and stage a frame interrogation?  Pop in and we’ll arrange it!