We are delighted to have our beloved optometrist Ruth back in the eye test room on Wednesdays. You can directly book your New Year EYE EXAM with Ruth, Nic, Hajra or Rene here:
Grey St. Optician will be CLOSED on Monday 10th July. Our good friends from Belgium, THEO, have invited us over for a visit!
This was a trip no-one wanted to miss so the full GREY ST. team will be there. Normal service will resume from 10.30am on Tuesday 11th July with many tales to tell…
STORIES
Theo are a brand with a story to tell and we have been telling their story for over ten years on Grey Street! They continue to surprise us with their latest offerings which are always bright, fun and completely original.
We are looking forward to discovering what they are dreaming up next, and how they bring it to life in their Antwerpen Entrepot.
Unique eyewear
Theo release “families” of frames with exciting new themes. Each family of frames has 4 or 5 models with a variety of interesting shapes. Each shape has an assortment of amazing colours to blow your mind!
The family, shape and colour you choose will make your Theo glasses novel and unique to you. Glasses are an extension of your personality so why not make them bright, interesting and fun?!
Introducing the families
Here’s a brief intro to some of Theo’s families, and the story behind them…
Perspective
Beck’s is wearing this stunner from the Perspective family which has channelled the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. His famous one-point-perspective has already proven its use in painting, architecture
and engineering, but centuries after the Renaissance, it also works for eyewear
design! Bigger at the front, smaller at the back, that’s how Leonardo’s ‘illusion of
depth’ works on a flat canvas. Like a worthy apprentice, Theo has put their own spin on the
master’s rules, keeping the dimensions of the drawing, but freeing the design from
its flat surface. The result? Artistically asymmetrical frames! It’s like looking at an
intriguing piece of sculpture: when the angle changes, so does the illusion. Extreme
depth to extreme symmetry with a turn of the head.
Pop Art
If you have Theo’s Pop art glasses on then you have a nose for art! “Eye-catcher in this special broadcast: everywhere people reported seeing sixties celebrities like Elvis P., Liz T., Jackie K. or Debbie H. on the street. Holograms, lookalikes, mass history, fake news? On closer inspection, they were always ordinary individuals with extraordinary glasses from the exclusive Pop art family of theo eyewear.”
A. Warhol must be snickering somewhere in higher realms. The names of the 4 Pop art
models refer to his famous star portraits: Elvis, Liz, Jackie and Debbie. For the bold
contours, the colours and the printing dots, fashion godchild Tim Van Steenbergen and
home designer Serge Bracké found inspiration in Roy Liechtenstein.
Swings
Like a child on a swing: Close your eyes and dream away: you’re on the highest swing! Up and down, higher
and higher, reaching for the sky. The newest theo family makes you feel joyous like
a child on a swing. If pure fun can be expressed in acetate frames, this is what it
looks like: three colours in one design, a transparent curve and a playful pattern,
it doesn’t get much merrier than that. When you look at the world through these
cheerful spectacles, you forget about grownup restrictions. Just release that inner
child and play!
Founded in 2019 by eyewear guru’s Salma Rachid and Rosario Toscano, AKONI are the new “must have” luxury eyewear brand. The name derives from the Latin word meaning Inestimable, priceless, worthy of admiration. This forms the ethos of the brand, it’s people and of course the frames themselves, which do not disappoint!
Akoni collection was created for those who appreciate timeless design, exceptional materials, and uncompromising craftsmanship – real differences that you can see and feel. We love that they are environmentally responsible, using planet-friendly materials and processes whenever possible. For example, their cellulose acetate is made from renewable woods and cotton. The packaging relies on recyled cardboard and is complete with a recycled microfibre cloth.
Japanese Craftsmanship
As founder and former designers at DITA eyewear, Salma and Rosario know a thing or two about high quality eyewear. They have a close partnership with the most respected artisans and producers in the Fukui region of Japan. Fukui has long been the home of the world’s finest eyewear creators, celebrated for their unmatched precision and skills. The regions craftsmen are very selective, choosing only to collaborate with those who closely align with their values and high standards.
The Japanese materials are unmatched in their quality. Akoni use the world’s finest lightweight titanium, built for a lifetime of use. They are hypoallergenic, and they will not tarnish or corrode. The Zyl acetate frames have unmatched density, strength, beauty, luster, and an incredible ability to always maintain its shape and resist shrinkage. Special attention was given to designing lightweight hypoallergenic ceramic nose pads, always cool to touch with ribbed lines to ensure a comfortable, non-slip fit. Akoni is intent on offering higher quality, longer lasting frames which will look new after years of use.
Zoom in
A closer look at an Akoni frame reveals an array of distinctive and intricate details. Tactile knurlings on temple fronts, rounded acetate temple tips and a threaded screw system to avoid the frustrating lost screw! We particularly like the adjustable temple, altering the side length allows us to perfectly tailor the frame fit.
No Need to Shout
At Grey Street we believe that good design doesn’t need to clamor for attention. Akoni embraces this ethos by avoiding large logos, allowing the eye to focus on sleek design and finely crafted details.
Out of this World
The Akoni eyewear collections are named after the wonders of astronomy and human explorations of the cosmos. Where our sense of curiosity was born, and our drive to reach the boundary of human capability was discovered to be infinite…
Etere
Inspired by the mysterious fifth element the ancient’s believed held our galaxy in place, Etere styles are crafted from eco-friendly cellulose acetate and named for the constellations.
Sagitta
LeoHercules
Altitude
Altitude styles are modern interpretations of flight-inspired classics that take their names from the remarkable celestial objects comprising our galaxy.
Europa
Eris
Horizon
Horizon artfully combines the thin profile and lightweight strength of titanium with the beauty and substance of eco-friendly cellulose acetate.
GalileoCamera
Delta
With each of Delta’s wire-frame styles named for a legendary spaceflight program, we’re reminded that our dreams of the stars begin on terra firma.
GenesisPioneer
Optima
Borrowing its name from the Latin word for “best,” Optima styles are extraordinarily challenging to produce and often available in extremely limited supply.
Last call for glasses, cloths, cases or gift vouchers! We are closing early at 12.30pm on Saturday for Xmas Eve.
We do have some availability for eye tests and frame consultations through Christmas week. These slots are in short supply so if you’re planning a festive visit, please book your appt here:
We are delighted to introduce Henau eyewear to the north east of England!
100% Belgian glasses which blend optical functionality with avant-garde design and craftsmanship…
Make an Impression
Glasses are the first thing people notice when they meet someone, why not make most of this opportunity?
The GREY ST. team wanted something fun and interesting to challenge our discerning clients. We love that Henau glasses are hand drawn so they are unique and full of character. They don’t just look good but feel good too, and are renowned for expert craftsmanship.
His famous one-point-perspective has already proven its use in painting, architecture
“Eye-catcher in this special broadcast: everywhere people reported seeing sixties
Close your eyes and dream away: you’re on the highest swing! Up and down, higher
