Open to everyone
Course · Entry Level
Entry Level Handmade Eyewear Course
Two days inside our East London workshop. You leave with a frame you have made yourself, fitted with lenses, and a real understanding of how handmade acetate eyewear is designed and produced.
What you learn
- The fundamentals of frame design and eyewear craftsmanship
- Hands-on experience making your own frame from start to finish
- An introduction to design software and CNC processes
- How a working eyewear workshop is set up
- Practical knowledge of materials, tools and frame making workflow
What is included
- Workshop manual
- Fusion manual
- Machinery portfolio
- Measuring tools and manual
- All materials needed to create the frame
- The frame made by the student
- Lenses for the final frame
Who it suits
Newcomers, opticians, designers and makers.
The course is designed for people who want to understand handmade frame production from the inside. No prior eyewear or workshop experience is assumed — the makers running the course guide you through each stage. It suits opticians who want a real feel for how frames are made, designers exploring eyewear, students building a portfolio and independent makers who want to develop their own frames.
How the two days run
Friday: design. Saturday: make.
Day 01 — Friday
Introduction to the workshop, the tools and the materials. Frame design, technical drawing and how a real acetate frame comes together. An introduction to design software and CNC processes, and preparation of the acetate for the next day.
Day 02 — Saturday
Cutting, shaping and hand finishing your frame. Heat forming, fitting, polishing and glazing. You leave with the finished frame you have made, fitted with lenses and ready to wear.
Clock times for each day are confirmed with your booking email — the flow of the two days is designed around the group and the frames being made.
Getting to the workshop
455 Wick Lane, London, E3 2TB.
The workshop is inside One Dye House, Unit 3b, at 455 Wick Lane in East London. The nearest stations are Hackney Wick (London Overground) and Pudding Mill Lane (DLR).
The address is a working workshop, not a shop front — please arrive at your booked time and use the doorbell for Unit 3b. Cycle parking is available on Wick Lane.
Frequently asked
Practical questions, answered.
- Where does the course take place?
- Inside the working Eyewear Ltd workshop at 455 Wick Lane, One Dye House, Unit 3b, London, E3 2TB. Nearest stations are Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane.
- How long is the course?
- Two days, run on a Friday and a Saturday. You start on the Friday with design and material work, then spend the Saturday cutting, shaping and finishing your frame.
- How much does it cost?
- £750 plus VAT — £900 total including VAT. A £450 booking payment secures your seat and the remaining £450 is due two weeks before the course.
- How many people are on each course?
- Six participants maximum, so everyone gets bench time and individual guidance from the makers running the course.
- Do I need any experience?
- No prior eyewear or workshop experience is assumed. The course is designed for newcomers as well as opticians, designers and makers who want a real feel for handmade frame production.
- Do I get to keep the frame I make?
- Yes. The frame you make on the course is yours to take away, and lenses for that frame are included.
- How do I get to the workshop?
- The workshop is on Wick Lane in East London. The nearest stations are Hackney Wick (London Overground) and Pudding Mill Lane (DLR). Cycle parking is available nearby.
- What is your refund policy?
- Course payments are not refundable once your seat is secured, unless Eyewear Ltd cancels the course. Full terms are on our Course Terms page.
Book your seat on the next Entry Level course.
Six seats per course. £450 to secure your seat, £450 due two weeks before.