For designers and brands
Services · Prototyping
Eyewear prototyping, from drawing to a frame you can wear.
Prototyping turns a technical drawing or a concept sketch into a real acetate frame you can wear, photograph and iterate on before you commit to a production run.
Physical samples in real acetate
A prototype is cut from the same block acetate we would use for production and assembled with production-grade components. That means the sample tells you the truth about how the design will actually feel on the face, how it sits on the nose and how it will read in colour.
Who it suits
- Designers taking a first collection from sketch to reality
- Brands testing a new shape before signing off a run
- Opticians developing a house frame to sell in practice
- Founders building a portfolio and pitching to investors
How the process runs
- Step 01
Drawings review
We review your drawings — or work up drawings with you — and confirm what is feasible and what will need a small adjustment for making.
- Step 02
Acetate selection
You choose the acetate from sheets held in the workshop, or we source specific colours to match your reference.
- Step 03
Cutting the prototype
The front and temples are CNC cut, then heat formed, cored, riveted and polished on the bench by hand.
- Step 04
Fit and review
You wear the prototype, we adjust, and we agree what needs to change before we move to production.
Order quantities and timelines are agreed per project, once the brief is confirmed.
Materials and workshop capabilities
- Italian and Japanese block acetate
- CNC cutting of prototype fronts and temples
- Hand assembly with production hinges and cores
- Multiple colourways of the same shape
- Notes and photos alongside the physical sample
- Optional glazed prototype with demo lenses
What to include in your enquiry
- Any drawings, sketches or reference frames you have
- The acetate colours or finishes you want to test
- Face measurements or a base frame that fits you well
- The next milestone the prototype needs to serve (photo shoot, investor pitch, sample sale)
Frequently asked
Questions we hear about eyewear prototyping.
- Do you need finished drawings to prototype?
- No. If you arrive with drawings we can prototype directly; if you arrive with sketches or references we work up drawings with you first.
- How many prototypes do you make per iteration?
- One per iteration is normal. We agree changes, then remake if the design needs to move further before production.
- Can the prototype be glazed?
- Yes. Prototypes can be finished with demo lenses or with a real prescription lens if you want to test optically.
Related services
Send an enquiry
Tell us about your project.
We'll come back to you with next steps and any questions we need answered before we quote.