Cutler And Gross: Where The Finest Italian Craftsmanship Meets Irrefutably Cool Style
O=MEGA19 is the largest eye care and eyewear event in Australia. Held in Melbourne from 19-21 July, it consists of a trade fair, clinical conference and masterclasses for the entire optical industry. Paul attended O=MEGA19 to meet with both local and international eyewear brands who produce unique, exclusive eyewear.
While there, he handpicked both new brands and frames to add to the Adelaide City Optometrist collection. And we are excited to introduce the first new brand to our portfolio – Cutler and Gross.
Founded in 1969, Cutler and Gross is a luxury British eyewear brand that combines the finest Italian craftsmanship with irrefutably cool style. The brand’s signature creativity has been continually applied to its frames with the absence of an ostentatious logo. Instead, each frame is uniquely numbered and complete with subtle branding on the inside of the temple.
The founders, Graham Cutler and Tony Gross, met at optometry school. When optical frames purely had a medical function, the two opened their first store together in Knightsbridge, London. In a bold move, Gross put forward the idea of eyewear as a fashion accessory. Together with Cutler’s eye for detail, the duo sat out to create a modern product, backed with exceptional quality and signature creativity.
Today, the brand has boutiques across the UK, North America and Canada, and distributes to selected stores and opticians globally. Across its years, the Cutler and Gross brand has collaborated with some of the most prestigious names in the industry; from creative icons such as Victoria Beckham, Roksanda Ilincic and Bella Freud, to design houses by the likes of Comme Des Garçons and Erdem.
Considered bastions of iconic eyewear, the brand has been worn by Sir Elton John, Madonna, Alicia Keys and Rihanna to name a few. However, you may best recognise the aptly named Kingsman frame from the Kingsman films.
Frame production is completed solely by hand in Cadore, Italy. The process of producing a single frame from scratch takes twelve weeks and includes 42 steps. This intricate process includes the design, cutting, barrelling, bending, hinge insertion, polishing and quality control. A highly skilled team of optical craftsmen combine traditional production techniques with the finest materials.
The newly released Cutler and Gross collection has been labelled its mostly technically refined line of Spring/Summer eyewear to date. The fine details have been researched and applied by skilled artisans to create the perfect fit, ultimate comfort, and striking aesthetics. As founder Graham Cutler said, “My idea of design is a bit old-fashioned. It should be practical, functional and then look good – in that order.” Therefore, each frame incorporates premium Italian acetate or Japanese titanium, hydrophobic and oleophobic lens treatments, and where applicable, customised hypoallergenic nosepads. This meticulous engineering results in a truly elevated collection of optical and sun frames.
“It’s nice if glasses can be sexy and mysterious. People who need glasses don’t have to feel separated from glamour.”
– Tony Gross
