elima Optique: Hand Made in France (A Peek in Our Workshops)

Luxury does not mean ostentatious logos and giant publicity budgets. We like to know that each Selima Optique frame is made by people we’ve worked with for for years, decades even. These craftsmen start with a little piece of acetate and, in the end, after a lot of work, deliver a pair of frames. [more] Everything, from the shaping of the front and the temples, to putting those elements together with the hardware, and buffing - frequently, in the case of multicolored designs, even in sculptural shapes to reveal all the layers of acetate - and polishing, is dome by hand. 

The first image shows a finished frame in the middle of the tools involved. The lenses are already in place because that’s how we like to judge samples when we visit the workshop. The remainder of the images give you a further idea of the incredible manual labor involved in each pair of Selima Optique sunglasses or optical frames. Doesn’t knowing that make it even more fun to buy your next pair?

We work with several small workshops/factories in France, all of which are dedicated to manual craftsmanship. The images here were taken in the place that fulfills our custom orders (such as special pieces in buffalo horn), which is run by Anne Dorilla. Next time we go to the other workshops to proof the new samples, we’ll take tons more pictures to show you what goes on there.