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Upcoming LINDBERG Trunk Show

Posted on April 15, 2013 by gef

Posted in Events

It’s official: Spring has arrived in Vancouver. The bath of vitamin-D we’ve had lately has gotten everyone starting the hunt for a new pair of sunglasses. I always have clients asking me which type of lens is better:

Polarized vs. Regular Sunglasses?

All of our sunglasses have UV protection. All quality brands will. I think we all understand the importance of UV protection these days, and I found this great quote from stylist Rachel Zoe:

“It goes without saying that a good pair of sunglasses with UV protection is an essential in any wardrobe, any day of the year, or you can do damage to those pretty eyes. They’ll also keep you from squinting, which causes wrinkles and is never a good look. But a pair of sunnies at-the-ready can do so much more. Big sunglasses camouflage a late night. They’re great when you need to hide for any reason, if you’re tired, or if you’re not in the mood to be social. They make a heck of a better statement than a grumpy face or bloodshot eyes and tend to work on most facial shapes.”

You can get more creative with regular sunglasses as they have a wide range of tint colors to choose from.

However, if you find yourself still squinting with your sunglasses on, it is probably from the killer glare that reflects off of water, glass (windshields) or metal (chrome) surfaces. A polarized lens will have UV protection and will also eliminate this reflected glare.

The drawbacks of polarized lenses are that is does make seeing LCD screens tough (iphones and navigational systems). And with some sports, you actually want to see the glare. For example, golfers can see water traps much easier as it’s usually the glare reflected off the surface that if what makes them visible at a distance.

So when choosing your sunglasses, neither is better than the other. Ask yourself what you want them for. The best solution is to always have a variety to choose from in your arsenal of sunwear. Then you’ve got all of your bases covered.

Happy Spring!

-Sara

Posted in Eyewear Advice, General Commentary

Wooden Eyewear

Posted on January 9, 2013 by gef

As a designer and frame maker, I am always amazed and inspired by the creativeness of others. A colleague of mine, Andreas Licht, makes the ultimate in natural eyewear: wooden frames. His designs combine timeless craftsmanship with the unique qualities of this special material; in every HERRLICHT frame the individual grain of the wood is preserved, much like the beautiful rings in a tree!

Having built furniture and wooden bicycles in the past, Andreas Licht takes pleasure in being creative and exploring the possibilities of the material. With a passion for experimenting, he crafts elaborate, beautiful frames by hand – light warm and sensuous.

These wooden frames consist of 100% wood – each model made from native wood, either maple, cherry, walnut, plum or fumed oak.

With care and love for the material, the different veneers are glued together, pressed into form, sanded and cut. With its individual shade and structure, every frame is a one-of-a-kind and in no way mass produced.

Watch Andreas making his eyewear in this video.

To truly enjoy his work, you must see the frames in person and try them on. It is such a treat. We have just received 8 new incredible pieces. Pop in to have a look…

-Sara

Posted in New Merchandise

Hello Topshop….. I think I love you!

Posted on November 14, 2012 by gef

Yes I know it may seem quick (you just moved to Vancouver after all) but I just can’t help how I feel! I’m in love with your eclectic British style, the way you take inspiration from the catwalk, and how you never fail to make statements with your accessories. As a custom, handmade framemaker, I truly appreciate how you collaborate, drive trends and tailor your services wherever possible. We might just be a match made in heaven!

You see, where you encourage adding flair to day-to-day style, I believe that eyewear acts as the finishing touch to your wardrobe. We agree that the right pieces can really emphasize ones image. Great minds think alike, don’t you think?!

So…. we have to talk about some of my favorite pieces. I want them, I love them, I just have to have them! This blue dress couldn’t be any cuter, and I’m totally obsessed with that mustard colour. And how could anyone resist those leggings or that cozy yet chic burgundy sweater?!

And don’t you think some of my unique Vancouver eyewear frames would suit those pieces perfectly? I mean, how meant to be are we?!

So what do you think, Topshop? Have I convinced you of our fate? Can you feel the friendship blossoming?! …

Well, that’s it for now. Talk soon, my gorgeous friend.

Sincerely,

-Sara (xoxo)

Posted in General Commentary

Eyewear for Halloween!

Posted on October 24, 2012 by gef

I don’t know about you, but I find the Halloween season to be a very challenging time of year. Not only am I supposed to embrace the cooler temperatures and the falling buckets of rain, but I’m supposed to be one with my self-control issues and limit my daily intake of chocolate. (Is it just me, or is it way easier to justify eating candy when it’s classified as “mini” or “bite sized”?). And then to top it all off, there is the added pressure of choosing the perfect Halloween costume. Every year, for what always seems like the hundredth time, I ask myself “what am I going to dress up as this year?”….

If you’re like me, when choosing your Halloween costume, you always need to factor in your eyewear. Just because you’re dressing up, doesn’t mean you can leave your glasses behind. And although this requirement may seem a little challenging at first, I promise you, it can be done! Now I know what you’re thinking… sexy glasses wearing librarian? High waisted, suspenders wearing, taped glasses nerd? Nope! Too easy, people! Let’s step outside the box. I’m thinking more along the lines of Olive from Little Miss Sunshine. Clark Kent. Dame Edna. Or how about Sam from the recent movie Moonrise Kingdom? I mean, who doesn’t love a Wes Anderson film?!….

Or how about: Scoobie Doo’s Velma, Where’s Waldo? , Austin Powers, Sophia Loren, Harry Potter, or Buddy Holly?

And for those of you who are into the whole “I wear my sunglasses at night” thing, here are few fun ideas to also consider: Richie Tenenbaum from The Royal Tenenbaums, the beautiful Audrey Hepburn, Elton John circa 1975, or Almost Famous’ Miss Penny Lane.

So whether your glasses are a must have for Trick-or-Treating, or you’re just looking to accessorize your costume, remember that there are a lot of fun options for you. And if you fall in love with any of these looks, I encourage you to incorporate them into your everyday style. Halloween doesn’t have to be the only time we play dress-up and glasses don’t have to be just for necessity… they’re for accessory too!

Posted in General Commentary

Caring for Your Acetate Frames

Posted on October 21, 2012 by gef

You’ve picked up your brand new eyewear and you can’t wait to put them on. The frames are shiny and defect free. In a few months you start to notice that they now look dull and white. What happened?

Oils from your skin and things like hairspray assist in causing the material to dry out. The longer you let it go the more brittle the frame becomes. Not to mention that they no longer look fabulous and you aren’t as excited to wear them.

The best way to keep your frames fresh and shiny is to wash them once a month in really COLD water. The temperature of the water is very important; warm and hot water will turn the frame white faster. Use a bit of liquid dish soap to wash the frames and lenses being being careful not to use scratch any coating on the lenses.

Your eyewear will look great for months to come following these simple steps.

In a few years however, they will inevitably start to dull no matter how much washing you do. When you notice this make sure the take them in and have them refurbished and you will be completely amazed to have brand new looking frames.

Posted in Eyewear Advice

ic! berlin Trunk Show

Posted on May 18, 2012 by gef

We’re super excited to announce our latest trunk show with ic! berlin!

Famous for being made from ultra-light, super-thin stainless steel they feature an innovative screwless spring hinge-clasp-system. The 0.5mm thick frames are flexible so they can be adjusted to the perfect fit.

Please join us for the latest collection of Rx and sun wear from ic! berlin, 2011 Golden Silmo Eyewear Award winner.

We look forward to seeing you! Please click here to RSVP.

-The Granville Eyeland Framemakers team

Posted in Events | Tagged eyewear, fashion eyewear, Granville Island, ic! berlin, luxury eyewear

Net Loft Customer Appreciation Night

Posted on May 11, 2012 by gef

Our Net Loft Customer Appreciation Event was an absolute success! Our way to say thank you to our wonderful clients for shopping local was to host this fun filled evening. Food tastings were supplied by Edible Canada and wine tastings supplied by Liberty Wine Merchants. In addition we had two amazing bands playing and finished with legendary blues-man, Jim Brynes.

Our first amazing band of the night.

Yummy food tastings supplied by Edible Canada.

Talking shop with fellow store owner, Rachelle Cashato from Edie Hats.

Delicious wine tastings from Liberty Wine Merchants.

Famous blues-man, Jim Byrnes was absolutely amazing!

Check out our Facebook page for more photos of this fun night!

Posted in Events | Tagged Net Loft, Net Loft events

LINDBERG Trunk Show

Posted on May 11, 2012 by gef

We had a very successful LINDBERG trunk show and have many great photos to share! This night was held in conjunction with our Net Loft Customer Appreciation Night and was an absolute success.