You wear them every day. Shed a tear when you accidentally step on them. Get into bidding wars for them on eBay. But when’s the last time you bought a pair of sunglasses and knew where they were made or who made them?
At Capital Steven Kilzner makes each pair of glasses by hand, right here in SOMA. The frames are made with sustainably harvested wood and bioplastic made from plants. The Carl Zeiss lenses (arguably some of the best in the world) are shaped in his studio. The leather case is made right here in San Francisco as well. And just as important, the glasses are exceptionally stylish.
Tired of being in front of a computer everyday, Steven took a break from graphic design three years ago and started making sunglasses. “I realized I liked doing it, so I kept going,” he said. Now, he ships all over the world, has wholesale accounts like the SFMOMA store, and has hired his first part-time production employee. He also has a shop cat, named Shop Cat.
The glasses come in timeless styles— often inspired by Hollywood stars and original frames from the 1940’s and 50’s. They’re all sold on his website, and are customizable by lenses and material, and range from about $180 to $350. Follow him on Facebook for new releases, like the Miles pictured here.
Miles Sunglasses from Capital Eyewear
For more info, check out the Capital Eyewear website here.
Capital Eyewear will be at the SFMade Holiday Gift Fair on December 7th and 8th at Fort Mason.