So a while ago, I started keeping track of brands of eyeglasses that I was potentially interested in. I was looking for something higher quality, and also not owned by Luxottica. I figure I should share my list so that others can benefit from it and contribute more. My criteria was that they not be owned by Luxottica or Marcolin (another lesser-known eyeglass conglomerate), and have frames that can be fitted for prescription lenses. Most of these are pretty high-end brands. Some may be pretty difficult to find.
Please, let me know if there's any brands you think I should add, or if you think any of the brands on here don't qualify as "independent."
999.9 (read: Four Nines) - Based in Japan, sold at retail locations in Japan and Singapore
9Five - US-based, online ordering. Frames in a very "bling" style featuring 24k gold plating on many models.
Ace & Tate - Amsterdam based, inexpensive ordering of lens/frames online. Europe only.
AHLEM - Brand based in LA with frames hand made in France. Branded stores in California, with authorized retailers worldwide and online ordering available.
Andy Wolf - Hand-made frames from Austria. Resellers located worldwide. Not available for direct online ordering.
Anglo American - Hand-made frames from London. Online ordering available in US with retail store in IL
Anne et Valentin - Made in France. Colorful frames with playful shapes. Flagship stores in Paris and NYC, with authorized dealers worldwide. No direct online ordering
Ayame - Japanese brand with mostly subdued frame shapes. Retailers in Japan and Hong Kong. No direct online ordering available.
Bailey Nelson - Australian maker, with retail locations across Australia. Online ordering only avaialble in Australia.
Barton Perreira - Online ordering available to US/Europe, with retail locations worldwide
Bevel - USA-based, sells through authorized retailers with locations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Blake Kuwahara - LA based designer with bold, thick frames. Sold via authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Blyszak - British. Slightly less expensive buffalo horn frames (450 GBP). Same deal as Rigards. They also have mixed buffalo & metal, or just metal, for less expensive prices.
Bonlook - Retail locations in Canada, with online ordering to US and Canada and international shipping available
Booth and Bruce - English maker specializing in "funky" frames. Sells through authorized retailers, mostly located in Europe.
Cameron James Co. - New Australian eyewear maker. Materials are buffalo horn ($150-$200), and wood ($70). I bought some buffalo horn sunglasses from him earlier this year and I've been pleased with them. If you don't like the styles on the website, look through his Instagram and he'll be happy to make you an older style. He also runs an etsy shop under the same name.
Chrome Hearts - Luxury label associated with bikers, using precious metals. Said to be one of the most expensive brands of eyeglasses in the world. Difficult to find, as authorized retailers are not allowed to sell online. Only a handful of retailers in the US, Asia, and Europe.
Claire Goldsmith - Modern branch of Oliver Goldsmith. Sells through authorized resellers worldwide. Online ordering available through resellers.
Cubitts - Based in London, offering genuine horn frames, custom designs, and bespoke service. Retail presence in the UK only. International shipping available.
Cutler and Gross - British luxury eyewear brand. Retail locations and resellers in UK and US, with international online ordering available.
Dita - Based out of LA, with limited retail locations worldwide and online ordering within the US
Drift - Based in Chicago. Frames made of wood and acetate. Resellers primarily in US and Canada. No direct online sales.
Etnia Barcelona - Based in Bercelona and known for colorful designs, with authorized resellers worldwide
EyeBuyDirect - Specializes in inexpensive prescription eyewear online, based in the US. International shipping available.
Eyevan7285 - Brand based in Japan, with authorized resllers worldwide.
Face à Face - Paris-based brand, sells through authorized resellers primarily located in Europe. No direct online ordering.
FH One - German brand by the creators of Freudenhaus. Retail shops in Germany. Resellers across Europe and the US. No direct online sales.
Freudenhaus - German brand. Retail shops in Germany. Resellers across Europe and the US. No direct online sales.
Garrett Leight - Based in California, available through several online resellers with international shipping available
Glass Factory - Japanese brand. Retail locations in Japan and online ordering in Japan only.
Gold and Wood - Luxury eyewear brand based in Luxembourg. Specializes in materials like buffalo horn and wood. Sells through authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Han Kjobenhavn - Bold sunglass designs. Based in Denmark with retailers in Denmark, and online ordering (Denmark only?). Online resellers may ship outside of dk.
Harry Lary's - Metal and acetate frames, dubbed "retro futurist." Hand-made in France. Sold through resellers worldwide. No direct online ordering available.
HENAU - Belgian brand with hand-made frames in bold colors and unusual shapes. Sells through resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
ic! Berlin - Brand based in Berlin with mostly minimalist designs and distinctive silhouettes. Sells through reselllers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Italia Independent - Italian based with a number of retailers across Europe, with a limited number outside of Europe. Online ordering / international shipping available.
Jacques Marie Mage - Based in Hollywood, focusing on small batch production. Authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online ordering.
JINS - Founded in Japan and expanding to the US, offering inexpensive frame/lens combos in mostly traditional styles with features like blue light reduction. Available in Japan and online within the US. Retail locations in the US, Japan and China.
Julius Tart Optical - Japanese brand, with a limited selection of thick rim styles. Retail locations in Japan only. No direct online ordering.
Kaenon - Prescription sunglasses designed for sports. US-based with online ordering.
Kaibosh - Norwegian brand with retail stores in Norway, with online worldwide shipping available
Kala - Made in California. Sells via authorized resellers.
Kaleos Eyehunters - Acetate and metal frames in distinctive shapes. Authorized resellers worldwide, although a limited number in the US. No direct online ordering.
Kaneko - Japanese brand with sub-brands like Kaneko Gankyo, Spivvy, Craftsman Series, and Issey Miyake Eyes. Retail locations in Japan only.
Karmoie - Based in Oslo. Sells through retail locations, mostly throughout Norway, with a limited presence outside of the EU. No direct online ordering.
Kirk and Kirk - London based maker, with thick, colorful frames. Also allows customization of animal medallions that appear at the temple on certain models. Online ordering worldwide.
Krewe - Stores in New Orleans, Dallas, and New York with US/International shipping available online
Kuboraum - German company. Again, very expensive (~$400-$800), numerous collaborations with high end fashion designers. Acetate frames.
Kyoto Eyewear - Japanese company that is parent brand of Ptolemy 48, AugustoValentiniDesign, Masaki Matushima, Ken Akuyama, and Waza. Very limited retail presence outside of Japan.
L.G.R. - Eyeglass designs said to be inspired by Africa, with handmade frames from Italy. Direct online ordering worldwide.
LA Eyeworks - Based in LA, specializing in bold, colorful frames with adventurous patterns. Offers direct online sales in the US only.
Lafont - Based in France. Minimalist frames aiming for Parisian chic. Retail stores in France. No direct online sales.
Leisure Society - Luxury brand with understated designs using premium materials and precious metal accents. Ships worldwide and sells via authorized resellers.
Linda Farrow - Specializes in avante garde styles and collaborations with designers like Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, and 3.1 Philip Lim, using luxury materials. Direct online ordering available worldwide.
Lindberg - Danish designer that specializes in subtle but unique designs which are somewhat understated, with unique touches like unusual hinge designs. Sold through authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online purchase available.
Masunaga - Japanese brand with wide variety of designs leaning toward the somewhat retro. Retail prescence in Japan only. No direct online sales.
Matsuda - Japanese brand with designs that are typically understated, hand-constructed, often featuring details like engraving. Also has a line featuring precious metals such as sterling silver and gold. Resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Maui Jim - Sunglass maker based in Hawaii, once acquired by Luxottica, but has since spun back off into its own independent brand. Large retail presence worldwide. Direct online ordering available in US and Europe.
Morel Eyewear - French eyeglasses group that manages brands Oga, Lightec, Marius Morel, Rebel, and Nomad. Sells via authorized resllers. No direct online sales.
Morgenthal Frederics - Luxury brand based out of New York City. High priced frames hand made from premium materials. Limited number of retail stores located within the US. Online ordering by direct inquiry only.
Moscot -
Mykita - Premium brand from Germany focusing on minimalist designs. Direct online ordering available in the US and Europe.
Nackymade - Full bespoke handmade frames from Japan. Trunk shows and fittings available at a limited number of locations in USA, Europe, and Japan.
O & X - New York based brand. Resellers within the US. No direct online sales.
Orgreen -
Ovvo - Handmade glasses produced in Germany and Poland with futuristic designs. Sells via authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Owndays - Japanese brand, retail locations across Asia, and some in The Netherlands and Australia.
Penn Avenue Eyewear - Prices finally come down from the stratosphere. Acetate, metal, and buffalo horn frames. $60-$70 starting point for acetate and metal frames, $250 for buffalo horn.
Raen - US-based with online ordering and limited retail locations in the US. International shipping available
Reiz -
Reptile - Maker of sunglasses based in Dallas. Distributes products throughout North America via authorized resellers. Online sales available in North America.
Rigards - Really, really expensive buffalo horn frames (~$400-$1,000 I think) by a Korean and French duo. They collaborate with a lot of obscure, high end fashion designers. Phenomenal quality from what I hear. They make primarily sunglasses, but they can be fitted with prescription lenses. The shop you take it to has to know how to work with buffalo though.
Rudy Project - Sunglasses designed for sports use. Online sales and authorized resellers worldwide.
Schnuchel - Handmade frames from Germany. Online resellers ship to US, Europe, and Asia
Shuron -
Spektre - Italian based eyeglass maker. Online ordering worldwide.
Sunday Somewhere - Sunglass brand designed in Austrialia. Direct online ordering worldwide.
Tavat - Based in France. Sells via authorized resellers. No direct online sales.
Theo - Belgian brand offering fun designs. Sells via authorized resellers worldwide. No direct online ordering.
Tom Davies - Based in the UK. Offers bespoke and RTW glasses. Sells via stores in the UK and resellers worldwide. No direct online sales.
Topology Eyewear - Based in San Francisco, offering custom glasses generated through a phone app. USA-only currently.
Tres Noir - Based in California. Specializes in affordable lenses/frames. Online ordering worldwide.
Vinylize -
Viu - Glasses made in Zurich with home try-on available in Europe. Branded stores and authorized retailers in Europe only.
Warby Parker - Originally online-based, but now has several showrooms in major US cities. Inexpensive (glasses + frames for $100) mostly acetate frames in generally "hipster-ish" styles. Offers home try-on kits.
Wiley X - Specializes in protective eyewear for military, law enforcement, and civilian use. Highly durable lenses. Sells online to US and Canada. Authorized resellers worldwide.
Zeal - Based in Boulder, CO, focusing on sporting friendly sunglasses. Also does prescription ski goggles. Ships to US or Canada or sells through authorized resellers.
Zenni Optical - US-based online-only, specializing in inexpensive frames/prescription combos, international shipping available
Honorable mention to Randolph Engineering and American Optical, both independent makers of aviator-style sunglasses, but not available in Rx.