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Matsuda™ Eyewear
Matsuda™ Eyewear
Authorized Retailer of Matsuda Eyewear in Manhattan, New York
Unmatched artistry, cutting-edge design, and a drive for creative exploration is what make Matsuda Eyewear stand out from the rest. For over five decades, this world-famous Japanese brand has remained a Hollywood favorite, both on- and off-screen. You could see the iconic Matsuda glasses at Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”; at Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix movie “Extraction” (2020), at Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 3 Super Bowl Trailer," and other movie stars. The list of celebrity fans also includes Rob Lowe, Brad Pitt, Melissa McCarthy, Jamie Foxx, and Amanda Seyfried, just to name a few. Appreciated for intricately embellished, yet surprisingly restrained interpretations of iconic eyewear styles, Matsuda’s designs became a favorite of glamourpusses and design aficionados throughout the globe.
Inspired by Victorian art, Gothic architecture, and American jazz, Matsuda creates the one-of-a-kind eyewear pieces featuring avant-garde design steeped in cultural heritage. The fashion house never stops seeking new innovative techniques to fulfill its ideas. Only the best masters and architects work in the renowned eyewear workshops of Sabae, Japan to bring the most audacious and daring designs to life. Every hinge, every temple, and every detail is delicately considered and uniquely designed for each of the Matsuda eyewear collections. From their innovative pince-nez bridges to the authentic side shields, Matsuda sunglasses and optical frames are an unmistakable homage to the brand’s heritage today, redefined for tomorrow.
About
The Matsuda eyewear brand perfectly blends the traditional Japanese fashion and avant-garde design resulting in playfully innovative glasses with a touch of European romance. The House offers an impressive collection of sunglasses and eyeglasses handcrafted from the finest materials in the world, including titanium, stainless steel, sterling silver, 18k solid gold and Japanese acetate. The best artisans convert raw materials into refined works of art, utilizing techniques few other craftsmen would attempt: prioritizing quality over quantity. Over 250 steps are needed to create one Matsuda frame by real architects that have improved their work through decades of learning and knowledge being passed on from one generation to another. This lengthy process results in intricately detailed frames that feature unrivaled durability and strength.
The Matsuda acetate frames feature the unique nose bridges hand-formed to ensure a perfect fit along the wearer’s nose. Before use, the Japanese acetate is aged for three months then polished utilizing a combination of tumbling and hand polishing techniques. Many Matsuda frames are plated with 22.5k gold, ruthenium, palladium, or other precious metals by a process called electroplating. This technique passes an electrical current through the frames plating the fine metals onto the surface. Each pair is then hand-finished by professional polishers to feature a remarkably soft feel, sculpted for a lifetime of hard use. The most sophisticated details of Matsuda eyeglasses and sunglasses are their engravings that can be seen throughout their wide rims, temples and bridges. Only two-master engravers are left in the city of Sabae with one of them exclusively working with Matsuda.
History
The original founder - Mitsuhiro Matsuda launched his namesake brand in Tokyo in 1967. A young designer was one of the leading Japanese couturiers of his time. He started his successful career under his label Nicole Company and released his first eyewear collection in 1989, which was an enormous hit! Inspired by the art deco period, industrial metal work of the late 1800’s, and details of gothic cathedrals, Mitsuhiro created standout eyewear pieces with a bold and authentic design. Featured in films such as BeetleJuice, Terminator 2, and Boomerang, the celebrated designer continued his passion for the arts by collaborating with world-famous photographers like Nan Goldin. Together they won an award in 1996 from the Art Directors Club of New York.
By 1996, Mitsuhiro Matsuda had opened over 500 stores around the globe. After leaving the market for a few years, Matsuda eyewear was re-launched in 2012 by CEO James Kisgen, who was previously the director of sales at Cartier. James continued the vision that drove Mitsuhiro, allowing the brand to develop a more progressive mentality that keeps Matsuda relevant in terms of designs, materials and style. Nowadays, art and unrivaled Japanese craftsmanship remain at the core of the Matsuda brand in creating their unique eyewear pieces. Their eye-catching eyewear campaigns and collaborations continue to amaze with their elaborate, exquisitely detailed frames—the pinnacle of high-end eyewear. Though the legendary designer Mitsuhiro Matsuda died in 2008, his passion for creating iconic eyewear by drawing from a diversity of cultural inspiration continues to live on through his influential brand.
ENDURING DESIGNS
The Matsuda eyewear is famous for its exquisite craftsmanship and refined details, as well as its use of engraved metals. Every frame is a seamless merge between innovation and traditional techniques. After completing its almost 250 step process, the spectacles are perfectly aligned and adjusted then fitted with lenses before being packaged and shipped out all over the globe. The Matsuda sunglasses feature the one-of-a-kind CR-39 lenses that are lighter and more durable than glass and filter out 100% of harmful UVA and UVB light. Each lens is treated with seven layers of anti-reflective coating. This reduces eye strain by eliminating unwanted reflections. For even better clarity, the Matsuda polarized lenses filter out distracting glare and improve contrast.
Matsuda has three eyewear lines: the Essential Collection that offers new designs drawing upon the brand’s iconic details made of stainless steel, pure titanium, and premium-quality Japanese acetate; the Heritage Collection that features the limited production re-issues of best-selling original styles; and the Precious Collection that includes frames made from luxurious materials, including solid 18k gold, hand engraved sterling silver, and genuine buffalo horn. Masterfully crafted sunglasses and optical frames are real pieces of art, a true pinnacle of high-end luxury eyewear! We, at EuroOptica, are proud to be a certified retailer of stunning Matsuda glasses in Manhattan, New York. Visit our store to see the exquisite Japanese craftsmanship up close!