UK based product designer Jim Read and his wife Chloe had long had a dream to design and make sunglasses. In 2019 this dream was realised when London Mole was formed, with Jim and Chloe designing and creating sunglasses from their factory in Oswestry in the UK.

Before entering into the eyewear market, Jim and Chloe had become pioneers of the clock industry, having founded iconic British clock brand Newgate, and sister brand Jones Clocks. So what made them decide to branch out into the eyewear market?

The couple have always been passionate about style, fashion, and accessories. But according to Jim, the real jumping off point came when he realised that “no-one wants to take their Gucci sunglasses on safari, for them to be stolen by a monkey. Or their new YSLs on a boat trip only to drop them in the sea, gone.” With this thought in mind, Jim decided to launch the concept of “sunglasses for adventures” - sunglasses that are stylish enough to rival any designer frame, but at a price point that won’t leave you heartbroken should they meet an untimely end at the bottom of the ocean!

London Mole’s sunglasses are the perfect companion for summer holidays, adventure days out, or just about anything that you wouldn’t want to put your more expensive shades at risk for.

Jim explains “For the same price as one pair of your typical designer sunglasses, you can buy about ten pairs of London Mole sunglasses, in different styles and colours, and have them in the handiest places always. In the car, in your coat pockets, waiting by the front door…”

But if anyone thinks that the lower price point means compromising on style, it’s time to think again. London Mole’s ethos is that style shouldn’t cost the earth, and every frame is designed with meticulous attention to detail, taking into account the impact of shape, colour, and finish.

When it comes to Jim’s inspiration for designing London Mole’s range of sunglasses, vintage sunglasses and frames play a part. Jim has always had a fascination with the past, with vintage influences flowing through all his work. Jim says he particularly likes a combination of “old shapes but with clean modern lines.” This can be seen in styles such as ‘Spy’, ‘Hollywood’, and ‘Pilot’ which take inspiration from past decades, such as the 1980s, or 1960s Hollywood.

Vintage influences are also clear in retro styles such as Moley and Graduate, with their bohemian, artistic vibes and hints of academia:

 

What Jim and Chloe have created with London Mole is a range of sunglasses which rival any designer frames in the style stakes, at a fraction of a price. So grab your sunglasses and go adventuring. And don’t panic if they end up in the hands of a primate!