Fashion glasses (or glasses with no lens strength) have recently emerged as a must have accessory. Long gone are the days where glasses were only for people who required prescription eyewear: fashion glasses have made eyewear accessible to anyone who loves the appeal of glasses but doesn't need them to enhance their vision.
We’ve talked recently about why glasses with no lens power have seen a sudden surge in popularity, with the influence of both celebrities and social media playing a big part, along with designers such as London Mole who have made wearing glasses both stylish and cool. However, London Mole have been creating fashion glasses for a few years now, and it’s safe to say that (as ever!) they were ahead of the trend, and most likely actually helped the trend to gain traction.
So what was the spark of inspiration that made Jim Read, product designer and founder of London Mole, decide to create a range of glasses with no lens strength? We caught up with Jim to find out more…
Fashion glasses (or should we say ‘Zeros’)
First off, when it comes to London Mole’s range of fashion glasses, they’re proudly referred to as ‘Zeros’. This is because they have zero lens power, which means that they won’t help your eyesight, but in Jim’s own words, “they exist simply because they look great”.
Jim explains: “Zeros are designed to celebrate the sheer joy of accessorising. They’re about saying goodbye to the days when eyewear was only about necessity, and 'hello' to a world where glasses are the highlight of your outfit, no prescription required. The thinking behind our Zeros range is ‘why settle for ordinary when you can accessorise and transform your face with a pair of Zeros?’ Glasses are such a great fashion accessory. They change your face instantly and more easily and effectively than makeup or a tan. What better accessory is there for your face?!”
Jim also talked about how he and his team had started to notice a change in people’s perception and approach to wearing glasses: “We noticed that in this day and age, more people want to wear glasses and don’t care if they don’t actually need them. There have been recent changes in the eyewear world which have led to this way of thinking, for example, the rise in popularity of blue blockers. Obviously, this came about due to everyone’s increased screen usage, but it’s led to people using blue blockers as their reason to wear glasses: people often just want an excuse to wear glasses! The rise in fashion glasses is about people now realising that if you like glasses you don’t need an excuse: wear away!”
Designing the Zeros
London Mole started life when Jim and his wife Chloe had a dream to design and make sunglasses. In 2019 this dream was realised and London Mole was formed, with the couple designing and creating sunglasses from their factory in Shropshire in the UK. The range soon developed to include reading glasses, blue blockers, and of course Zeros.
London Mole’s ethos across all their ranges is that glasses should be more than functional: they should be a joy to own and be seen in. London Mole eyewear is inherently cool and stylish, with designs ranging from the sleek and sophisticated to the bold and adventurous, ensuring there's a pair for every face, every style, and every occasion. Unexpected colours and cutting edge finishes are used to unique and stylish effect.
When it comes to Jim’s inspiration for designing London Mole’s range of fashion glasses, vintage glasses and frames play a part. Jim has always had a fascination with the past, with vintage influences flowing through all his work. These vintage influences are clear in retro styles such as Courier and Empress. Courier is a classic brow line shape with hints of academia, whereas Empress is a glamorous retro inspired cat eye shape. Modern colours and finishes bring these designs bang up to date.
Jim also says that he particularly likes a combination of “old shapes but with clean modern lines”, and this is apparent in the bestselling Vegas style: a classic square shape with a bold, clean frame which comes in a range of eye catching modern colours:
London Mole are on a mission to dismantle the stigma surrounding wearing glasses just for fun. Glasses are more than just a means to correct vision, they’re a fashion statement, and can form an extension of your personality. With their range of Zeros, Jim and his team are empowering everyone to embrace the fun, fashion forward side of eyewear without any limitations.
