Reed
Eye size 46 millimeters, bridge 26 millimeters, temple 140 millimeters
$790
Blake Kuwahara Glasses and Sunglasses
Frames from a designer with a doctorate in optometry, most of them built as one shape laminated inside another.
- Founded
- 2015
- Founder
- Blake Kuwahara
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Valerio
Eye size 50 millimeters, bridge 19 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Hall
Eye size 52 millimeters, bridge 24 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Hall
Eye size 52 millimeters, bridge 24 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Platner
Eye size 49 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Stanford
Eye size 43 millimeters, bridge 26 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Fit guide
Blake Kuwahara's frame within a frame
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Nivola
Eye size 51 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Nivola
Eye size 51 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Nivola
Eye size 51 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Fowler
Eye size 55 millimeters, bridge 16 millimeters, temple 140 millimeters$790
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Mallet
Eye size 53 millimeters, bridge 19 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Mallet
Eye size 53 millimeters, bridge 19 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Nichols
Eye size 50 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 150 millimeters$790
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Bigger Blore
Eye size 50 millimeters, bridge 23 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Mathson
Eye size 52 millimeters, bridge 18 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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BK1029
Eye size 44 millimeters, bridge 26 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Loos
Eye size 48 millimeters, bridge 24 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Loos
Eye size 48 millimeters, bridge 24 millimeters, temple 145 millimeters$790
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Cobb
Eye size 52 millimeters, bridge 20 millimeters, temple 140 millimeters$790
About Blake Kuwahara
The Blake Kuwahara glasses and sunglasses here are mostly acetate frames built as the brand’s frame within a frame: an inner shape laminated inside a contrasting outer one. Every frame here is in hand and ships free and insured within the US. The designer holds a doctorate of optometry from UC Berkeley. He made his name as the creator of KATA Eyewear, designed for Coach, Converse, Lucky Brand, Rock & Republic, Carolina Herrera, Isaac Mizrahi, Behnaz Sarafpour, John Varvatos and Hanae Mori, and founded Focus Group West, a Los Angeles design studio. He launched his own collection of optical frames and sunglasses in Fall 2015. He has since had four Silmo d’Or nominations, winning Best Optical Design in 2016 for the Kahn. He also won I.D. magazine’s Best of Category in Consumer Products and is a longstanding member of the CFDA.
The inner and outer parts are milled separately, then laminated over two months, the brand says; milling, polishing and finishing take about six months more, with a lot of handwork. You can see both layers in the colours. Black Weave names a surface texture instead. The brand textures fronts with a metal brush, rubs colour on by hand and uses lasers to make some surfaces deliberately irregular. The Fowler is metal.
Blake Kuwahara eyeglasses
- Stanford: round, 43-26-145, narrow fit, Navy.
- Bigger Blore: round, 50-23-145, Slate Horn.
- Platner: square, 49-23-145, Lichen.
- Nichols: square, 50-23-150, Blue Grey.
- Valerio: cat-eye, 50-19-145, Crystal.
- Nivola: oval, Violet.
- Loos: geometric, Black Weave.
- Cobb: rectangular, 52-20-140, Crystal.
- Fowler: rectangular metal, 55-16-140, wide fit, Black.
Blake Kuwahara sunglasses
- BK1029: round, 44-26-145, narrow fit, Black / Crystal.
- Reed: round, 46-26-140, narrow fit, Umber.
- Hall: cat-eye, 52-24-145, Bordeaux or Forrest.
- Nivola: oval, Moss or Pumpkin.
- Loos: geometric, Mist.
- Mathson: rectangular, 52-18-145, Plum.
- Mallet: aviator, 53-19-145, wide fit, Tortoise or Midnight.
Most are one of a kind. Each ships as a frame with a signature on delivery, and your own optician fits the lenses. The size guide explains the three numbers printed inside an arm, and our review of the frame within a frame covers how each model wears.
How are Blake Kuwahara frames made?
In two layers. The brand mills the inner and outer shapes of each acetate frame as separate pieces, laminates them over two months, then takes about six more months to mill, polish and finish the frame (blakekuwahara.com/craftsmanship/). Fronts are textured with a metal brush and colour is rubbed on by hand. The Fowler is metal rather than laminated acetate. Blake Kuwahara, who holds a doctorate of optometry from UC Berkeley, launched the brand in Fall 2015.
What is the frame within a frame?
Blake Kuwahara’s signature construction: an inner shape set inside a contrasting outer one, in both form and colour (blakekuwahara.com/the-brand/). The two are milled as separate pieces and laminated, which is why a colour name such as Black / Crystal describes two layers, and why almost every frame here is acetate. The metal Fowler and the all-black Loos in Black Weave do not show the contrast.
Is Blake Kuwahara an optometrist?
He trained as one. Blake Kuwahara holds a doctorate of optometry from UC Berkeley. He then made his name as the creator of KATA Eyewear, designed collections for Coach, Carolina Herrera, John Varvatos and others, and founded Focus Group West, a Los Angeles design studio. He launched the brand under his own name in Fall 2015, and it won the Silmo d’Or for Best Optical Design in 2016 with the Kahn (blakekuwahara.com/the-designer/).
Does Blake Kuwahara make sunglasses?
Yes. The brand offers models such as the Nivola in optical and sun (blakekuwahara.com/product/nivola/: “Available in Optical and Sun”).
How much do Blake Kuwahara glasses cost?
The price is on each frame’s own page, and every frame ships free and insured within the US. For how the construction wears and which model suits which face, see our review of the frame within a frame at /collections/blake-kuwahara-frame-within-a-frame.
Can I get prescription lenses in Blake Kuwahara frames?
Yes. Each frame ships as a frame, and your own optician fits the lenses. The brand makes its acetate nose pads 11mm tall, against a usual 7mm, so the frame rests on more of the nose (blakekuwahara.com/craftsmanship/). The metal Fowler has silicone nose pads instead. Our lens guide explains lens materials and coatings.
About Blake Kuwahara
Blake Kuwahara earned a doctorate in optometry at UC Berkeley before moving into design, first with KATA Eyewear and then on collections for names including John Varvatos and Carolina Herrera. He launched his own brand in 2015.
Its signature is the frame within a frame: an inner shape set inside a contrasting outer one. On the acetate frames the two shapes are milled as separate pieces and laminated over two months, and the brand says about six more months go into milling, polishing and finishing each frame.
In stock now
- Frames
- 19
- Eye sizes
- 43–55 mm
- Made from
- Mostly acetate
The Blake Kuwahara models here
Swipe for the full table
| Model | Colours | Size | Lens height | Shape | Material | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigger Blore | Slate Horn | 50-23-145 | 39 | Round | Acetate | Average |
| BK1029 | Black / Crystal BLK / CRYSTAL | 44-26-145 | 40 | Round | Acetate | Narrow |
| Cobb | Crystal | 52-20-140 | 36 | Rectangular | Acetate | Average |
| Fowler | Black Black/clear | 55-16-140 | 35 | Rectangular | Metal | Wide |
| Hall | ForrestBordeaux | 52-24-145 | 41 | Cat-eye | Acetate | Average |
| Loos | Black Weave | 48-24-145 | 44 | Geometric | Acetate | Average |
| Loos | Mist | 48-24-145 | 44 | Geometric | Acetate | Average |
| Mallet | TortoiseMidnight | 53-19-145 | 44 | Aviator | Acetate | Wide |
| Mathson | Plum | 52-18-145 | 35 | Rectangular | Acetate | Average |
| Nichols | Blue Grey | 50-23-150 | 39 | Square | Acetate | Average |
| Nivola | Violet | 51-23-145 | 38 | Oval | Acetate | Average |
| Nivola | MossPumpkin | 51-23-145 | 38 | Oval | Acetate | Average |
| Platner | Lichen | 49-23-145 | 41 | Square | Acetate | Average |
| Reed | Umber | 46-26-140 | 39 | Round | Acetate | Narrow |
| Stanford | Navy | 43-26-145 | 40 | Round | Acetate | Narrow |
| Valerio | Crystal | 50-19-145 | 39 | Cat-eye | Acetate | Average |
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Frame within a frame
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Two-month lamination
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Optometry first
