Paloceras MicroFactory introduces a new production rhythm to the high-end eyewear industry. Based in Helsinki, the Finnish brand has created a compact manufacturing unit where digital design, advanced 3D printing, and hand finishing come together under one roof. The result is a radically shortened development cycle: what traditionally takes up to twelve months can now […]
Gentle Monster is a South Korean eyewear brand known for its oversized frames, immersive retail environments, and creative collaborations that blend fashion, art, and technology.
What is the history and identity of Gentle Monster in the eyewear industry?
Founded in Seoul in 2011 by Hankook Kim (with early investment from Jae Wook Oh), Gentle Monster gained rapid global attention with oversized frames initially tailored to the Asian market. Popularized by the drama series My Love from the Star (2013–2014), the brand expanded internationally with flagship stores in New York (2016) and Los Angeles (2017). In 2017, LVMH acquired a 7% stake for $60M. Gentle Monster's identity is reinforced by retail spaces that double as art installations.
What materials and design codes define Gentle Monster eyewear?
The brand uses acetate, metal, and hybrid compositions across its collections. Color palettes include black, white, transparent, and pastel tones. Its aesthetic signature includes oversized, sculptural shapes that are both futuristic and fashion-forward.
What collections and segments make up the Gentle Monster eyewear offer?
Alongside its core optical and sunglass lines, Gentle Monster frequently launches limited-edition capsules in collaboration with fashion brands and pop culture figures—such as Maison Margiela, Huawei, Jennie (Blackpink), Kris Wu, Cai Xukun, and Tekken 8—often with experimental or cyber-futuristic design themes.
How does Gentle Monster design and manufacture its eyewear? Is there a documented sustainability commitment?
Design is split between product teams and those responsible for retail installations, highlighting the brand’s experiential focus. Frames are manufactured in China and Daegu, South Korea, due to local restrictions on acetate production. There is no publicly documented sustainability policy.
Where and how is Gentle Monster eyewear distributed?
Gentle Monster operates 81 stores (72 outside of duty-free) across 49 cities in 14 countries and distributes through over 450 retailers in 30 countries.
What is Gentle Monster’s positioning in the eyewear market?
Gentle Monster positions itself as an experiential luxury eyewear brand that blends bold design, artistic retail, and cross-disciplinary collaborations into a strong global identity.
Further reading :
Calvin Klein Jeans Eyewear FW25: acetate transparency and colored enamel
For Fall 2025, Calvin Klein Jeans Eyewear unveils four new optical and sunglass models marked by bold silhouettes, refined transparency, and touches of colored metallic enamel. From contemporary shades to eco-conscious materials, each piece reflects Calvin Klein’s signature minimalist elegance. What are the key aesthetic choices of the FW25 collection? This season highlights familiar shapes […]
Graham Cutler: AW25 Collection in Detail
The Graham Cutler AW25 collection revives a set of archived prototypes originally created for narrower facial structures. Each model is reduced, rebalanced, and rebuilt in dense acetate shaped through deep milling. The visual language remains constant: clear geometry, firm volumes, Italian manufacturing, no external branding. The line is structured around five optical families and three […]
Top Eyewear Trends Fall-Winter 2025: Oversized, Wire, Smart
The Top eyewear trends for Fall-Winter 2025 reflect a market that has become both design-driven and tech-aware.According to Euromonitor (Sept–Oct 2025), the global eyewear industry exceeds USD 160 billion this year, growing by +4.8% in value. The market is polarizing: while value-seeking consumers prioritize affordability and practicality, premium segments are investing in quality, sustainability, and […]
Oakley Factory Team AH25 Glasses: Organic Design Meets Technical Heritage
For its AH25 collection, the Oakley Factory Team introduces two new frames—Plantaris and Straight Jacket 99—that merge futuristic silhouettes with high-performance materials. Drawing from nature and archival design, these glasses continue Oakley’s exploration of augmented vision through experimental aesthetics. How does the Plantaris frame redefine optical design? The Plantaris frame channels an organic visual language, […]
Read On light customized wins German Design Award 2026
Unveiled at SILMO Paris, the read on light customized model has won the German Design Award 2026 in the Lifestyle & Fashion category. This Swiss concept of customizable reading glasses, ready in under two minutes, marks a breakthrough in the ready-to-wear optics segment. What exactly is read on light customized? It’s the first-ever ready-made reading […]
Cartier Eyewear Fall-Winter 2025: The Collection Decoded
The Cartier Eyewear Fall-Winter 2025 collection embodies the Maison’s jeweler spirit and its constant pursuit of excellence. Designed as an extension of Cartier’s style, it explores contrasts between light and depth, structure and movement.This season, the iconic lines — Clash, Santos, Première, Panthère, C de Cartier, and Décor C Allongé — are reinterpreted with precious […]
VANNI Goggles: When Contemporary Art Inspires Italian Eyewear
VANNI Goggles represents the fusion of Italian eyewear craftsmanship and the creative energy of contemporary art. Each year, the Turin-based brand VANNI celebrates this connection by partnering with an emerging artist selected at the Artissima fair. For 2025, the dialogue between art and design takes form through an exclusive capsule collection by artist Nicola Bizzarri, […]
IRON Paris: The Art of Parisian Luxury Eyewear
Parisian luxury eyewear by IRON Paris embodies the perfect harmony between design and innovation. Born in the heart of the French capital, the brand has turned eyewear into a form of contemporary art. Every frame, engineered like a miniature piece of architecture, reflects the avant-garde spirit of the City of Light — elegance, precision, and […]
Don't miss any trends!
Receive exclusive updates on the latest in the world of eyewear, our favorite selections, and unique offers reserved just for our subscribers. Join the Parisée community and elevate your style today!
Photo : Lumiprod