Balancing design clarity and artisanal precision, Hayden Perlie is redefining the codes of luxury eyewear. Founded in 2020 by a designer trained in Amsterdam, the brand draws from Dutch design principles—simplicity, precision, and intent—and merges them with Italian craftsmanship. Each frame becomes a silent manifesto: sharp lines, noble materials, and strictly limited production.
In this interview, the founder reflects on the origins of Hayden Perlie, his manufacturing choices, the iconic JACK model, and his vision of eyewear that fuses invisible engineering with timeless elegance.
“Eyewear chose me long before I chose it”. I’ve always been fascinated by the way a single frame can transform not just a face, but an attitude—how something so functional can carry so much quiet power. My journey began unexpectedly while studying industrial design in Amsterdam. I found myself sketching frame designs in the margins of my notebooks, obsessed with how millimetres could change an entire silhouette.
The Netherlands shaped my design language: minimalist, but never timid. I started Hayden Perlie in 2020 because I believed eyewear should be a collaboration between precision and personality. Every frame is handmade here with artisans who treat titanium like lacework and acetate like gemstones—because “quality isn’t a luxury, it’s the baseline”. We partner with masters who’ve spent decades perfecting their craft, not just to meet standards, but to redefine them. The decision to keep every frame hand-made wasn’t just about maintaining quality—it was about preserving the soul of each design
Hayden Perlie emerged from this philosophy of letting quality drive innovation, creating eyewear that speaks softly but carries immense character.
The name Hayden Perlie embodies the essence of Dutch minimalism, but with an unexpected twist.
‘Hayden’ we derived from ‘helder,’ the Dutch word for clarity—a fundamental principle in Dutch design where every element must justify its presence.
In Dutch design philosophy, clarity isn’t just about transparency; it’s about purpose and intention. Every line, every curve in our frames follows this principle.
Perlie’ connects to ‘puur,’ reflecting the Dutch design principle of pure form.
In Dutch design approach where reduction isn’t about minimalism for its own sake—it’s about finding the essence of an object. Just as Mondrian reduced art to essential lines and primary colours, we strip away everything unnecessary in our designs until only the purest form remains.
Together, Hayden Perlie represents our commitment to Dutch design principles: clarity of purpose merged with purity of form. Each Hayden Perlie frame is a celebration of this ‘less is more’ ethos, where every millimetre is considered, every detail refined until only the essential remains. It’s about creating spaces—not just around the eyes, but in the design itself—where simplicity becomes sophistication.”
Hayden perlie was founded in 2020 and its evolution has been marked by significant milestones that reflect our growing international presence. Our participation in SILMO Paris 2023 and VisionPlus Dubai 2024 marked a pivotal moment, where our commitment to craftsmanship and design innovation received recognition from the global eyewear community. And the Dubai show 2024 further strengthened our connection to the Middle Eastern luxury market, where our aesthetic has found particular resonance. The event highlighted how our limited-edition pieces speak to an audience that values both exclusivity and design sophistication.
Our expansion into Southeast Asia through carefully curated pop-up experiences in Malaysia has allowed us to engage directly with discerning clients who appreciate our attention to detail and limited production philosophy.
The brand’s feature in Playboy Fashion Magazine 2023 brought another dimension to our story, highlighting how our designs bridge the gap between classic elegance and contemporary style. This coverage underscored our position as a brand that speaks to those who appreciate subtle luxury and thoughtful design.
Our core market is deeply rooted in Dubai’s sophisticated luxury landscape, where our designs resonate particularly well with a clientele that appreciates subtle refinement and exclusivity. The Dubai customer has an inherent understanding of how eyewear serves as both a style statement and a reflection of personal taste.
We’ve seen remarkable growth in Dubai, particularly through our presence in curated luxury optical boutiques in Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall, where our pieces are presented alongside other luxury eyewear brands. What sets us apart, and what our Dubai clientele especially values, is our commitment to limited production runs, ensuring that each piece maintains its exclusivity
The choice of Italy was born from a rather pivotal moment in my journey. I was visiting a small workshop outside of Venice, watching an artisan spend nearly an hour perfecting the curve of a single temple arm. That’s when it hit me—this wasn’t manufacturing, this was art.
Italy isn’t just a production choice for us; it’s the only choice that aligned with our vision.
First, there’s the unmatched expertise. Our master craftspeople in italy come from families who have been shaping acetate and perfecting eyewear for generations. You can’t replicate that level of skill overnight—it’s in their DNA
Second, it’s about materials. The Italian supply chain for luxury eyewear is simply unparalleled. Our acetate comes from historic manufacturers who understand how to create depth and richness in their materials that you just can’t find elsewhere. Even our hinges are crafted by specialized artisans who’ve been perfecting their craft for generations.
But perhaps most importantly, it’s about a shared philosophy. In Italy, there’s this beautiful concept of “fare le cose per bene”—doing things properly. It’s not about cutting corners or rushing to market. Each frame goes through over 70 different stages of production, and if something isn’t perfect, we start over. That’s not inefficiency; that’s excellence.
Manufacturing in Italy comes at a premium. But when I see a customer try on our frames for the first time and experience that perfect fit, that impeccable finish—that’s when I know we made the right choice. We’re not just making eyewear; we’re preserving an art form and pushing it forward.
The magic of hayden perlie using titanium because of its extraordinary lightness—it’s quite remarkable how something so strong can feel like you’re wearing nothing at all.
What fascinates me most is that titanium is 45% lighter than steel, yet offers superior strength. In our Italy workshop, we’ve pushed this material to its limits, creating frames that are impossibly thin—some sections as delicate as a feather—while maintaining structural integrity.
The JACK is more than just a frame—it’s our brand philosophy materialized. When we set out to reimagine the classic aviator, I didn’t want to simply create another luxury version. I wanted to push the boundaries of what was technically possible with titanium while honoring the timeless appeal of this iconic shape.
The temples of JACK are where the real magic happens. We engineered them using an advanced titanium alloy that has what we call “intelligent flexibility”—they automatically adjust to the wearer’s head shape without losing their form over time. The temples can flex thousands of times without metal fatigue, which is crucial for everyday wear.
The JACK has become our bestseller not just because of its technical achievements, but because it embodies our brand’s core values: innovative engineering, uncompromising comfort, and timeless design. It’s a frame that looks contemporary yet feels classic, technical yet effortless—exactly what modern luxury should be.
There are three major innovations shaping the future of luxury eyewear, and they’re already influencing how we design at Hayden Perlie.
First, ultra-lightweight materials are revolutionizing comfort. We’re developing next-generation titanium alloys that could make frames even lighter than our current JACK model, while enhancing durability. The goal is to create frames that you truly forget you’re wearing.
Second, customization is becoming more sophisticated. We’re pioneering a digital fitting system that combines 3D facial scanning with our traditional craftsmanship to create frames that perfectly match individual face shapes. This blend of technology and artisanal skill is the future of bespoke eyewear.
Finally, sustainability is driving innovation. We’re exploring bio-based materials and circular design principles that maintain our luxury standards while significantly reducing environmental impact. The future of eyewear must be as responsible as it is beautiful.
We’re currently finalizing two significant projects that align perfectly with our brand’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship.
The first is our “Zero Gravity” collection, launching end of this year. Working with our Italian artisans, we’ve developed a groundbreaking titanium engineering process that has allowed us to create frames weighing just 4.8 grams while maintaining our signature durability. This collection represents a new benchmark in lightweight luxury eyewear technology.
Alongside this, we’re proud to announce a limited-edition collaboration with renowned European architect. This partnership merges architectural principles with eyewear design, resulting in a ten-piece collection that explores new possibilities in frame construction. Each piece showcases our expertise in precision titanium work while introducing revolutionary design elements inspired by contemporary Italian architecture.
The essence of our brand identity is deeply rooted in the Dutch design principles of “helder” and “puur”—clarity and purity—reimagined through Italian craftsmanship.
“Helder” guides our approach to design clarity. Every frame we create has a clear purpose, a pure function. You see this in our signature JACK aviator, where each element serves a specific role—from the ultra-light titanium front to the self-adjusting temples. Nothing is superfluous; everything is essential. This clarity of purpose extends to our entire design philosophy: when we reduce weight, we enhance function.
“Puur” manifests in our commitment to material authenticity. We work with titanium in its purest form, celebrating its natural properties rather than disguising them. Our frames achieve their lightness not through artificial manipulation, but by understanding and respecting the inherent qualities of the material. This purity of approach results in frames that are honest in their construction yet sophisticated in their execution.
Together, these principles create eyewear that embodies sophisticated simplicity—pieces that are intelligently engineered yet appear effortless, technically advanced yet timeless. This is Hayden Perlie’s interpretation of modern luxury: pure in concept, clear in execution, and uncompromising in quality.
At Hayden Perlie, each frame emerges from a calibrated tension between technical precision and quiet expression. Here, luxury never shouts—it’s measured in invisible comfort, the sharpness of an angle, the purity of a curve.
By blending the legacy of Dutch design with Italian craftsmanship, the brand delivers a rare vision: eyewear that is rigorous, essential, and enduring. More than an accessory, every Hayden Perlie frame becomes architecture for the gaze.
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!
© 2024, Parisee. All right reserved
