After chatting with one of our staff members for only a few minutes, visitors to our office can easily discern one thing – we’re nerds for glasses! Brands that incorporate interesting design elements, one of a kind styling, and technology that is mind-boggling tend to be our favorite, and Mykita is no exception.
Founded in Berlin in 2003, Moritz Krueger, Philipp Haffmans, Daniel Haffmans, and Harald Gottschling started what has become an eyewear revolution with their desire to take eyewear from two dimensions into three. Keep reading to learn about why Mykita is so incredible and how they’ve become one of the most well-known independent eyewear brands in the world.
Setting The Bar High
The name Mykita has become synonymous with impeccable design and craftsmanship, but many don’t actually know the origins of the moniker itself. The word “kita” is an abbreviation for the word “Kindertagesstätte,” the German term for a preschool or daycare type of organization. As the factory building was once a kita long before the foursome moved in, the name Mykita just made sense.
In 2004, the company released their first line of frames, termed Collection No1. Made from surgical grade stainless steel, they seem to defy gravity and logic. When worn, Mykita’s feel nearly weightless, and in fact are so light that counterweights have to be placed at the ends of the temples to ensure that their structure is evenly distributed on one’s face.
High Tech Eyewear
It takes a moment of holding a Mykita frame in your hand before you really notice how intricately detailed they are, and the selling point for most patients comes when they explore the brand’s unique hinge design. Metal is wrapped into a coil that works to keep the temples extended when worn, and upon closing the frame, you’ll both hear and feel a little click as the pieces slide into place.
This design allows for the frame to undergo massive amounts of wear and tear (though we don’t recommend abusing your Mykita’s), as you can literally grab both temples and nearly stretch the frames out flat.
Done By Hand
The elements that go into making a Mykita frame appear to be pretty complex, and at first glance you’d think that they have specially designed machinery to create each hinge piece and other components. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, as one visit to their Berlin warehouse will reveal employees literally curling up pieces of steel by hand.
Mykita frames have to be perfect before they even leave the factory, ensuring that you’re trying on the highest quality product possible when you visit our shop. If you’re not a fan of metal frames, that’s ok too, as the brand has released collections of acetate designs and collaborates with high fashion designers to create a little something for everyone.
Loved the most by our patients who are engineers – go figure – Mykita tends to be one of the most popular brands sold at Optik PDX. We have a wide range of styles to choose from, so whether you’re in need of a classic and sophisticated look or you want something a little more retro and glam, Mykita has it all.
