Cutler and Gross

BRAND OVERVIEW

Founded in 1969, British luxury eyewear brand Cutler and Gross combines the finest Italian craftmanship with irrefutably cool style.

Ever since its establishment in fashion’s halcyon days, the brand’s signature creativity has been applied to sunglasses and optical frames to create functional and timeless glasses that are design-led. Cutler and Gross frames are each uniquely numbered and complete with subtle branding on the inside of the temples.

The brand has boutiques in the UK, North America and Canada and distributes to selected stores and opticians globally.

TALENTS AND COLLABORATIONS

The bold, individual style of Cutler and Gross has attracted some of the most prestigious names in the industry for collaborations – from design houses such as Erdem, Comme Des Garcons and Maison Martin Margiela, to creative icons including Victoria Beckham, Roksanda Ilincic and Bella Freud. Drawing on 50 years of experience, Cutler and gross also holds the license to produce and distribute PauL Smith Eyewear.

Considered bastions of iconic eyewear, opticals and sunglasses designed by the brand have been worn by some of the most recognisable faces of the last five decades. Brand fans include David Hockney, Grace Jones, Sir Elton John and Madonna, as well as influential artists and style leaders Rihanna, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu to Kate Moss and Manolo Blahnik.

CRAFTMANSHIP

Having originally created frames by hand above the Knightsbridge shop, today Cutler and Gross’ production takes place at its eponymous factory in Cadore, Italy, where a highly skilled team of optical craftsmen carefully create each frame from scratch.

The process of producing a single frame takes twelve weeks and includes 42 steps. Each of these steps involves the knowledge and specialism of the factory workers who have been able to refine and adapt the Cutler and Gross aesthetic to combine traditional production techniques and the finest materials.

The intricate process includes design, cutting, barrelling, bending, hinge insertion, polishing and quality control, every step completed by hand.

GRAHAM CUTLER AND TONY GROSS

Brand founders Graham Cutler and Tony Gross met at optometry school and opened their first store together in Knightsbridge, London at a time when optical frames had a purely medical function.

In a bold and innovative move, Gross introduced the idea of eyewear as a fashion accessory. This combined with Cutler’s eye for detail and quest for the best design, they presented a new vision in eyewear, with a modern cut, exceptional quality and signature creativity.