Hello Wolfgang and Jeff. Could you start by telling us when and where you first met?
Wolfgang: Hello! Our first meeting actually dates back to 2002. Jeff came to visit our workshop in the Eifel region together with Richard Morgenthal, founder of the long-established luxury eyewear brand Morgenthal Frederics. That year was memorable for me in two ways: it was the year my daughter was born and also the beginning of our first creative collaborations, which excited both of us from the start.
Jeff: Yes, 2002 was a turning point for me as well. It was my very first visit to a traditional eyewear workshop in Germany, and even though I had already been in the industry for some time, I remember feeling the thrill of a new era that would be full of inspiration and friendship.
Jeff, you’ve been part of the eyewear industry for many years. In 2024, you founded your own brand, Press Eyewear. What led you to take that step?
Jeff: I felt it was finally the right moment. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was one and a half years old, yet I never imagined I’d work in this field until I turned 23. My journey began in 1998 at the store of the legendary Robert Marc, where I started as a salesperson, and that path eventually brought me to my own brand. I’ve always found the history of eyewear fascinating, especially the 1990s. I saw my brand as an opportunity to revisit that era with a contemporary and multi-dimensional perspective. My starting point was to create an eyewear brand inspired by diverse fields — from automotive and jewelry design to music and fashion icons — but with one core element: material. In all our designs, the material had to be the star, because only then could each piece have its own unique, organic flow.
Press Eyewear is based in New York. Would you say the brand carries the city’s typical spirit and energy at its core?
Jeff: New York is such a dynamic place and it always leaves room for mixing different styles. I’ve worked here for many years, and for me the city is a constant source of creativity and new inspiration. I wanted to create a brand that draws from global influences yet still reflects the essence of its home city. I’ve always been fascinated by New York’s multicultural nature; that’s why I love designing products that appeal to many different people and can meet varied expectations.
You collaborate on the natural horn collections of Press Eyewear. How did this partnership evolve?
Jeff: For me, everything begins with the finest materials and the highest craftsmanship. I wanted to work with a natural and noble material like horn and I found that unique, eco-conscious, and visionary approach to production at Hoffmann. With Wolfgang and his team’s support in material and manufacturing, I designed USA’s first buffalo horn collection for Morgenthal Frederics back in 2006, and we’ve been working together ever since. It’s almost 20 years now. Honestly, I never even considered anyone else for the horn collections of Press Eyewear.
Wolfgang: It’s a meaningful partnership for us as well. Jeff’s vision has opened a new dimension in our world of natural eyewear. Combining our expertise in buffalo horn with his creative approach always creates an exciting synergy.
Wolfgang, you are considered a pioneer in horn eyewear. What makes this natural material so special to you?
Wolfgang: Buffalo horn is actually one of the oldest materials ever used in eyewear production. We’ve always been drawn to it for its lightness, durability, aesthetics, hypoallergenic nature, and sustainability. The variety of tones is incredible. By combining different natural shades and plant-based dyed horn plates, we’ve created more than 500 unique hues over the past 24 years. Its tactile feeling is also incomparable; it’s truly hard to match with any other material.
Jeff, you’re also passionate about buffalo horn. What does this natural material mean to you personally?
Jeff: From the very beginning, I’ve been fascinated by the beauty of natural buffalo horn. Each frame carries its own character and merges with the face, becoming the ultimate form of eyewear. My design partner at Press, Riya Mehta, often tells me that “working with horn is your happy place”. I want people to feel the same sense of excitement about their eyewear as they do about the other precious objects in their lives.
Wolfgang, you’re now distributing the entire Press collection in the DACH region. Can we take that as a sign your partnership will continue to grow?
Wolfgang: From the very first moment, we were convinced that Press would add a fifth dimension to our natural horn universe. There was never a moment of hesitation, and yes, we can say with confidence that our friendship and collaboration, now spanning two decades, will continue to grow even stronger.
Source: Spectr
November 2025
