Gai Gherardi, Co-Founder and Creative Director of l.a.Eyeworks, renowned for revolutionizing the eyewear industry, innovating marketing strategies, creating a distinctive design language, and supporting artists, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the age of 78 following a brief illness. Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds made history in the eyewear world when they opened their optical boutique on Melrose Avenue in 1979. Despite not having formal design training, the high school friends quickly gained recognition for creating their own signature frame. Gherardi was born on July 8, 1946, in Glendale, California, and grew up in Huntington Beach. Even at a young age, she displayed her unique style, which led her to meet McReynolds. The two bonded over their shared passion for country music and eyewear. When Gherardi and McReynolds opened their store on Melrose on September 9, 1979, Gherardi reflected in an interview that glasses “were still considered a sort of prosthesis,” adding, “There was a lot of inhibition about wearing them, but we were determined to boldly explore everything to make the most amazing glasses.”

April 2025