THE BEST AUSTRIAN BRANDS I
PUSHING THE BOUNDREIES
The best Austrian eyewear brands are pushing the envelope when it comes to innovation, they always performing well beyond the limits.
INNOVATIVE SPIRIT AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Unlike many other eyewear design hubs, Austria’s eyewear brands are not made up of typical style understanding, nor do they combine a number of similar features. While some Austrian brands focus on traditional quality and classic looks, others are characterized by avant-garde designs favored by red-carpet celebrities or models for athletes and sports enthusiasts. What unites the Austrian brands is that they are all characterized by an innovative spirit and a strong environmental awareness. Austrian brands place special emphasis on sustainability, local production and short, transparent supply chains, making them a natural choice for sustainability-conscious consumers from all demographic groups. Austria’s top eyewear brands push the envelope when it comes to innovation, always going above and beyond. Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, they create eyewear that is more durable, flexible, comfortable, lightweight or environmentally sustainable compared to the world’s other leading brands. For instance, Silhouette holds the title for the world’s lightest frames, while Gloryfy and Spect Eyewear compete to make eyewear truly unbreakable and indestructible. Neubau Eyewear and Rolf Spectacles, on the other hand, are challenging the industry to be more sustainable and rely less on synthetics by finding new ways to use natural materials in eyewear. Why not take a closer look at the best Austrian brands that stand out from other eyewear brands globally?
SILHOUETTE IS ALWAYS LIGHT AND ELEGANT
With more than fifty years in the business, Silhouette deserves its first place among the country’s top brands, as it has placed Austria at the forefront of the world of eyewear design, where quality, functionality, lightness, durability and elegance are essentials. Since its foundation in 1964, the brand’s forward-thinking approaches have consistently pushed the eyewear industry forward. Silhouette has raised the bar with technical innovation, unique materials and bold new designs. Their unrivaled mastery of titanium, proprietary frame material SPX, and consistent creation of robust, ultra-lightweight frames, including the world’s lightest eyewear, are a gift to the optical world. Despite being a well-established and globally recognized brand whose products are sold in over a hundred countries, Silhouette has not lost its humble identity, in some ways still being a local Austrian business. Founded by Anneliese and Arnold Schmied, the brand is now a family business with the third generation at the helm. True to its roots and innovative vision, all of the brand’s frames are sustainably produced in Austria and the Czech Republic, with a focus on carbon-neutral production and environmental responsibility. While the brand has offices around the world, production is locally based and the vast majority of employees work directly at the brand’s headquarters in Linz.
ANDY WOLF IS BOLD AND UNCOMPROMISING
Andy Wolf was founded in 2006 by Andreas Pirkheim and Wolfgang Scheucher to blend innovative, contemporary designs with traditional, local craftsmanship. Calling its designs as jewelry, Andy Wolf earns a prominent place in the list of the best Austrian eyewear brands with its bold, uncompromising and meticulously crafted models. The entire Andy Wolf creative team passionately designs and builds a model until it is perfect in fit, material and style. All Andy Wolf frames are handcrafted locally in Austria and the French Jura region, using natural and recycled materials wherever possible.
At Andy Wolf, most components are produced in-house. Additional parts are sourced locally to ensure that all materials can be sourced transparently and sustainably. This also gives the brand a great deal of control over the quality of its frames and allows its own artisans to stand out in the industry. “No one manages anyone here, everyone is part of our family and for us that means we are ready to care for each other, support each other, love each other, trust each other and grow together,” say Andy Wolf officials. Today Andy Wolf frames are sold in sixty-nine countries around the world and the brand is growing in popularity.
NEUBAU IS PURELY ORGANIC
Neubau Eyewear is a brand that embraces innovation and technology alongside traditional craftsmanship, sustainability and social responsibility. Their designs are unique but still classic and timeless while employing cutting-edge technologies and materials. Despite only being in business since 2016, a company with a sensitive approach to design has already collected a number of major awards, including the German Design Award, Red Dot Award, Green Good Design Award, and the IF Award for Product Design, Sustainability, and Brand Philosophy. Neubau is at the forefront of the best Austrian brands, constantly pushing the boundaries with new, innovative technologies, sustainable materials and unique frame designs.
On top of all these developments, Neubau Eyewear is notable for its 100% plant-based 3D printed frames and the brand has developed a range of proprietary materials specifically designed to reduce its carbon footprint. Sustainability remains a key focus for the brand in many ways. Neubau’s eyewear is produced in Austria and the Czech Republic, close to the brand’s headquarters, and even the packaging of the brand is made entirely from organic materials.
Kaynak: Favrspecs
March 2023