DD: How would you define the essence of Matsuda Eyewear?
MAT: Our journey is one of continuous evolution and unwavering dedication to artistry through craftsmanship. Each of our creations reflects a unique cross-cultural style, featuring intricate decorative details that blend rich elements rooted in fashion, art and design. All our frames are hand-crafted in Japan, incorporating techniques from fine jewellery making and traditional engraving to produce collectable, limited-edition eyewear.
DD: What makes Matsuda Eyewear different?
MAT: Beyond the quality of our product and the uniqueness of our design, two main points come to mind. The first is that Matsuda Eyewear was one of the first eyewear brands to be created by a fashion designer, recognised for its undeniable talent to meld architecture with fashion, tradition, and innovation. This forward-thinking spirit of experimentation and creativity gave life to this rich history, overflowing with both depth and substance.
DD: Can you tell us more about Matsuda’s craftsmanship and what makes it so exceptional?
MAT: All our eyewear is handmade in Japan. There is a small town called Fukui that is famous for making eyewear, and that’s where we make all of ours. We are one of the only brands that has an office and team there to manage our production. This is important because the craftsmen who are making [the designs] really put their heart into it. Matsuda is one of the legendary brands made in Fukui and the craftsmen are proud to be making this eyewear.
DD: You use materials like titanium, sterling silver, and gold. What informs the choice of material for each design?
MAT: Our goal is to use the finest materials possible in all our creations. Our favoruite material to use is titanium because of all the benefits it has. Titanium is exceptionally strong, lightweight, and hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for something that you’lll wear every day. Our titanium pieces are plated with gold, palladium, and ruthenium. We also use Japanese acetate and occasionally mix the two. We have also made solid gold frames and solid sterling silver frames. These were really special pieces that were made in very limited quantities.
Featured Frames
Photography by Vassilis Karidis @vassiliskaridis, Fashion by Nicholas Georgiou @nicholasgeorgiou_, Grooming by Stellar at D-tales @sforstellar @dtales_creativeagency, Modelled by Jonas Mason at Premium Models #JonasMason @premium_models, Casting by Alexandra Sandberg @alexandrasandbergcasting, Production by Johanna Daniil @johannadaniil, Photographer's assistant Angelos Dristelas @angelos.dr, Stylist’s assistant Chrysa Chroni @chrysa.chr, Casting assistant Jahwanna Berglund @jberglunds @dapperdanmagazine