Kirk & Kirk, an assembly of beauty and colors.
British designers with a 100-year legacy Jason and Karen Kirk are Kirk & Kirk and have a rather impressive legacy to live up to. The Kirk family celebrates 100 years in optics this year, which began with the Kirk Brothers (jason’s grandfather and great uncle), innovators and pioneers in british optics.
In 2013, Jason and Karen Kirk launched an eyewear line for individuals. A line that is boldly expressive and proudly inclusive, with shapes that break boundaries. Kirk & Kirk frames are authentic, inspirational, and confident, just like the people who wear them.
The story
Motivated by a strong family legacy and a desire to bring something new to the eyewear market, Jason and Karen Kirk started Kirk & Kirk as a line to innovate and inspire. The line was immediately a success and their frames are now sold in 30 countries worldwide and have been seen on the red carpet and in popular TV series. Their designs have been nominated for prominent design awards and the team has been profiled in The Guardian and 20/20 Magazine. Kirk & Kirk represents the legacy of the generations that came before while keeping an eye the to the future and the possibilities not yet imagined.
Jason and Karen Kirk believe in the community of designers and artists and have collaborated on frames and lens cloths with Mrs. Angemi, Ray Richardson, and Lou Taylor. Each bringing their own unique eye and story to the Kirk legacy.
“Using 10mm acrylic allows us to sculpt this beautiful material and create pieces that look like cut glass”
Kirk & Kirk is a family business at heart. A family with optics in their genes. A family with integrity and pride in every frame they produce. Jason and Karen Kirk have created an eyewear experience that is authentic, confident and representative of the creative individuals who wear their frames.
Centena collection
To celebrate this incredible anniversary Kirk & Kirk have launched Centena, the first collection to be handmade in France from 10mm acrylic. 10 shapes in 10 colors and are named after Kirk family members.
The Centena Collection features 10 shapes in 10 colours, each hand crafted in France from custom 10mm acrylic to create a light feel through bold expression.
A fresh outlook to celebrate those who were always looking forward, each frame is named after a beloved member of the Kirk family.
The lightness of the material allows for a substantial frame that weighs next to nothing on the face. The Italian materials allow Kirk & Kirk to source their own unique colors and gives the frame a jewel-like quality. Kirk & Kirk only sell to the very best independent opticians around the world so their frames can be showcased in the best environments. Centena retails at £325.
10 shapes and 10 colors
There are ten shapes and ten colors ranging from Tiger to Royal, and now, launching at 100% Optical, London and Mido, Milan, a new collection of Matt Centena frames bringing a totally new dimension to the collection.
With four shapes, Horace, Sam, Eden, and Ezra, in five colors; Matt Black, Matt Tortoise, Cherry, Cosmic, and Forest, the frames introduce a new metal double bridge, a radical departure for Kirk & Kirk. In true Kirk & Kirk style, each of the frames is named after a member of the Kirk family. The Matt Centena frames offer a chunky retro feel, sitting beautifully within the collection, with its unique Kirk & Kirk sand-blasted finish. The matting process is done by hand to ensure an even finish. Each frame is hand-crafted from start to finish in one factory in France. Over eighty steps are required to create each pair.
Kirk & Kirk utilizes German five-barreled hinges in their frames, adding strength to the construction of the frame.
Comfort is added through integral nose pads: a large nose pad surface for even weight distribution around the bridge.
Why do Kirk & Kirk use acrylic?
Kirk & Kirk has developed their own acrylic for use in the construction of all their frames. Acrylic is an extremely durable and light material that, uniquely, does not lose adjustment or stretch out over time. A seemingly endless array of colors is possible through acrylic that is not possible through acetate, the traditional material for eyewear.
There are a number of benefits to using acrylic but the most noticeable is its incredible lightweight compared to other frame materials making it extremely comfortable to wear. Using acrylic also allows them to make their own palette that you will not find in any other collection.
All frames are constructed from start to finish in one factory in France with frequent in-person quality control by Jason Kirk himself.
Written by Adam