L.G.R Trunk Show: April 2024
We recently held a small trunk show at our store on Manor Walk to showcase one of our favourite collections, L.G.R. We’ve stocked L.G.R since we opened in 2016. It’s a classic collection made from quality materials and components in Italy. The event was a great success, with many customers visiting the store and enjoying the beautiful frames created by L.G.R.
You’ve probably already heard the story behind L.G.R, as we tell it often enough. But even if you have, read on to discover more about this gorgeous handmade eyewear from Italy.
L.G.R Trunk Show
L.G.R Collection
The story behind the L.G.R brand
So, the story goes like this: Luca Ruscone’s grandfather, Raffaello Bini had settled in Asmara, an Italian colony in Eritrea after falling in love with the area. He had been sent there to photograph the war effort in the 1930’s. After the war he opened a small store selling Kodak film and Leica cameras before expanding into importing spectacle frames and sunglasses from Italy which he sold to the local Italian community. He met his wife here and they settled until abruptly in 1974, with the country poised for civil war, his workshops and store along with all his belongings were seized by the government. Raffaello, together with his family, had to quickly return to Italy where he remained for the rest of his life.
However, in 2005 Raffaello was given a special dispensation to return to Asmara to collect his family possessions, and he took his grandson Luca with him. While visiting his grandfather’s optical store, Luca found a box of sunglasses which had been imported to Asmara 50 years before. He packaged them up and returned to Italy. Luca was so impressed with the craftsmanship and the elegant lines of these classic pieces that he tracked down the original artisans and so L.G.R eyewear was born. He started small production runs of the authentic frames, always respecting the original manufacturing techniques and methods previously used to produce the originals in the 1930’s and 40’s.
Then, in 2008 after a showroom event in Paris, Luca and L.G.R appeared in an article in fashion bible Vogue Paris. Since this inaugural event, L.G.R. has gone from strength to strength and now has stores in Milan, Venice, Florance, Rome and Paris alongside independent optical stores around the globe stocking this inspiring collection.
Alison wearing L.G.R sunglasses
New frames from L.G.R.
L.G.R eyewear: as seen on TV
These iconic and timeless pieces now have a huge fan base and have even made their way onto the small and big screen. L.G.R frames have been featured in the Mission: Impossible films and the Marvel franchise Ant-Man and the Wasp, as well as Netflix shows like The Sandman, Emily in Paris and, more recently, Ripley. You can read more about L.G.R eyewear on the big and small screen here.
Celebrities also favour L.G.R. eyewear, with actors Anne Hathaway, Michael Fassbender and Colin Farrell all sporting their L.G.R of choice. Lewis Hamilton, Maria Sharapova, and Prince William also don their L.G.R sunnies when out in the sunshine.
Customers trying out the new collection
Amos our L.G.R. representative
Visit Respectacle to view the L.G.R collection or shop online
With all the love and attention for L.G.R, we thought it was only right to showcase this beautiful collection to our customers and people of Market Harborough. It was a great event, and we had the complete collection to view for the day. We also had some special offers. Customers who purchased two frames could enjoy a significant 30% discount off their second frame. And they also received a fabulous leather carry case which holds up to three pairs of spectacles or sunglasses.
We hope to host another L.G.R Trunk Show later in the year. In the meantime, we have a large collection of L.G.R eyewear available at Respectacle on Manor Walk. You can shop a selection of L.G.R frames online. And if you’d like to try on the same frames worn by Ethan Hunt, Emily Cooper, or Tom Ripley, feel free to stop by our store. We’d love to see you and chat L.G.R eyewear!
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