Spotlight on L.G.R Eyewear
L.G.R is one of the first collections we secured when we opened the doors of Respectacle Company in January 2016. The collection has evolved and moved with the trends and influences, but it has also remained very true to its roots and ethos, which is why we love it just as much today as we did in 2016.
It’s not only us shouting about the L.G.R brand. They have just been named the Most Outstanding Brand by eyewear fashion magazine VisionPlus. The brand is beloved by many, including a plethora of celebrities like Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Michael Fassbender, Joe Jonas, Tom Cruise, Timothee Chalamet and Anne Hathaway. There is a very long list of A-listers wearing L.G.R eyewear. Even Prince William is a fan.
But it’s not only the rich and famous wearing L.G.R. Their eyewear features heavily on the big and small screen, too. You can spot L.G.R pieces throughout popular Netflix television shows like Emily in Paris and The Sandman. Some of the models also made an appearance in the Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp. And most recently, the brand’s eyewear has been featured in the Italian romantic drama Nuovo Olimpo, which is currently streaming on Netflix. We wrote a blog about L.G.R eyewear on film and television, which you can read here.
LGR Nuovo Olimpo Netflix
L.G.R: the story behind the brand
Created by Luca Gnecchi Ruscone, L.G.R was born from his family history, especially his grandfather Raffaello, and the association with the country Luca gets his inspiration, Eritrea. Raffaello was sent to Asmara, an Italian colony, to photograph the war effort in 1936. He fell in love with the place, and when his assignment finished at the end of the war, he settled in Eritrea and made his life importing photography equipment to the expats. Raffaello expanded his business by renting a small store and selling and developing photographic films. He soon diversified by importing optical frames and sunglasses directly from Italian workshops for the Italians who had also settled in Asmara.
Unfortunately, Raffaello’s growing business ended abruptly in the mid-1970s. At the outbreak of the civil war, the government took control of his factory, store, and all his possessions. Raffaello and his family quickly returned to Italy, where he spent the remainder of his life.
In 2005, Raffaello received a special grant to return to Asmara to collect his family’s possessions. He asked his grandson, Luca, to travel with him. During this trip, whilst sifting through his grandfather’s old warehouse, Luca came across a box of old sunglasses imported from Italy during the 1940’s. Luca was captivated by these elegant frames and returned home with them. News quickly spread, and he received many requests for these vintage pieces.
Luca tracked down the original manufacturers which led to the first L.G.R production run: a small number of authentic frames. He sold them to European boutiques, including a showroom event in Paris. After this, fashion bible Vogue Paris ran a feature on L.G.R. An article in such a prestigious magazine was a huge accomplishment and compliment.
That was back in 2008. Since then, the brand has grown, and its frames appear in boutiques and opticians world-wide, with their own L.G.R stores within Italy.
Casablanca Range by L.G.R.
Atlas Range by L.G.R.
Browse the L.G.R eyewear collection at Respectacle Company
We love a good story here at Respectacle Company. But it needs to be accompanied by a great product, and that’s what L.G.R is: a great product. Luca has combined old, traditional artisan craftsmanship with innovation and precise engineering whilst always acknowledging the original roots of Eritrea and his grandfather Raffaello. We feel privileged and proud to say we are a stockist of L.G.R eyewear here in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Why not pop into the optical, share a coffee with us and browse this timeless, classic eyewear collection? We’ve recently taken delivery of their latest frame drop, which features exciting new colours and shapes, including Atlas and Casablanca.
You can find our shop on Manor Walk in Market Harborough. We are open from Tuesday to Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm. And 9 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. If you can’t visit us in person, don’t worry; you can browse a selection of our L.G.R frames online. Call us on 01858 433 577 if you have questions about our L.G.R collection.
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