Online eyewear shop Kite goes IRL with its first physical space: a swanky concept store on Shoreditch’s fashion alley, Redchurch Street. Naturally, this is not your typical optician’s. Racks of frames and designer ads are out. Instead, take a stool at a sleek Scandi consulting booth around a central ‘bar’, for your appointment with a clued-up (and refreshingly frank) eyewear stylist.
All Kite’s frames are designed in Soho and handmade in Italy; ask the staff if you fancy geeking out about acetate and pressed metal. Lenses are by Carl Zeiss and come with protective coatings as standard. A single pair of prescription specs or sunnies will set you back £150-£200, if you haven’t had your vision tested lately, you can head through the back for a go on Kite’s state-of-the-art optometric technology. It’s high-end, sure, but relaxed, with espresso and prosecco flowing and cool young things on hand to help make the right choices when it comes to your next frames. Your poor, screen-fried eyeballs deserve a treat, after all.