Hand-carved buffalo horn frames distinguish this heritage brand
The Enduring Allure Morgenthal Frederics Eyewear
Hand-carved buffalo horn frames distinguish this heritage brand
On North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, the Morgenthal Frederics boutique offers a quiet respite from the throngs of people drinking smoothies at Erewhon just a few doors away. Inside, the space evokes the feeling of a vintage library. The shelves display their namesake eyewear designs alongside their own Robert Marc label and likeminded luxury brands like Jacques Marie Mage, Chrome Hearts, Matsuda, Maybach, Mykita, Sosprisi and Cartier. With a focus on their bespoke hand-carved buffalo horn frames and other specialty material options, the experience of choosing something special feels like a customized fitting with an expert fashion stylist.
“My first pair of Morgenthal Frederics horn glasses are special to me,” says Glenn Reisch, president of the brand. “I got them 15 years ago and still wear them today. I vividly remember the moment of trying them on. They were unlike anything I’d seen before and a little bolder than my go-to frames at the time. I felt confident and comfortable in my new frames. They instantly became part of me and articulated my personality like no glasses before them.”
In 2006, Morgenthal Frederics began working with buffalo horn. “The beauty of horn, because it’s a natural material, [means] each piece is unique unto itself,” says Reisch. “Totally one-of-a-kind, beautifully unique and exceptionally lightweight.” Through their custom program, clients can choose any element of their horn frames from the style and color to the finishing, accents and lens designs.
Their opticians are in direct communication with their designers and are experts in working with this specialty material. For more intricate design needs, they can even set up appointments directly with their designers. Once the design is finalized, the work begins at their Germany factory where the frame is meticulously sculpted and shaped by hand over hundreds of hours.
“We are proud to offer a groundbreaking custom horn program that further sets Morgenthal Frederics apart by allowing our customers to work with our opticians and designers to create their one-of-a-kind frames,” says Reisch. “Our designers are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.” When working with hand carvings, cut outs, and vibrant new colors, it’s often the first time the design has been made in horn. Many of their customers have begun to collect horn frames.
They focus on sustainable practices and an eco-conscious approach for making buffalo horn frames. “Firstly, no animals are harmed because we only use Indian water buffalo after their full and natural life cycle. The horn is then taken to our factory in Germany,” says Reisch. Each unique frame is created by compiling a minimum of eight to 20 layers of horn—comprising the details of the shape, textures and colors.
“The resulting eyewear is truly one-of-a-kind. No two are the same. And the fact that we can do it in such a sustainable manner is a point of great pride for the brand,” says Reisch. “The factory in Germany is fully wind- and water-powered, and all waste from the horn frames is used as fertilizer in the vineyards around the factory.”
At their thirteen Morgenthal Frederics boutiques across the country they focus on tailoring the experience of choosing frames to each person’s unique needs and personality. “There is never a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Reisch. “Quite the opposite. Our bespoke philosophy is the only way to provide the absolute best products for perfect vision, style and comfort. The fact there isn’t one set formula is the fun part. Our ultimate goal is for our customers to feel confident and comfortable.”
Company collaborations have included Cartier, Oscar De La Renta, Salvatore Ferragamo and Sabyasachi. “We are very proud of our over-a-century-long expertise in opticianry that translates directly to the exceptional products and services we provide,” says Reisch. “The company mission is to make people feel great about their eyewear by creating one-of-a-kind pieces that enable our clients to express themselves and see better too.”