Barton Perreira eyewear

When cult luxury glasses brand Oliver Peoples was taken over by eyewear giant Luxottica, its lead designer, Patty Perreira, and president, Bill Barton, found themselves at a crossroads. Should they embrace the corporate world and the new opportunities it could offer, or take a risk, jump ship and set up their own label? Ultimately, the lure of creative freedom and financial independence was too hard to resist, and Barton Perreira eyewear was born.

The brand was an overnight success – little surprise, given the couple’s wealth of knowledge and experience. Perreira had built up a peerless reputation for her flattering frames and obsessive attention to detail, while Barton’s business acumen and technical understanding meant they could hit the ground running. With influential entertainment photographer Tim Cadiente on board as marketing director, Barton Perreira quickly became an eyewear force to be reckoned with.

With Barton Perreira glasses and Barton Perreira sunglasses featuring striking details such as enamelled panels, intricate filigree metalwork and rich jewel-coloured acetate frames, this is eyewear to be treasured, akin to one-of-a-kind vintage jewellery or a beloved heirloom watch. Patty Perreira’s use of flattering hues, clever shading and subtle curves has also led to the suggestion that her designs function like expertly applied make-up – using balance, contouring and colour to complement and enhance the wearer’s features. Indeed, those Barton Perreira glasses and Barton Perreira sunglasses specifically designed for women are unashamedly feminine, adorning the face as effectively as a stunning pair of earrings or a statement necklace. The men’s designs, meanwhile, are no less desirable, with beautifully proportioned frames made from the highest grade materials including brushed silver, glossy enamel, polished acetate and antique-gold-coloured titanium.

Barton Perreira glasses are handmade by Japanese craftsmen, whose meticulous and detail-orientated skills meet the company’s stringent demands. After more than 20 years in the business, both Bill Barton and Patty Perreira are true experts on glasses manufacturing and they insist that only the best quality materials and most finely engineered components are used for Barton Perreira eyewear products. Its plastic frames are made from zylonite, a resin-based polymer that is lightweight, durable and glossy, and all feature core-wiring – a skeletal foundation that allows each to be custom adjusted while still retaining its unique form. The zylonite is tumbled for several days – a smoothing and polishing process that usually takes a matter of hours – before being hand polished, in order to achieve a super-high-gloss shine. Lenses offer 100% UV protection and are made with lightweight, impact-resistant CR-39 plastic or scratch-resistant mineral glass; polarised options are also available.

With Tim Cadiente – who is known for his hyper-real portraits of rock bands and indie actors – in charge of brand imagery and ad campaigns, the Barton Perreira profile was never going to stop at straight-up glamour. With photo shoots and short films set against a backdrop of deserts, oceans or city rooftops, featuring steely heroes and heroines on a quest for freedom or love, the brand embodies the kind of edgy allure loved by its hip celebrity following, which includes Chloë Sevigny and Giovanni Ribisi, who have both collaborated on designs, as well as Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Chastain, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Zoe, Jessica Biel, David Beckham, Jennifer Garner, Matt Damon and Samuel L Jackson. In short, the kind of 21st-century Hollywood star who embraces risk and challenge in both their professional and personal lives – but who never looks less than immaculate.

Buy online or at our Soho London store