| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founders | Harald Gottschling, Daniel Haffmans, Philipp Haffmans, Moritz Krüger |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Moritz Krüger, CEO and Creative Director |
| Products | Eyewear and sunglasses |
| Revenue | 28 Mio. EUR (2014) |
Number of employees | 251 (2014) |
| Website | mykita |
MYKITA GmbH is a high-end eyewear design manufacturer based in Berlin, Germany, known internationally for its handcrafted eyeglasses and sunglasses.
The company was founded by Harald Gottschling, Daniel Haffmans, Philipp Haffmans and Moritz Krüger in 2003. All of its products are hand-assembled in their manufactory, often referred to as Mykita Haus, in Berlin. In 2006, Mykita moved to Brunnenstraße in the Mitte district where the manufactory was based for another eight years before moving the current headquarters to the historical Pelikan-Haus [1] in Berlin, Kreuzberg, in 2014. The name MYKITA is derived from ”Kita” (a common abbreviation for Kindertagesstätte) and is a reference to the firm's first premises in a former day nursery. [2]
In 2015, Harald Gottschling, Daniel Haffmans and Philipp Haffmans announced their resignation from the company, leaving Krüger as CEO and Creative Director.
In 2004 MYKITA launched its first metal-frame collection, Collection No1. The frames are made from stainless steel and feature a patented hingeless design with no screws or welded joints.
Collection No2, launched soon afterwards, comprises acetate frames and includes both prescription models and sunglasses. The Lite, Decades and Luxe lines were then also added to the product range. The Lite collection comprises the company's lightest models, which have an ultra-thin frame comprising just three parts. The Decades collection is based on spectacles forms from various eras of the 20th century. Luxe has an emphasis on naturally sourced materials.[ citation needed ]
In 2010 MYKITA introduced MYLON, a new material based on polyamide and a first in the eyewear industry. The selective laser sintering (SLS) technique is used to make frames individually and without form-related restrictions. The entire production process is zero waste, with any unused powder being recycled for subsequent use. According to the manufacturer, MYLON provides a wide range of design options thanks to its lightness; in addition, the material's thermal adaptability means the frames are fully adjustable. The first MYLON collection was premiered at the Silmo eyewear fair in September 2011. [3] [4]
2010 Reddot Design Award 2010 – Honorable Mention – (Collection Nr. 2: Dries black) Reddot Design Award 2010 – Won – (Collection Nr. 1 / Lite: Oda glossy gold) IF Design Award – Won – (Collection Nr. 2: Dries topaz) [5]
2011 IF Material Award – Won – (Mylon) [6]
2012 Red dot design award – Won - Communication Design 2012 - Editorial & Corporate Publishing – (MYKITA Book 8)
2013 German Design Award - Won - (MYKITA LITE HAAKON) [7]
2015 - 2016 Iron Design Award - Won - MYKITA / Damir Doma: MADELEINE Sunglasses [8]
In 2009 MYKITA and German fashion designer Bernhard Wilhelm launched a jointly developed eyewear collection. The mirrored sunglasses model ”Franz” from this collection enjoyed international media attention after being worn by actress Sarah Jessica Parker in the movie Sex and the City 2. [9] [10] Further artists and fashion designers that MYKITA have worked with include Moncler, Romain Kremer, [11] Marios Schwab, [12] and Alexandre Herchcovitch.
MYKITA has 12 international retail locations, including Berlin, Cartagena, Copenhagen, Los Angeles,Monterrey, New York City, Paris, Tokyo, Vienna, Washington DC, Zermatt and Zurich. [13]
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses and spectacles, are vision eyewear with clear or tinted lenses mounted in a frame that holds them in front of a person's eyes, typically utilizing a bridge over the nose and hinged arms, known as temples or temple pieces, that rest over the ears.
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that are colored, polarized or darkened. In the early 20th century, they were also known as sun cheaters.
Oakley, Inc. is an American company headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, which is an autonomous subsidiary of Luxottica. The company designs, develops and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces including sunglasses, safety glasses, eyeglasses, sports visors, ski/snowboard goggles, watches, apparel, backpacks, shoes, optical frames, and other accessories. Most items are designed in house at their head office, but some countries hold exclusive designs relevant to their market. Oakley currently holds more than 600 patents for eyewear, materials, and performance gear.
Ray-Ban is a brand of luxury sunglasses and eyeglasses created in 1936 by Bausch & Lomb. The brand is best known for its Wayfarer and Aviator lines of sunglasses. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to Italian eyewear conglomerate Luxottica Group for a reported $640 million.
Rodenstock GmbH is a German manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and spectacle frames. The company, which was founded by Thuringian Josef Rodenstock in 1877, is headquartered in Munich.
Aviator sunglasses are a style of sunglasses that was developed by a group of American firms. The original Bausch & Lomb design is now commercially marketed as Ray-Ban Aviators, although other manufacturers also produce aviator-style sunglasses.
Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and eyeglasses have been manufactured by Ray-Ban since 1952. Made popular in the 1950s and 1960s by music and film icons such as Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and James Dean, Wayfarers almost became discontinued in the 1970s, before a major resurgence was created in the 1980s through massive product placements.
Derek Lam is an American fashion designer. In addition to designing his own line, Lam was Tod's creative director for ready-to-wear and accessories from 2005 until 2010.
Polaroid Eyewear manufactures polarized sunglasses and polarized lenses, as well as optical frames, reading glasses, and clip-on lenses.
Thomas Feichtner is a Brazilian-born Austrian industrial designer.
ic! berlin brillen GmbH is a German eyewear company based in Berlin. Founded in 1996 by Ralph Anderl, it produces eyewear from 0.5 mm thick stainless spring steel sheet metal using a hinge design that avoids the use of any screws, welds, or glue in the construction of their frames.
Christian Roth is a designer of luxury eyewear, co-founder with Eric Domege of the eponymous brands Christian Roth and Optical Affairs.
Ballistic eyewear is a form of glasses or goggles that protect from small projectiles and fragments. For the U.S. military, choices are listed on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL). Ballistic eyewear including examples that meet APEL requirements are commercially available for anyone who wishes to buy it. The history of protective eyewear goes back to 1880 and extends through to World War I and the present. There are three standards that are currently used to test the effectiveness of ballistic eyewear. These include a U.S. civilian standard, a U.S. military standard (MIL-PRF-31013), and a European standard.
Michael Michalsky is a German fashion designer. He is the founder and head designer of the fashion label Michalsky. He is also the creative director of the luxury handbag manufacturer MCM since 2005. Besides his fashion business, Michalsky runs the agency Michalsky DesignLab, which offers design services. Today, Michalsky is considered one of Germany's most influential designers. His StyleNite at Berlin Fashion Week is followed by the global fashion scene.
Cutler and Gross is a British luxury eyewear brand, founded by Graham Cutler and Tony Gross in 1969. It is based in the Knightsbridge area of London.
Romain Kremer is a French fashion designer. He graduated from the Duperré School of Decorative Arts in Paris in 2002, and the following year he went to work for firms like Christian Dior Monsieur.
The Row is an American luxury fashion label established by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in 2006. The Row produces ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, handbags and accessories. The label is based in New York City and is available in 37 countries.
Johanna Keimeyer is a German artist. She studied art and design, both in Germany and internationally, and has worked designing lighting fixtures, as well as experimenting with different photography techniques.
Gentle Monster is a South Korean sunglasses and optical glasses brand founded by Hankook Kim in Seoul in 2011.
Lindberg is a Danish company which designs, produces and distributes luxury eyewear such as spectacle frames glasses and sunglasses.