Luxury British eyewear brand Cutler and Gross releases a new all-titanium collection handmade in Japan
Sabae is known as Japan’s eyewear capital, and produces an incredible 90 per cent of the country’s frames. It started in 1905, when artisanal eyewear makers were invited to the city to pass on their skills to local farmers. More than a century later, the craft is an indelible part of Sabae’s DNA.
Mass production is a foreign concept to Sabae. Here, glasses are still largely engineered by hand in a time-honoured fashion, but it is also at the forefront of innovation. After all, it was in Sabae that the use of titanium in eyewear was pioneered back in the 1980s.
Now, independent British eyewear brand Cutler and Gross has released an all-titanium limited-edition collection proudly handmade in Sabae.
The Knightsbridge Green collection merges “centuries-old Japanese craftsmanship with timeless British design cues”, marking a new era for Cutler and Gross. The name is a nod to the brand’s origins in Knightsbridge, where it was established in 1969 by opticians Graham Cutler and Tony Gross. There are five new styles limited to just 350 editions each – including sunglasses – with each titanium frame having undergone a 300-step process and eight months to complete. As well as updated signature elements, there are also design homages to classic British motor cars, such as the Lansdowne 1431, whose nose bridge subtly recalls the polished grille on a 1960s Aston Martin.
‘Knightsbridge Green is more than a product launch; it’s a statement of intent,’ says Jack Dooley, CEO of Cutler and Gross. ‘We have always believed in eyewear that transcends fashion, and this collection is our boldest expression yet.
‘Handcrafted in Sabae, Japan, using the world’s finest titanium, it embodies strength, precision and artistry at every level. As CEO, I see this line as a strategic bridge between our heritage and the future of luxury eyewear, where timeless design meets cutting-edge engineering. We are proud to bring this to market at a time when craftsmanship and authenticity matter more than ever.’
