#spectacle design

[cubitts]

Introducing Gifford: our new combination ‘panto’.

Gifford features a ‘panto’ lens and is intricately constructed from cellulose acetate and stainless steel - our modern take on shapes from the 50s and 60s, which has been more than two years in development. Gifford is available in two sizes (regular and large), and seven colours - black, amber, dark turtle, light turtle, quartz, honey and granite.

Gifford is named after Gifford Street, a Victorian street in northern King’s Cross. In the 1970s, the street became known for the Keskidee Centre, Britain’s first arts centre for the black community. In 1978 Bob Marley used the centre to make a video for his song “Is This Love?”, which featured Marley, Gifford Street and a seven year old Naomi Campbell, her first television appearance. 

[cubitts]

The home of spectacle-making in the UK was once clustered around the areas south of King’s Cross, along the Gray’s Inn Road, Clerkenwell Road, and  Hatton Garden.

Closely tied to other industries with a focus on intricate craft, such as watchmaking, jewelry and horology, the industry boomed in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

[cubitts]

Introducing Cephalometrics.

We’re rather excited to announce that our side project Cephalometrics has won the Future Retail Innovation contest, run by Innovate UK.

The technology will create facial pointclouds to submillimeter accuracy (using an IR scanner), onto which we’ll lay perfectly fitting spectacle designs (which can be adjusted in real time).

Working with long-time collaborator Charles Duffy, we've partnered with the Digital Anthropology Lab and London College of Fashion, University of the Arts.

We take our name from the century old science of cephalometry, the study and measurement of the human head, with roots in the Renaissance.

Much, more will be coming later in 2016. But in the meantime, you can see a preview at http://www.cephalometrics.co.uk.

Welcome to the future, dear friends.

[cubitts]

Introducing Thornhill.

We welcome another new member to the Cubitts family. A masculine 'pilot' lens shape, Thornhill is our modern take on an enduring 60s style. He features a flat brownline, keyhole bridge and dropped lugs.

Named after Thornhill Road, which runs from King’s Cross up into the heart of Georgian Barnsbury, an area owned and developed by the Thornhill family in the 1840s. 

The adjoining Thornhill Gardens were donated to the public by Captain Thornhill in 1946 - during the 2nd World War, a barrage balloon was tethered in the gardens.

[cubitts]

Introducing Crestfield.

Our modern interpretation of a classic 'Criterion' lens shape, with a subtle key-hole bridge.

The metal temples feature a subtle dot rivet detail, referencing the industrial metalwork found around King’s Cross. Like all our frames, they are pinned by hand to the front-piece using our custom rivets.

Named after Crestfield Street in King’s Cross, built in 1825 by W. Forrester Bray of St. Pancras. Crestfield and each neighbouring street features its own rather lovely fanlights above the doorways of the handsome Georgian facades.

[cubitts]

Herbrand Verdigris.

For Tom Dixon’s MULTIPLEX, we created a series of experimental frames in collaboration with Emma Montague.

Our frames used the raw industrial materials of King’s Cross, the historic corner of London where we were born.

Herbrand Verdigris, made from oxidised copper set on a crystal acrylic frame, references the area’s industrial metals (such as this example on Wicklow Street).

The materials employed were done so for function, but through use and wear, developed a rich patina and unintentional beauty.

As Michael Palin stated, 'King's Cross was not concerned with dazzle and decoration. It was built for purpose'. 

[cubitts]

From tiny acorns, mighty oak trees grow.

[cubitts]

Herbrand Concrete.

For Tom Dixon’s MULTIPLEX, we created a series of experimental frames in collaboration with Emma Montague.

Our frames used the raw industrial materials of King's Cross, the historic corner of London where Cubitts were born.

Herbrand Concrete, made from cast concrete with custom brass pins, references modern day King's Cross, which has awoken from its late 20th century slumber to become the largest urban regeneration project in Europe.