KIRK & KIRK // The Kirk family celebrate 100 years in optics

In 1919 Sidney and Percy Kirk converted a dilapidated sewing machine into a lens cutter. Thus began a century of the Kirk family influencing optics around the globe and in 2019 Jason and Karen Kirk carry the mantle of one hundred years of Kirks in optics.

“This is an amazing moment, having seen everything that my Grandfather achieved and grown up in my parent’s practice, Karen and I are very proud to learn from the past to drive the future,” said Jason Kirk. “This is about looking forward as, like the previous generations, we try to contribute to the next century of optics.”

Jason and Karen continue to innovate through their exciting approach to materials, shape and colour.

The new Centena Collection celebrates one hundred year history but is directed firmly towards the future, highlighting the unique qualities of the Kirk & Kirk special grade of Italian acrylic. This noble material weighs very little compared to acetate, so Centena will be handcrafted in chunky 10mm acrylic but, despite the substantial look, the frames weigh next to nothing and are delightfully comfortable to wear. There are ten shapes and ten vivid colours. The hand-crafted eyewear is made in France, from start to finish.

A palette of ten vibrant colours sits beautifully alongside the Kaleidoscope and Spectrum collections. From Crimson to Corn, from Iris to Tiger, these are delicious hues designed to make the wearer feel amazing. 

The Kirk Brothers travelled the world opening factories in the US and South Africa, even visiting South America regularly to source the finest quartz to create glass lenses from the beaches of Brazil. They passed on a love of optics to their kids and a whole new generation of Kirks went into the profession, some as opticians and others developing optical machinery.

Today Kirk & Kirk sells in the finest independent optical boutiques around the world and produce the sort of eyewear which, we hope, would have made Sidney and Percy proud.

So that all adds up to a Kirk family history of 100 years in optics and, with a new generation already contributing to Kirk & Kirk, who knows what the future holds?