Eyewear as an accessory.
Gentle Monster
(This brand is not available from i2i Optometrists at this time.)
Gentle Monster was founded in Seoul in 2011 by Hankook Kim and Jae W Oh and is run by their company IICOMBINED. The brand's stated idea is 'weird beauty': monster stands for attitude and individuality, while gentle keeps the designs wearable. From the start the aim was to treat glasses as a fashion accessory rather than a purely optical product.
Fifteen years on, the label operates around eighty stores worldwide, including in New York, London, Paris and Milan, and has worked with fashion houses and artists including Fendi, Moncler, Maison Margiela and Tilda Swinton. Its flagship shops are known for large-scale installations as much as for the frames inside them.
The optical collection shows the same design language in everyday form: thick, glossy acetate fronts with softly squared rims, silver rivet detailing at the corners and slim metal temples. Colours tend towards deep black, translucent grey and warm brown, and the proportions are deliberate rather than discreet.
Gentle Monster has also moved into intelligent eyewear, with a collection created alongside Google and Samsung that builds Gemini assistance into the frames, with prescription options on most styles. For many wearers the appeal remains the design-led optical frames, which suit people who see glasses as part of an outfit.
Chosen for you. Fitted by us.
The right frame needs to suit your face, your prescription and the way you live. Our dispensing team will help you compare styles, check the fit and choose your lenses — whether you have your eye examination with us or bring a recent prescription.
Photographs illustrate the brand and are not a live stock catalogue. Call our Howard Street team to check current styles and availability before travelling.