Journal

Exclusive Collaboration: Kirk Originals x Wei Koh “Bandit” Aviator Sunglasses
When you envision iconic sunglasses worn by equally statured men from yesteryear, there’s one that undoubtedly springs to mind most: Paul Newman’s Aviators.   A signature accessory of the great actor, Newman pioneered the transition of aviator frames, which were...
The Sunglasses That Defined Hip Hop
Hip hop isn’t just a genre of music, and it would be a disservice to exclusively label it as one because it’s an art form that is comprised of different mediums. Of course, emceeing and deejaying, which provide the art...
Rolling Stones x Kirk Originals
Kirk Originals announce their collaboration with The Rolling Stones as part of their ‘Made in Britain’ series of collaborations with the bands RS No.9 Carnaby Brand.     The Rolling Stones have announced an exclusive series of collaborations between five...
London, Let Loose
Our second campaign for this season aims to instill a sense of confidence and self-assurance in our customers as we emerge into the post-pandemic world. The piece stars Loic Williams, a singer and songwriter with a refreshingly unique personality who...
Introducing: London, Let Loose
We’re excited to unveil the campaign video for ‘London, Let Loose,’ our second campaign for this spring/summer season starring the enigmatic and irrepressible Loic Williams, lead singer of the band The Walking Trees.     To match Loic’s unique and...
Why Handcraft Matters In A Distanced World
There’s undeniably a renewed interest in craft today, the catalyst of which can be credited to the events of the last year. Now, at Kirk Originals, we know all too well about this given the quality of our Handcrafted collection...
London Framed: Layer Cake (2004)
In 2004, the British gangster film Layer Cake was released with Daniel Craig making the case to become the next 007. Giving it away was Craig's role as an unnamed, smooth talking and smart thinking man living in the underworld....
The London Mindframe Part 4
Despite its capital status and the allure and privilege that comes with it, living and working in London hasn’t been easy this past year when you take into account how hard it’s been hit by both Brexit and Covid. We’re...
In Focus: The Bridewell Frame
Out of all of the sunglasses and optical frames in our offering, there are few that compete with the Bridewell when it comes to having a cultural legacy and timeless appeal.         It’s one of our best...
The London Mindframe Part 3
Despite its capital status and the allure and privilege that comes with it, living and working in London hasn’t been easy this past year when you take into account how hard it’s been hit by both Brexit and Covid. We’re...
The London Mindframe: Part 2
Despite its capital status and the allure and privilege that comes with it, living and working in London hasn’t been easy this past year when you take into account how hard it’s been hit by both Brexit and Covid. We’re...
Let’s Not Get It On, Marvin Gaye
In her second entry that questions the legitimacy of icon status when taking into account their flaws, Anna Prendergast visits The Prince of Soul in Motown, whose contribution to music was unparalleled. However, she argues that his public sensuality gave...
The London Mindframe: Part 1
Despite its capital status and the allure and privilege that comes with it, living and working in London hasn’t been easy this past year when you take into account how hard it’s been hit by both Brexit and Covid. We’re...
Insights with Mark Brown: from The Troubles to The Big Smoke via The Hacienda
From growing up during The Troubles to late-night antics inside Manchester’s infamous Hacienda, Kirk Original’s creative director Mark Brown had an eventful youth coupled with an insightful education and formative years as a creative professional. We sat down with Mark...
Flight Instruments: The Aviator and The Navigator
Like all great pieces of clothing, the Aviator and its underappreciated cousin the Navigator both stem from the military and were therefore created out of necessity. With the primary function of improving a pilot’s vision at high altitudes, the combination...
Is it time to dethrone the King of Cool?
Have men like Steve McQueen turned ‘cool’ into a four letter word? The actor defined the concept of cool in his heyday but does it hold up in a modern-day context today? We’re indebted to McQueen for his contributions to...
London Framed: The Long Good Friday (1980)
The first in a series that explores London’s role in cinema, and how its streets and skyscrapers have set the scene for so many iconic movies, we begin with The Long Good Friday (1980) which is widely regarded as the...
Original Sounds: London Edition Vol.2.
Curated by our Creative Director Mark Brown, the second volume of Original Sounds: London Edition is an exploration of the city’s notorious tribes and subcultures and the mix mash of beats and melodies that kept them blending and moving. There’s...
The Optical Collection: Designed For Big Ideas
We’re pleased to unveil The Optical Collection, which consists of seven new styles of frame that are inspired by a trio of trailblazers from the Golden Age of Advertising. The most personal collection to date for us, this connects us...
Original Sounds: London Edition Vol.1.
Original Sounds: London Edition Vol. 1. takes you on a nostalgia-inducing, sonic tour of the cobbled, secret-strewn streets of the Big Smoke, and in doing so pays recognition to the places and faces that cemented it as the world’s music,...
The Erno – A Modernist Story of Espionage
This is the story behind the Erno, which is in our Handcrafted collection that ties into the progressive nature of one of London’s foremost architects and his relationship with Ian Fleming. Within the imperious shadow of Trellick Tower, the Brutalist...