The Optimist

Kirk Originals x David Coggins

The Optimist

£425.00
/
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist
The Optimist

A collaboration with David Coggins in celebration of the fly fishing life beautifully articulated in his book The Optimist. These oversized aviator frames summon the spirit of the great American outdoors crossed with the Gonzo 1970’s. With an infilled bridge, an enhanced top bar and flared detail to the nose we have elevated a classic shape into something distinctive and memorable. Crafted from a mid brown Mazzuchelli tortoiseshell acetate and fitted with a Polarised Warm Brown English Made lens. The temples have been tapered and ear tip extended to decrease the chances of slipping when casting your line or running in the surf.

Features

Entirely handmade in England in a limited-run production starting with a single sheet of Mazzucchelli acetate

Thick and above-average 8mm front balanced with 4mm temples

Frame front bevelled, sanded, filed, polished and buffed by hand

Clean front with two round pins on each temple

Heat-bumped regular bridge using 70-year-old machine

With a custom vice, the temples are bent by hand with muscle-memory

Subjected to two 16-hour sessions of woodchip barrel tumbling and polishing

Premium German-made hardware, including pins, hinges and charniers

Polarised British made performance lenses from Norville. Cut specifically to size using state of the art machinery in England.

Design Notes

Working through sketches, mood boards and emails with David Coggins the Optimist frames were a true collaboration, with David summoning the spirit and essence of the frame and Kirk Originals interpreting and developing that into a tangible reality. Working from photos of Gary Cooper in Sun Valley, Idaho we wanted to summon up that  particularly effortless outdoor masculinity yet also have a late 1970s feeling. "They should look like Hunter S. Thompson would have wanted a pair. Or, more likely, a wealthy Italian sportsman who loved Hunter S. Thompson." The frames needed to work and work hard to ensure that they would perform on the water in a baseball hat or at Pitti in a Borsalino. The Optimist is a perfect balance of British craftsmanship, English and Italian materials and classic American outdoor styling.

Mark Brown, Creative Director

Specifications

A – Bridge Width: 15mm
B – Lens Height: 50mm
C – Lens Width: 58mm
D – Temple Length: 147mm

We offer complimentary free shipping worldwide on all frames purchased from our website. Your brand-new frames will be with you within 3-5 working days.

Should you wish to return your purchase please contact customer-care@kirkoriginals.com within 14 days of receiving your order, clearly stating the reasons for your return.

All customers purchasing in the UK will be charged VAT. For all purchases that are delivered outside the UK we do not include any VAT or local import charges. You will be responsible for any additional charges that may be required at the request of your local import and customs governing body.

For more information please visit our Deliveries & Returns page