Classic round shapes are our weakness. We just can’t get enough of them and they are quite difficult to find. That’s why we do a little victory dance when new round models enter the shop. And we still feel like dancing every time we look at this 90’s model ‘Kazuo’ by Traction Productions. The combination of its shape alongside the blond tortoiseshell acetate is extremely traditional from the nineteen-thirties yet original: you will definitely make a statement wearing this frame.

We definitely had to add a full-metal frame to our selection and we very quickly agreed on this model – AK03 by Castellani. Made in the 90s in Domegge, they were found and finished in 2020, and hopefully will be worn happily ever after. We recommend you visit us to take a closer look at the nosebridge and hinges. The details on them alone are worth it.

When Victor Gros first launched his brand in Oyonnax, France, in the 60s, he came up with the delightful names of ‘Player’ and ‘Playgirl’. Although we’re unsure of his naming abilities, there’s no doubting the frames he designed and manufactured.

The dark and transparent colour combinations give these thick acetate frames a less heavy, but still remarkable look. When spring hinges were added from OBE, the german hinge specialist, an extremely solid frame was born. When his son took over the business in the 1980s, he made a smart move and changed the name to Traction Productions.

For the next frame we stay in the same region in France but we travel a little bit North-East and arrive in Morez. This is an important area for the eyewear industry, especially the Lamy family. Relatives (les Fils d’Aimé Lamy) of the founder, Pierre-Hyacinthe Lamy, continued the family business under the name Fidela, and the high quality frames reflect their years of experience.

This model ‘Scandy’ is made in the late 70s, but with its refined transparent acetate we don’t get a strong ‘vintage 70’s vibe’ at all. If we would have to describe this frame in one word, it would be contemporary. This happens to be one of the most important words at Bidules, which explains why this frame deserves a spot in our top 6.

Foca Foca Foca: the Bidules highlight of 2020! So far, this is the biggest stock we’ve tracked down and brought back from Grea di Cadore (Belluno, Italy) and we’re still excited about it every day. Foca means seal in Italian, but also stands for Fabbrica Occhiali Celluloide Affini (1940s – 1991).

Out of so many amazing acetate frames, it’s difficult to only choose one. They weren’t afraid to use and combine colours, yet we fell in love with this model PP84 with its transparent nude tone. We’ve transformed this frame into sunglasses by adding stone camel lenses by Zeiss and now it really is at its best.

We might just have saved the best frame for last – Passy, made by MMLO (Manufacture Mécanique de Lunetterie et d’Optique) in Morez. This 1960s model is a real jewel with its combination of bright stainless monel chrome and crystal acetate. It’s very light in feeling and less delicate than it looks. Clients who are already proud owners of this frame all experienced a love at first sight moment in the shop, like we did when we discovered the stock from this old cooperative of morezian manufacturers just after WWII.