Tender Brings Back Their Handmade Cotton Acetate Sunglasses

I have absolutely no evidence that hand-carved sunglasses are in any way superior to glasses carved not by hand, but if the rest of Tender’s catalog offers any indication, their recent three-design collection will have its virtues. 

Tender pretty much gets drunk on difficult production, so each pair of these are made in England from a cotton pulp-based cellulose acetate*, the front pieces carved from a single super thick sheet. The arms have a wire running through the length, and the joints are finished with “new-old-stock” 7-chenier/“ hinges that are pinned to the frames, rather than glued.

(*Is the coloring derived from assorted tree-grown nuts, Sunmaid Raisins and organic gummy bears? Unclear, but one can always hope.)

Finally, because even the small stuff matters, you can string the included braided cotton cord (or a leather thong, upon request) through the holes at the bottom of the arms if you feel so inclined.

Made in a handful of styles, they’re all available for £275 at Tender.