Frankies Eyewear: Welsh Design, Italian Craft, Independents Only

A new eyewear brand, designed in Wales and handcrafted in a small village in Southern Italy, is making its way into independent practices. Frankies Eyewear launched in summer 2025, focusing on stylish, statement frames that cater to a broader range of bridge sizes.

Founder Francesca Oak has drawn on nearly a decade of experience in optics to create designs that truly reflect patients' needs.

From chain to independent — and everything that taught her

She began her career in a busy city-centre optical chain before moving to a close-knit independent practice on the Gower in Swansea, where she continues to work full-time as an optical assistant. With a natural flair for styling, Francesca developed a passion for helping patients feel confident and comfortable in their eyewear.

The pause that produced something permanent

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she used the unexpected pause to reflect, sketch new designs, and connect with manufacturers. Her vision was clear: to produce limited-edition capsule collections that stand apart from passing trends, focusing instead on timeless pieces that combine bold design with everyday wearability and exceptional quality.

Handcrafted in Southern Italy. No shortcuts.

Each frame is handcrafted in Southern Italy using Mazzucchelli acetate and five-barrel hinges. Speaking about the production process, Francesca said: "Quality was non-negotiable for me – I wanted the frames to not only look amazing but feel luxurious and last. One of the most consistent things we hear is how beautifully made they are, which makes me so proud."

Independent practices only — and that is entirely the point.

Frankies Eyewear is available exclusively through independent practices, with its first collection already stocked in several locations across the UK. This selective approach was intentional, Francesca explained, as it reinforces the brand's individuality and sense of exclusivity. "I wanted to create something special that opticians would be proud to stock, and patients would be proud to wear."

To find your nearest stockist, visit www.frankieseyewear.com

Why this matters for independent dispensing

What Frankies Eyewear represents is not just a new frame brand. It is a signal that the people closest to patients, the ones fitting frames and having the conversations that corporate rotas simply do not allow, are increasingly the ones shaping what is available on independent frame walls. Francesca did not leave optics to start a brand. She stayed in it. She kept working the floor, kept dispensing, kept listening. That is where these designs came from. Not a mood board. Real patients. Real fitting problems. A broader bridge range is not a marketing angle — it is a clinical gap she spotted and chose to fill. Independent practices exist precisely to stock items that patients cannot find anywhere else and to have the time to explain why they matter. This is one of those things.

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