Event recap: Anne et Valentin – From France With Love

We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended our latest in-store event

Anne et Valentin: From France With Love

It was amazing to see so many familiar faces, who all came along for an exclusive first look at Anne et Valentin’s phenomenal collection.

We’re so glad that you were all as enthusiastic about the frames as we are. Some fantastic pre-orders were made on the day and we can’t wait for everyone to collect their new specs.

Here’s a couple of snaps from the day…

opticians getting prepped for event
Getting prepped for the event

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Delicious sweet treats from local patisserie Le Mini Macaron

independent opticians event set-up

 

frames event
a selection of some of the amazing frames on display

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the event in full swing!

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an amazing event
Cheers!

 

We were absolutely thrilled with the response to the event; we were completely full-booked and the atmosphere was amazing. Make sure you’re signed up to our mailing list and following our socials to be the first to hear about our future events!

 

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Founded in 1984: 40 Years of Anne et Valentin

1984; named by Rolling Stone Magazine as “Pop’s Greatest Year” and for extremely good reason. It was a year of iconic popular culture moments. Many of which endure, 40 years on…

1984

It was the year that George Orwell predicted there to be “no art, no literature, no science… there will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life” but in reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

1984 was a year of creativity, ingenuity and imagination. So much of the art and culture of 1984 has endured to this day.

It was the year Prince’s Purple Rain was released.
Virgin Atlantic Airways made their maiden flight.
Cadbury’s Twirl first went on sale.
Iconic video game TETRIS was invented
Malcolm Morley won the first ever Turner Prize
MTV Music video awards was launched – featuring Madonna’s infamous performance of Like A Virgin
And the original Apple Macintosh P.C. went on sale, accompanied by a controversial Orwellian-inspired advertising campaign directed by Ridley Scott.

Let’s take a closer look at the Grey St. Gang’s favourites from 1984:

Frederike

Did you know that Frederike is a chess enthusiast? “Grand Chess” was invented in 1984 by Dutch Games designer Christian Freeling.

Legend – The Greatest Hits of Bob Marley and The Wailers

Nic

It was a tough call for Nic, but he decided on Beverly Hills Cop. The buddy action comedy, starring Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, w was the highest grossing film of the year.

Air Jordans – so iconic that this year they made a film about their invention!

 

Rachel

Rach’s favourite film of 1984 is Ron Howard’s Splash. “I 100% wanted to be a mermaid!”
Track – Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark. Who could forget that video?

Fran

The Karate Kid! The legendary and extremely quotable martial arts film has since spawned a remake and a TV series. But nothing can beat the original!

Runaway Bon Jovi

Laura

It has to be Neverending Story! Equal parts enchanting and traumatising – what more could you want from a kid’s film!?

Together In Electric Dreams by Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakey – just an incredible and enduring track!

 

Anne et Valentin

We can all agree that the year 1984 was a significant year for the world of art and culture. It was also an iconic year for the world of eyewear.

It was in 1984 that a creative and enterprising young couple designed their first spectacle frames, and the brand we now know as “Anne et Valentin” was born. 40 years on, they remain one of eyewear’s most influential and inspiring brands.

To view their latest collection, join us for a special event

Anne et Valentin: From France With Love.

Make and appointment

 

Our new booking system is live!

Making an appointment just got easier, now that our new booking system is live!

With Mysight, you’re able to browse, book and manage your appointments in one place.

The system allows you see all availability for eye examinations, frame consultations and more. You’ll also be able to see your appointment history and check when your next appointment is due!

Take a look…

Create an account
All about frame consultations

Select your appointment date and time
Appointment confirmation
Appointment Confirmation

To try Mysight for yourself click here

New Year; All New on Grey St!

It’s a new year and that means we have all kinds of newness to show you here on Grey St!

If you’re thinking of changing up your look, or adding to your collection, your timing couldn’t be better.

We have so much to show you.

New season collections are arriving thick and fast, from brands like Theo, Garrett Leight and Jacques Marie Mage.

New season collections

If you’re starting the new year with some new hobbies, come and talk to us about how we can raise your eyewear game.

Ask us about our sports eyewear options

We also have an exciting new range of fashionable and functional spectacle jewellrey. Forever losing your readers or sunglasses? Enter: LA LOOP!
“LA LOOP blends the elegant clean lines of a necklace with a simple silver circle ingeniously and custom crafted to hold glasses,” Elizabeth Faraut, Founder

La Loop

Of course with all this exciting newness we need to create some space. This means we have an AMAZING January Sale on now!

To make an appointment for an Eye Examination or a Frame Consultation, get in touch

To keep up with all things GSO, follow our instagram

GSO Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

The GSO Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

It’s just under three weeks until the big day and Newcastle is busier than ever with the mad dash of Christmas shoppers. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for your loved one, then allow us to take the pressure off with our Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Whether your loved one is a GSO regular or new to the world of eyewear, we have something for everyone.

Surprise them with something from their Christmas wishlist

Did you know that we keep records of our frame fanatics’ wish lists throughout the year? If you love someone who loves GSO, chances are we know what they want for Christmas! Come in for a chat with our eyewear experts and we’ll help you find the perfect gift.

 

Need a little bit more inspiration? Read on to find out our recommendations in our Holiday Gift Guide

For The Fashionista

Ahlem sunglass frames

For a fashion-lover seeking the celebrity look, we have just the thing! How about a beautiful pair of Ahlem sunspecs? Adored by Natalie Portman to LeBron James.

GLCO frames

For a more laidback vibe, look no further than Garrett Leight. Worn by Brad Pitt, Kendall Jenner and pretty much anyone else you can think of!

For The Art Lover

Theo POP ART

If art’s your thing, why not adorn yourself with a beautiful piece of wearable art?
Theo’s Pop Art series is inspired by the artists of the pop art era and their iconic subjects: Think Debby Harry as portraited by Andy Warhol. With the bold contours, colours and geometry of Roy Lichtenstein.

For the Outdoors-obsessed

Perfect for the great outdoors

For those who love nothing more than spending time in the great outdoors, some colour changing lenses are a must-have. Either ready-to-wear or fully-customisable, we have a huge range of colours to choose from. Our lenses are complete with a hydrophobic layer for those drizzly days too.

custom tints

For the Sports-fanatic

Whether it’s golf, skiing, swimming, or something more niche, we have eyewear to suit every sporting endeavour. Book a frame consulation with one of our experts and we’ll help find the solution for you!

Ask us about our sports eyewear options

For the Aspiring Eyewear Aficionado

Junior frame options

Know a youngster who’s looking to expand their eyewear collection? We have a great range of stylish junior optical and frames! For under 16s, all eyewear needs to be dispensed by a registered optician. Why not book your teen in for a frame consultation with one of our experts and treat them to the full GSO experience?

For Winter Sun Seekers

Our sunglass collection

There’s no better time to treat yourself or a loved one to a new pair of sunglasses. We have hundreds of incredible sunglass frames in our collection! Either ready-to-wear or with fully-customised prescription lenses.

*please allow up to 3 weeks depending on custom lens type

Gift Voucher

Christmas Voucher

If your loved one prefers to choose their own, why not request a custom gift voucher? We can provide a voucher for any amount and with a personalised message

*2 days notice required

To make it extra special, our gift vouchers will include a personal Frame Consultation appointment with one of our eyewear experts. Allow us to give your loved one the VIP treatment!

 

Stocking Fillers

For the person who has everything, we have a great selection of care kits and accessory items, priced from £10 – £40

Our eyewear accessories and care kits

 

  • Large cloth
  • Slim case
  • Care kit
  • Collectors Case

 

To make an appointment for a frame consultation for yourself or a loved one, get in touch

We hope to see you soon!

Oscar Mamooi: a bold new collection at GSO

Oscar Mamooi

We recently travelled to Paris in search of new and breathtaking eyewear design. We found it in OSCAR MAMOOI…

Oscar Mamooi is a multi-faceted Italian designer/stylist and illustrator with a flare for the avant-garde. He launched his first fearless eyewear collection in 2020.

Meeting Oscar

Team GSO have had our eyes on Oscar’s creations since then, and we leapt at the chance to meet Oscar and experience his incredible collection first-hand. We had to have it, and now you can have it too!

Team GSO with Oscar Mamooi

Watch our reel for a sneak peek of the collection:

Discovering Oscar Mamooi

The Collection

The collection celebrates the connection between humankind and nature. The asymmetric natural beauty of the human face is mirrored in the the raw beauty of the earth’s surfaces. This raw beauty is replicated is Oscar’s designs and production processes -He uses a process known as hot pressing; creating unique moulds for each part of the frame. “These parts are then compressed to create the acetate, giving life to surprising volume effects,” says Mamooi.

Each piece is produced in Venice in small batches. The frames are limited and numbered, making them a true collector’s item.

Oscar draws inspiration from glacial Iceland, molten Volcanos and the fluidity of fictional island Atlantis. The bold structural formations are paired with a dazzling colour palette unlike anything else.

These frames are perfect for those who dare to stand out. We think you’re really going to love them as much as we do.

“ONLY WHO IS ABLE TO IMAGINE CRAZY THINGS WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE UNIMAGINABLE THINGS”
Oscar Mamooi

This outstanding collection is available at Grey St. Optician NOW. To be one of the first to see it, get in touch to arrange an appointment. We don’t expect these frames to hang around for long!

 

 

Grey St. Optician Presents: AHLEM ATELIER

AHLEM ATELIER

Join us 2nd and 3rd November for a very special event: Ahlem Atelier

 

All about Ahlem

 

AHLEM is a luxury eyewear brand Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, timeless designs, and commitment to sustainable production.

Founder Ahlem Manai Platt has a remarkable background in the fashion industry.

Ahlem Manai Platt

After studying art history, she gained experience at prestigious fashion houses such as Acne Studios and Prada. She founded her eponymous brand after a series of chance encounters…

 “We were with friends at a cafe in Paris, discussing goals, and I showed the group a sketch from my notebook,” she says. “The excitement they expressed gave me the guts; the loss of a beloved pair of vintage sunnies shortly thereafter gave me the final push.”

Ahlem went on to become a finalist in Vogue’s CFDA Fashion Fund and she founded AHLEM in 2014.

We added Ahlem to the Grey St. collection in 2017 as a capsule range of their metal styles. We quickly fell in love with their stunning acetate designs too, as well as the ethos of the brand. The rest is history.

Team GSO with Ahlem

Since then AHLEM has catapulted into worldwide success.  Not only is AHLEM a favourite of Grey St. followers, but they are also admired by famous faces and fashion icons:

 

Tom Holland in Ahlem

 

Seth Rogan in Ahlem
And our personal favourite: Will Young in AHLEM, styled by Grey St. Optician

AHLEM have recently collaborated with VOGUE to create a custom sunglass frame. They have also been featured in GQ, Elle, Financial Times, Mens Health, Monocole and many many more

The Process

AHLEM may be famous for their exquisite designs, but this attention to detail is also extended to their craftsmanship. AHLEM source materials from the most reputable and sustainable suppliers available to market. From plant-based acetate and naturally non-toxic titanium to recyclable, eco-friendly lenses, they firmly believe that honest, Earth-friendly ingredients make the best and longest-lasting products.

Each piece is handmade in France in small batches to achieve an unparalleled standard of quality.Their acetate temples are raw cut by hand, with a matte finish. They celebrate the imperfections that come from raw cuts of one-of-a-kind slabs and unique colourways.

“We are committed to delivering exceptional eyewear created with pure concepts, honest materials and heritage techniques. Our award-winning frames are handcrafted in France and Japan with uncompromising attention to detail and quality.”

The Paris Line

“The Paris Line” FW23 sees Ahlem return to her roots. It is the first collection entirely conceived and produced in France following the designer’s transatlantic move back to Paris. The lines running throughout the collection symbolise continuity and the certainty of being established in one place.

AHLEM’s organic shapes surpass trend. She believes that objects of timeless design and superior quality are always relevant. There truly is something for every face within this superb collection.

Ahlem FW23

GSO becomes AHLEM ATELIER

On 2nd and 3rd of November, we are honoured to host AHLEM ATELIER: A showcase of Ahlem’s FW2023 collection. For just two days we will be in possession of the ENTIRE collection from AHLEM. Every exquisite optical and sunglass, in every stunning colourway will be right here on Grey St. for guests to explore.

This will be our first Ahlem event on Grey Street so we are very excited! The champagne will be flowing and we’ll have some delicious treats lined up from local French bakery Le Mini Macaron!

Our in-store events are a great opportunity to discover ideas for your next frame. If you see something you love there will be special discounts available on the day.

This event is strictly by appointment only, so please click the link for more information, or to RSVP.

https://www.greyst.co.uk/appointments/

Eyewear Adventure in Paris

It’s been two weeks since the Grey St. Gang went on our annual eyewear adventure to Silmo Paris, and what a trip it was!

Sunrise in the sky

Silmo is always the highlight of our year. Not only is it a chance to meet with our partnered brands and hand-select the very best eyewear for our own future collection, but it’s also a oppurtunity to explore what else is out there in the world of eyewear. We took a little bit of time to tour the show and we just might have come across some exciting new frames! You’ll need to keep an eye on our socials to find out more about that…

Day 1

It was an intense 48 hours, with back-t0-back appointments with our favourite brands. We started with Ahlem, where we were thrilled to catch up with the powerhouse woman behind the brand, Ahlem Manai-Platt

The team with eyewear designer Ahlem Manai-Platt
Team GSO with Ahlem

After Ahlem we headed to Hug

trying eyewear at HUG
Trying HUG

Followed by Garrett Leight

Trying eyewear at GLCO

 

And then Akoni

Trying eyewear at Akoni

As always we finished up at Orgreen for the best music and drinks!

The evening was spent with some of our nearest and dearest in the eyewear world, over a delicious dinner at our favourite Frecnh restaurant. Then it was back to our hotel to get some rest before our very early start the next day!

Day 2

On Monday morning we took a sunrise drive across to Paris to Hotel Reserve on the Champs Elysees. We were escorted to an exclusive appointment with eyewear icons, Jacques Marie Mage. It was the most beautiful way to start the day but for now, it remains top-secret!

A beautiful collection in a beautiful location

This was followed by another action-packed day at the show, researching and discovering some new brands and identifying the latest trends. We caught up with friends, industry greats, and made some amazing new connections.

We wrapped up the trip with a stop at our friends Theo Eyewear who never fail to amaze us with their imagination and innovation. Their new campaign “We Flock Together” felt a fitting phrase to signify such a collaborative occasion!

Team GSO at Theo
We Flock Together

Keep Your Eyes Open

Hand-picking our collections is a pressure-packed job, but it’s also a lot of fun. We take such great pride in our collection, and we want to make sure that you love the frames we choose just as much as we do. Our partnered brands really raised the design bar this year, and we CAN’T WAIT to show you!

 

New collections will be arriving over the coming months. Keep your eyes open to find out first!

Watch our Silmo reel

 

 

 

 

Goodbye to Becks!

Goodbye to Becks

It’s been a big week for the Grey Street Gang! Not only did we enjoy an amazing trip to Silmo Paris, we also said goodbye to our friend and colleague Becks.

It’s been an honour to work with Becks for the past 3,5 years. She brought positivity, creativity and a whole load of fun to our team. Now it’s time for her next adventure and we wish her the very best.

Any follower of Grey St. Optician will be familiar with Becks and just how wonderful she is. So we thought we’d ask Becks herself some of her favourite bits from her time on our team…

 

Becks’ Best Bits

15 year anniversary 
In August 2022 the team spent the weekend in Luchie House, North Berwick. We explored, relaxed and so much fun!

Team GSO on the beach in North Berwick

Charity C2C Challenge
In March 2022 Becks cycled 150 miles Coast to Coast to raise money for Seva Vision. Seva Vision are global nonprofit eye care organisation that works with local communities in developing countries to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight. Seva has provided surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to over 46 million people in more than 20 countries.

Putting smiles on hundreds of newly-framed faces
This one speaks for itself! Here’s some of Becks’ finest handiwork

Ahlem Styled by Becks

 

 

Kuboraum styled by Becks

 

Orgreen styled by Becks

And finally:

Meeting and working with the best and most creative in the business.

Becks’ Best Bits

A word from Becks…

‘During my time at Grey St. we survived a pandemic, celebrated a milestone 15 years in business, welcomed our optician Fran, partied at Laura’s wedding and cuddled 3 new Grey St. babies. Needless to say, it’s been eventful.Grey St. was the perfect place for me as we shared the same belief that eyewear is more than putting frames on faces. It’s about encouraging individuals to celebrate who they are, discovering new things, bringing joy, being compassionate and creating lasting connections.Although I am moving along on my journey into something new, these values will come with me along with the friends that I will always cherish and memories I will never tire smiling about.Thank you everyone and stay groovy,Becks

 

 

 

NEFempowerment Interview

 

Read all about it!

If you’re a follower of our socials, you’ve probably spotted our NEFempowerment interview! NEFempowerment is a creative corner of the internet dedicated to showcasing the inspiring people and businesses of the North East of England. It’s an honour to say that we’ve been included in that list!

NeFe shares our belief in the importance of community, and we really couldn’t be in better company.

Creator Charlotte has previously featured local entrepeneurs such as Sarah Taylor, founder of vegan skincare line Pajoma, and barista cafe owner Jo Peel of Regular Jo’s Coffee (both of whom just to happen to be friends of GSO too!)

As well as interviews with some fascinating folk, the site also features local guides on everything from the best brunch spots to smallbiz stocking fillers. NeFempowerment is our go-to blog for all things NE so when Charlotte reached out about our own feature we were thrilled!

Everyone who knows our team knows we’re an opinionated bunch with plenty to say! We decided we couldn’t just hear from one member of team GSO, so we got together and shared out the questions equally…

Charlotte asked us about our business approach, our brands, and our challenges and achievements. She also asked us what we love about the north east (hint: the people and the pastries!)

Finally we chatted about equality, community and how that links into everything we do here at Grey St. Optician.

The interview

Here’s a sneak peek:

NEFE: What is Grey St. Optician?
Nic: Grey St. optician is a glasses store with a difference. We have been sharing our passion for amazing eyewear in the centre of Newcastle since 2007

NEFE: What do you love most about living and working in the North East?
Frederike: There’s a good vibe in Newcastle at the moment with lots of cool, independent stores and of course the people are so friendly!

NEFE: Why is community so important to you?
Laura: We seek out brands who share our values and introduce their work t the people of the north east. The frames we sell are unique. We often hear of customers spotting each other “that looks like a Grey St. frame!” It inspires a little connection

NEFE: What does your average day look like?
Becks: No day is average at Grey St! We sprinkle fun, joy and passion into everything we do. We are a team of busy bees who like to do things differently.

To read the feature in full, click here:

NeFempowerment chats to Grey St. Optician

And we can confirm, Ruth does indeed say “lush” all the time! Honestly we think it sounds better in her Glaswegian accent!