Savile Row Eyewear
Inspecs · United Kingdom
Savile Row Eyewear is a British eyewear brand rooted in London's Algha Works factory, known for metal and rolled gold frames. Established as a brand in 1988, it is owned by Inspecs.
| Brand established | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Factory heritage | Algha Works, East London (from 1932) |
| Owner | Inspecs |
| Speciality | Rolled gold and metal frames |
| Website | savileroweyewear.com |
What is Savile Row Eyewear?
Savile Row Eyewear is a British maker of metal and rolled gold spectacle frames. The brand grew out of Algha Works, a historic optical factory in East London, and is owned by the eyewear group Inspecs.
History
In 1932 Max Wiseman moved equipment and workers from Rathenow in Germany to East London, where the Algha factory produced rolled gold frames. During the Second World War it made aviator spectacles for pilots and eyewear for gas masks, and from the 1950s it produced NHS glasses for more than 40 years, at its peak making up to 500,000 frames a year.
After the deregulation of the British eyewear industry, Algha reinvented itself in 1988 as a private brand, Savile Row Eye Wear. Inspecs fully integrated the Algha Works factory in 2012. In 2022 the business left its long standing Fish Island site.
Products and positioning
The brand makes metal and rolled gold frames, including round and half moon designs that have reached cult status. Frames from the factory appear in films such as the Indiana Jones and Harry Potter series and have been worn by figures including John Lennon and Eric Clapton.
Why it matters
Savile Row Eyewear is one of the few names that connect contemporary British eyewear to a century of domestic frame manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Savile Row Eyewear?
Savile Row Eyewear grew out of the Algha Works factory in East London and is owned by the eyewear group Inspecs.
Did John Lennon wear Savile Row glasses?
Frames from the Algha factory behind Savile Row Eyewear were worn by John Lennon, among other well known figures.