If given a choice, I’d rather have a pair of frames on my face than possess 20/20 vision.  As a teen, I would track down the most obscure vintage style I could source via my optometrist’s back catalog of frames.  In the last decade, I’ve brand hopped from Oliver Peoples to Paul Smith to ic! berlin to Mykita to Masunaga.  My current obsession is Drift Eyewear – a relatively new, US made eyewear brand based out of Chicago.  I first spotted Drift frames at the northernGRADE  show in the Fall of 2013.  Winter Session, another exhibitor, was producing stylish, lined wool cases for Drift.  The templates for Drift frames are made from reclaimed wood and hand burnished, plastic acetate.  What I love about Drift is that they have a few core styles that the reproduce from season to season.  I opted for the Caulfield in a tortoise matte w/maple temples . Company verbiage describes these as having “nostalgic styling with modern appeal. Contemporary as a sunglass and ambitious as an Rx.”  Drift frames can be ordered in different colors of acetate (clear is cool) and wood temples (including a few limited edition options).  Here are some photos of Drift frames and a short video showing how they are handmade in Chicago.