Australian designer Christopher Esber has long been celebrated for his ability to balance structure and sensuality through garments defined by refined tailoring, architectural lines, and quietly subversive details. Now, he’s channelled that same design DNA into a new medium: eyewear.
In partnership with Specsavers, Esber has released an exclusive 20-piece collection that reimagines the codes of his ready-to-wear through a fresh lens. The result is a sophisticated edit of 13 optical and seven sun frames, each distilling his sculptural minimalism into something both practical and expressive. Crafted in collaboration with the Specsavers design team, the collection embodies Esber’s signature fusion of elegance and precision with elevated silhouettes, sculptural hardware and an earthy, nature-inspired palette.
“I’d been speaking with Specsavers for a while, and they’ve always struck me as such an iconic brand,” Esber tells FQ. “They’ve created incredible collaborations with so many designers, so when they reached out, it felt like the right fit. Their ability to reach such a broad audience really appealed to me – it was an exciting opportunity to translate our design language for a wider world.”
From jungle greens and deep browns to translucent greys and rich tortoiseshells, the palette draws directly from the natural world, which serves an ongoing point of inspiration for the designer. Esber also integrated subtle references to his ready-to-wear, mirroring signature hardware detailing in the eyewear’s hinges and temple tips. “We wanted to embed familiar design cues in a new, functional way,” he says.
True to form, the collection’s refinement extends well beyond its surface appeal. Esber spent time with the Specsavers team in Milan, perfecting the tactile and technical elements of each frame. “Selecting acetates was like choosing fabrics, and the hardware became the equivalent of a zip or a button,” he explains. “It was important for us to perfect every detail.”
The result is eyewear that feels luxurious yet effortlessly wearable, understated but still distinctively Esber. “With our runway sunglasses, the mood is often more directional, almost fantastical,” he says. “For this collaboration, I wanted pieces you can wear every day that strike the balance between subtle yet statement. That’s what I love about Specsavers: each frame can be personalised for optical or sun, so functionality never compromises design.”
Every element of the collection reflects Esber’s meticulous eye for proportion and texture. “We also mirrored some of the hardware detailing found in our ready-to-wear pieces — like our orbit hardware motif — integrating that into the hinges and temple tips,” he explains. “It was about embedding familiar design cues in a new, functional way.” The result is eyewear that feels unmistakably Esber: sleek, sculptural, and quietly sensual. Frames feature wave-like arm contours that echo the fluid drape of his garments, while subtle metallic accents – including a freeform, handwritten CE logo – nod to the label’s signature hardware. Together, these nuanced elements transform a practical accessory into a refined extension of Esber’s design DNA.
“I wanted everything to feel considered — the blacks to have a piano-like depth, the translucent greys to feel nuanced and soft,” says Esber. “It’s those small refinements that make a piece truly special.”
