For years, it felt like eyewear was getting a little repetitive in its shapes and styles. But today, there are a slew of fresh, fun brands pushing eyewear in exciting directions. The Japanese company MASAHIROMARUYAMA is one of them.
They are truly challenging perceptions of beauty and perfection. They’ve also created innovative designs that have been steadily growing a cult following.
See if you’re convinced.
Seeing the Beauty in the Craft of Eyewear
MASAHIROMARUYAMA isn’t your run-of-the-mill eyewear brand that took a formula and followed along.
They’re disruptors that are challenging what eyewear can look like. Founded in 2011 by Masahiro Maruyama, the Japanese brand is an independent label that stays true to its founding values of eyewear as art.
They’ve won awards for their avant-garde designs and craftsmanship. In a 2025 interview, the founder, Masahiro, shared that after years in the eyewear industry, he wanted to create something that he’d actually wear. Something that wasn’t about mass production, but rather honed in on eyewear as a craft and art form.
MASAHIROMARUYAMA’s “Unfinished Art”
You’ve probably heard the saying, “There’s beauty in imperfection,” many times. Maybe your mom said it during a pep talk. Or, maybe you saw it as a cliché quote on a tote bag. However, this expression is truly the cornerstone of MASAHIROMARUYAMA.
The brand focuses on asymmetric eyewear, creating designs that look like wearable art pieces. It’s all about the unique concept, the lines and shapes, and the high-quality construction.
Masahiro believes there’s beauty in unfinished art. Instead of obsessing over perfection, magic happens when you let something be unique. This concept also reflects the broader fashion scene in Japan, which echoes individuality and pushing boundaries.
The Artistisan Process in Japan
MASAHIROMARUYAMA makes its frames in the Fukui Prefecture of Japan. The region has a long history (over a century) of manufacturing eyewear. The brand produces its frames at a reputable factory in Sabae City, where skilled artisans craft Masahiro’s designs.
The process shows how eyewear was before computerized tech took over manufacturing. There’s no denying that new manufacturing methods are necessary. After all, the fact that eyewear is more affordable and accessible means that millions of people around the world can see better.
But MASAHIROMARUYAMA is a brand that’s infusing traditional craftsmanship and hand-made quality back into glasses. Instead of using CAD (computer-aided design), Masahiro freehand sketches the designs. Then, artisans can use their creativity to translate them into a 3D pair of glasses.
It’s also the only way asymmetrical designs can be made accurately: by hand. This process is what also makes MASAHIROMARUYAMA glasses wearable art.
The Manufacturing Process
MASAHIROMARUYAMA’s metal frames are made from Japanese titanium.
Japan is world-famous for its titanium frames. Many major eyewear brands use this material in their glasses, including Cutler and Gross, Akoni, and DITA, to name a few.
The material is popular because it’s super lightweight yet durable, so it lasts longer. It’s a good choice for eyewear fans who value quality and want glasses that look great and perform well.
At MASAHIROMARUYAMA, each pair of titanium glasses goes through several steps, including mold-making, pressing, brazing, and polishing.
The brand’s plastic frames are made from Mazzucchelli acetate. It’s not a regular plastic process. It still goes through the same rigorous assembly line where each piece is handcrafted.
Top Styles and Trailblazers
The new ‘untitled’ collection features acetate in several colors. The frames are chunky, which is actually a huge trend in eyewear right now. The shape is rounded, but each side has a few asymmetrical details like slightly geometric corners and silver details.
The ‘broken’ collection comes in both eyeglasses and sunglasses, with a variety of styles. This collection is the epitome of MASAHIROMARUYAMA.
It’s quirky and original, but it’s not gimmicky. Instead, the pieces are artistic. It’s easy to see why the brand has won design awards before.
When it comes to classic shapes like the cat-eye, the ‘doodle’ collection shows just how cool the brand is. The way the edges of the glasses (and sunglasses) look like they’ve literally been sketched to life is incredible. It’s a great display of Japanese art.
You can order the collections online. If the MASAHIROMARUYAMA glasses aren’t quite your style, you could also try similar brands like Maison Margiela or Cutler and Gross. They both also offer bold designs that will make you stand out.
Original Advertising and Cult Classic Status
Many brands follow a similar advertising playbook. They hire some (famous) models, and they sponsor influencers or celebrities to wear the latest collection. MASAHIROMARUYAMA is different because it creates Instagram posts around its designs.
There are lots of fun, expressive, and graphic elements, with less focus on famous models. The latest collection, ‘untitled,’ has a video that feels a bit Bond-esque. It’s slick and cool, but true to the brand.
Their marketing strategy is part of the reason for their rise to cult-classic status. Rather than growing quickly, there’s more of an emphasis on quality and heritage.
While the glasses aren’t cheap, ranging from around $700 to $1,000, they aren’t your everyday eyewear buy. And so it makes sense that MASAHIROMARUYAMA isn’t trying to appeal to everyone. They know those who love bespoke eyewear will find them.
It’s more than a brand. MASAHIROMARUYAMA is bringing Japanese design heritage to the forefront.
TL;DR
- MASAHIROMARUYAMA is a Japanese brand that makes handcrafted eyewear, manufactured in Fukui Prefecture.
- The founder, Masahiro Maruyama, spent years in the eyewear industry before starting his brand in 2011. He wanted to make pieces that he loved.
- Instead of mass-produced eyewear, MASAHIROMARUYAMA focuses on creating ‘wearable art.’
- The process uses high-quality Japanese titanium and acetate. Artisans hand-mold and polish them into unique pieces.
- The collections are organized around themes like ‘broken’ and ‘unfiltered.’ They feature several colors that work together to tell a story.
- After winning design awards and building a following, MASAHIROMARUYAMA has emerged as a cult classic in the eyewear scene.
