Gamine New York Designer

From art to eyewear. Could you share your journey with us?
I graduated from Art school and started working at an Art Center in NYC – that's where everything started to click. It was really through discovering underground music first, then art, that my mind started opening up to different possibilities. Eyewear was never part of my plan. It actually started as a challenge when a friend dared me to design some fun sunglasses. I was immersed in this very humanistic, artistic environment, surrounded by people who thought differently. I knew nothing about eyewear – I was a total outsider! But sometimes not knowing the rules helps you think differently.

How much do your artistic roots influence your eyewear collection?
Architecture has always fascinated me - it's probably my biggest influence. When I design frames, I think about them as small architectural pieces that need to be both beautiful and functional. I love playing with geometric shapes and clean lines, but always keeping in mind that these pieces need to feel comfortable and natural on someone's face. My inspirations also come from fine arts and furniture design. There's something about the way these art forms balance aesthetics with purpose that really speaks to eyewear design. Coming from an art background helps me look at eyewear differently. Instead of following traditional optical design rules, I try to approach each piece as a design object first. It's not about making something complicated – often the simplest designs are the most striking.

Gamine’s heart is in Paris, its soul is in New York. What are your inspirations and the main steps of your creative process?
Actually, Gamine is more of a citizen of the world. While new york is where it all started and remains the soul of the brand - that urban energy and creative freedom really shaped who we are – my heart led me to paris. But I wouldn't say we're anchored to any single place. The creative process naturally flows from this way of living. We travel constantly, our designs are often inspired by these travels and encounters – that’s why you'll find our models named after neighbourhoods from different cities. It's all very fluid and natural – no borders, but experiences and connections.

The name of a collection is usually connected to a utopia, to a potential target to be reached. What about Gamine?
Gamine has this playful, free-spirited energy to it – that's what drew us to the name initially. It captures this idea of someone who's confident enough to do their own thing, someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously but knows exactly who they are. We never really set out to target a specific market. Our designs are intentionally gender-neutral – we love seeing our frames break free from traditional boxes. Instead, we found that our glasses naturally attract people who share this mindset – creative people, independent thinkers. It’s less about age, gender or style and more about attitude. What's interesting is how the name has grown with us. Today, Gamine represents this community of unique individuals. They define what Gamine means through their self-expression.

What makes your eyewear special?
We're really clear about what we want to achieve: well-designed, quality glasses that people can actually afford. We're not trying to compete with luxury eyewear. Instead, we focus on getting the fundamentals right - good materials, clean design, and frames that feel authentic. When I design, I think about the person who'll wear these glasses and how they'll make them feel. It's about the overall vibe, the attitude each frame conveys. That's what matters most to us - creating pieces that help people express who they are, while keeping them accessible.

How do you celebrate ‘the spirit of individuality’ through your new collection?
We're excited to present a new collection at Mido! Our partners Revolutionary Eyewear will be there to welcome Italian opticians and present our brand. We'll also showcase our new signature model 'Valley of Fire.' It's inspired by a place in nevada with its twisted red rock formations and surreal desert landscape. The titanium frame mirrors the natural flow of the rocks and sand formations. It's probably one of our most sculptural pieces. The colour choices were important too, offering three options, including copper finish that directly references the rich, red-tinted sand of the 

Will ‘imperfection’ save the world?
I think there's something powerful about embracing imperfection. In a world that's increasingly filtered and polished, there's a real beauty in being genuine. That's what our manifesto is about – it's not just words on paper, it's an invitation to be brave enough to be yourself. When we talk about 'rebels and renegades,' we're not trying to be provocative. We're talking about anyone who chooses to write their own story instead of following someone else's script. We don't believe in a single definition of beauty. Instead, we create space for different kinds of beauty to exist and express themselves. Sometimes the most interesting things happen when we let go of the idea of perfection. That's where real creativity lives.