The LOFT: Raising the Frame
Founder Richard Mewha talks origins, evolution and why the Loft remains a home for independent eyewear.
By Christine Yeh
Fashion and lifestyle branding has always played an integral role in eyewear design and styling, but the past two decades welcomed a surge in eyewear crafted and founded on an optical heritage. As demand soared for independent eyewear, it became undeniable that frames with a purely optical soul resonated deeply among independent retailers.
Meanwhile, behind the mainstream exhibition scene, a small tight-knit group of independent eyewear innovators had already begun to cultivate the LOFT Eyewear Shows. What began 26 years ago has since evolved into a multi-venue event featuring over 150 independent eyewear brands, as well as expanded offerings including lenses and lab vendors and continuing education courses, for what the LOFT creators bill as the premier event at the forefront of the independent eyewear movement. Their vision has always been to provide a curated experience, an antithesis to the traditional trade show experience, where attendees have the opportunity to personally engage with independent eyewear designers and learn more about their brand in an intimate atmosphere.