Mykita

Folded steel frames born in a Berlin kindergarten.

The Story

In 2003, four friends took over a former kindergarten in Berlin and turned the playrooms into a workshop. They called it My Kita — German for "my kindergarten" — and the name stuck. Two decades on, that building is still the centre of everything: the Mykita Haus, where more than 350 people design, engineer and hand-finish every frame under one roof.

Their first breakthrough was the hinge. Instead of screws — which always loosen — they laser-cut each hinge from a single sheet of flat steel and fold it into shape. The metal's own tension holds the temple in place. No screws, no soldering, nothing to tighten. The mechanism stays on show, and that honesty became the Mykita look.

The collaborations push the engineering further. With luggage maker RIMOWA, Mykita milled frames from aluminium and echoed the grooved ribs of a classic travel case — structure borrowed straight from a suitcase. Other partners include Maison Margiela and designer Bernhard Willhelm, whose mirrored frames drew on the 1976 Winter Olympics.

Lately the focus is metal that lasts twice. The Decades collection is built entirely from recycled stainless steel, hand-finished to the same tolerances as everything else that leaves the Haus.

MYLON — the 3D-printed range

Not every Mykita is folded from steel. The MYLON line is grown, not cut: a laser fuses fine polyamide powder one microscopic layer at a time until a whole frame emerges, hinges and all. There are no joints to assemble and no screws to fit, because the frame is printed as a single piece. That freedom lets Mykita draw shapes no mould could release — deep curves, hollow temples, impossibly thin rims — and the finished frame weighs almost nothing. The surface comes out soft and matte, with a faint texture you can feel under a fingertip. If the steel frames are engineering on show, MYLON is engineering you can only get from a machine that builds in three dimensions.

Materials & Craft

• Screwless hinges folded from a single sheet of stainless steel
• MYLON — 3D-printed polyamide, built by selective laser sintering
• Recycled stainless steel in the Decades collection
• Milled aluminium from the RIMOWA collaboration
• Hand-finishing and assembly under one roof in Berlin

Signature Style

Mykita is for people who like to see how things work. The frames hide nothing — every fold, hinge and join is on display — so they suit architects, designers and engineers, anyone who treats a well-made object as its own reward. They are light enough to forget you're wearing them and tough enough not to baby.

Three lines anchor the range. NO1 is the original: thin steel and the signature folded hinge. LITE is the minimalist's choice, a delicate profile that sits well on narrow faces. Decades reworks classic shapes in recycled steel. None of them shout; all of them last.

Frequently Asked

What does a Mykita frame cost?

Pricing on request — contact The Oculus for a quote. We'll talk you through frame and lens options before you commit.

How long until my prescription glasses are ready?

Typically 2–3 weeks from prescription to collection, depending on the lenses you choose.

Can a Mykita frame be repaired?

Yes. Mykita's MYCARE service covers deep cleaning, re-adjustment and replacement of silicone nose pads and temple tips. Bring the frame to us and we'll arrange it.

Which collection suits my face?

LITE sits best on narrow faces with its slim profile, while NO1 and the MYLON shapes carry a bolder, wider look. We'll fit you in person to be sure.

What's the difference between the materials?

Steel gives you a light, minimal frame; acetate adds warmth and depth; MYLON is the 3D-printed polyamide with a soft, matte, textured finish. Each one feels distinct on the face.

How does the screwless hinge work?

It's folded from one piece of steel, so there are no screws to loosen over time. The metal's own spring keeps the temple firm — effectively maintenance-free.

Are Mykita frames available as sunglasses?

Yes — most shapes come in both optical and sun. The sun models use Mykita's Polarised Pro lenses for high-contrast vision and glare control.

Has Mykita collaborated with other brands?

Often. The best known are RIMOWA (aluminium frames echoing their luggage), Maison Margiela and Bernhard Willhelm.

How sustainable is Mykita?

The Decades collection is made entirely from recycled stainless steel, part of a wider shift toward a circular supply chain at the Mykita Haus.

Why does The Oculus stock Mykita?

Because Mykita treats eyewear as a piece of engineering you wear on your face. We curate makers who build frames the way Berlin builds things — precise, honest, and with the workings on show.

Related at The Oculus

• Theo — Another optician-founded house with a love of bold, architectural shapes.
• Kuboraum — Fellow Berliners, with the same appetite for frames as sculpture.
• Hoet Couture — The other master of 3D-printed frames, in titanium rather than polyamide.