Necessity is the mother of invention. AM Eyewear hail from Australia, a land of glaring heat, where sunglasses are more than a style accessory but an indispensable part of daily life. Emerging from this culture of eternal sunshine, AM Eyewear have become innovative players in the modern frame game with their fresh and directional designs.

This underground label hijacked the Australian market to become the hottest eyewear brand in the country. AM Eyewear became the first-ever brand of sunglasses to merit their own show at Australian Fashion Week. Meanwhile this shady business has also won high-profile admirers overseas, Sienna Miller, Lilly Allen, Beyonce, Alexa Chung and Kate Hudson are just some of the celebrity clientele who’ve been quick to catch on.

Simon Ponnusamy, started AM Eyewear in 2003 because of his fanatical love for old skool shades.

“As a young teenager I was obsessed with vintages frames,” the 30-year-old designer explains. “But none of them fitted me because I had a tiny head.” Bravely vowing to overcome this physical impediment, Ponnusamy started his own retro range....

AM Eyewear’s vintage inspired styles are delivered with cutting-edge technology. Developed to screen out Australia’s intense UV rays, AM Eyewear’s products source high-performance components from around the world.

• Lenses are made from highly scratch-resistant APX nylon - the material used in military helmet visors and fighter-jet shields.

• Anti - Reflective coating on the back of lenses to reduce glare.

• Italian sourced Acetate frames are hand-molded.

• Spring-loaded hinges are strengthened to perform at optimum strength more than 45,000 times.

• UV protection of 400 nanometers.

• AM Eyewear metals are sourced from Japan and include Stainless Steel and Monel both with zinc free plating.

Fashion-forward stockists are helping to spread the gospel according to AM Eyewear. The message: the eyes are the windows to the soul, so make sure they’ve got a decent set of curtains.