Award-winning eyewear designer Tom Davies meets BBR’s Ruth Kettel
It’s not every day you get to meet a global, award-winning designer. But that’s what happened to Ruth Kettel, a dispensing optician at Hereford-based BBR Optometry.
Ruth was lucky enough to be invited to a day with Tom Davies of TD Tom Davies, designers and manufacturers of bespoke eyewear, at his recently opened new facility in London.
BBR Optometry is one of a small number of UK optometrists that form part of an exclusive network selling custom-made and ready-to-wear TD Tom Davies spectacle frames from their St Owen Street practice.
“It was a very special day as we were just a handful of opticians who were given a rare chance to spend a day with Tom at his new premises in London where they design and handcraft their range of custom spectacle frames,” said Ruth.
TD Tom Davies recently moved production of its bespoke made frames from China back to the UK following an £800,000 investment in a new facility in Brentford, where 37 staff are employed to produce the handmade frames.
The company designs and makes bespoke spectacle frames in titanium, acetate and natural horn. The frames can often be seen worn by celebrities and others throughout the world, including Ed Sheeran, and are recognised for their design and quality.
“We were able to see the whole process, from the point at which a customer’s order arrives with details of their spectacle choice and personal facial measurements, through to where a team handcrafts them before they are sent to optometrists like us to personally fit,” said Ruth.
“We were even able to design our very own spectacles while were there. It was a very special day that provided us all with an insight into just how each spectacle frame is tailored individually to the customer.”
TD Tom Davies celebrated its 15th anniversary at the end of 2017, with Tom Davies himself recognised as one of the leading eyewear designers in the world.
Tom began working as a designer in 1996 and realised there was a market for people who wanted fitted spectacles that were comfortable and looked good.
By 2008 he had opened his own factory and offered his bespoke service through an exclusive global network that includes BBR Optometry in Hereford.
Anyone wanting to find out more about TD Tom Davies bespoke and ready-to-wear frames can contact BBR Optometry in Hereford.