L.a. eyeworks
Iconic Independent Eyewear That Changed the Conversation
Some eyewear brands become known for their frames.
l.a.Eyeworks became known for changing what eyewear could be.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1979 by Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi, l.a.Eyeworks has spent more than four decades challenging the idea that glasses should be quiet, conventional, or secondary to personal style. From their original Melrose Avenue storefront, Barbara and Gai helped redefine eyewear as a form of self-expression, creativity, and cultural conversation.
At Blink Eyewear in Collingwood, we carry independent collections that have something to say. l.a.Eyeworks has always had plenty to say.
Bold, intelligent, playful, provocative, and deeply human, this is eyewear for people who understand that glasses can change not only how you see, but how you are seen.
The Story Behind l.a.Eyeworks
l.a.Eyeworks began on September 9, 1979, when Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi opened a single storefront on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. High school friends turned licensed opticians, they wanted to challenge the prevailing norms of eyewear and create a new kind of conversation around the face.
At the time, eyewear was often treated as either a medical necessity or a quiet accessory.
Barbara and Gai saw something else entirely.
They saw glasses as architecture, attitude, theatre, identity, and art. They created a gallery-like optical space at a time when that idea was radical, and they brought bold design, expressive colour, and unisex styling into a world that had often felt limited and predictable.
In the 1980s, two women disrupting the design scene was no small thing.
They were not simply making frames. They were shaking up the independent eyewear industry, redefining what an optical boutique could be, and proving that eyewear could be a creative medium in its own right.
What Makes l.a.Eyeworks Different?
l.a.Eyeworks has never been interested in blending in.
Their frames are known for bold shapes, imaginative materials, expressive colour, and a design language that celebrates the diversity of faces and the uniqueness of individuals.
Some frames are sculptural. Some are graphic. Some feel playful, some intellectual, some wonderfully strange.
What connects them all is point of view.
l.a.Eyeworks does not design for everyone to look the same. They design so people can look more like themselves.
That is what makes the collection so powerful. The frames are not about chasing a trend. They are about permission. Permission to be more expressive. More curious. More visible. More yourself.
Materials, Craftsmanship & Creative Independence
Every l.a.Eyeworks frame begins with a hand-drawn sketch and moves through a careful production process using fine materials, technology, and hand-finished craftsmanship.
The result is eyewear that balances imagination with wearability.
This matters because truly creative frames still need to function beautifully. They need to fit, feel comfortable, hold prescription lenses properly, and live with you in real life.
l.a.Eyeworks understands that balance.
The collection is artistic, but never careless. Expressive, but considered. Bold, but made to be worn.
Who Is l.a.Eyeworks For?
Who Is l.a.Eyeworks For?
l.a.Eyeworks is for people who are done apologizing for having a point of view.
You may find yourself drawn to this collection if you:
love bold, expressive eyewear
appreciate art, design, fashion, and culture
want glasses that feel personal rather than generic
prefer independent design over mass-market branding
enjoy colour, shape, and unexpected details
believe eyewear should be part of your identity, not an afterthought
These are frames for people who know that getting dressed includes your face.
The Blink Perspective
l.a.Eyeworks holds a very special place in our hearts.
This is not just a collection we carry because it is iconic, although it absolutely is. It is a collection we carry because we have felt the creative spirit behind it firsthand.
We had the privilege of meeting Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi and having genuine creative conversations with them. Those conversations stay with you.
There was nothing generic about the way they spoke about eyewear. They understood frames as objects of connection, identity, humour, design, rebellion, and joy. Their work reminded us that eyewear can be deeply personal while still being wildly creative.
Their passing is a profound loss for the independent eyewear world. Gai Gherardi passed away in March 2025, and Barbara McReynolds passed away in May 2025.
But their influence is everywhere.
Every time someone puts on an l.a.Eyeworks frame and suddenly sees themselves differently, that legacy continues.
At Blink, carrying l.a.Eyeworks feels like carrying a piece of independent eyewear history.
Discover l.a.Eyeworks in Collingwood
Blink Eyewear proudly serves patients throughout Collingwood, Simcoe County, and Southern Georgian Bay who appreciate independent eyewear, thoughtful design, and frames with personality.
Our online shop features a curated selection of l.a.Eyeworks frames, while our boutique often includes additional styles available exclusively in-store. Because we typically carry only one of each frame, our inventory changes regularly as new collections arrive.
If you'd like early access to new arrivals, we invite you to sign up for our First Look Notifications and follow our New Arrivals journal to see what has recently arrived at Blink.
Whether you are looking for a bold prescription frame, a creative new shape, or eyewear with real design history behind it, we would love to introduce you to l.a.Eyeworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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l.a.Eyeworks was founded by Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi in Los Angeles in 1979. The two were high school friends, licensed opticians, and creative partners who helped redefine independent eyewear.
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l.a.Eyeworks is known for bold shapes, expressive colour, imaginative materials, limited-edition designs, and a long-standing commitment to celebrating individuality through eyewear.
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The brand helped change the conversation around eyewear by treating glasses as a creative, expressive, and cultural object rather than simply a medical necessity or accessory. Its Melrose Avenue store became part of Los Angeles' creative and counter-cultural design scene.
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Yes. Blink Eyewear in downtown Collingwood proudly carries l.a.Eyeworks. A curated selection is available online, with additional styles often available exclusively in-store.
Explore the Collection
l.a.Eyeworks is eyewear with history, humour, intelligence, and heart.
Browse our current collection online, or book an appointment to experience these iconic frames in person. We'd love to help you find the pair that feels unmistakably yours.
l.a. Eyeworks Eyeglasses
Model: Blakey
Colour: 921 African Tortoise
Measurements: a44, dbl17, b33, ed45