Monokel Mens Sunglasses

Monokel is a Stockholm eyewear label making handcrafted sunglasses in plant-based acetate, with all-black frames in recycled acetate and Carl Zeiss Vision lenses throughout. The brand says its production process runs to over three months

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About Monokel sunglasses

Monokel is based in Stockholm and the frames come out of Nordic mid-century design rather than out of fashion eyewear — simple shapes, no visible branding, and proportions that work on most faces rather than a few. The brand describes its production process as running to over three months per frame, and the range stays small and changes slowly as a result.

The material is the part worth understanding. Most frames use a plant-based acetate made from cotton and wood fibre, which is biodegradable — the brand's own line is that they are still made to last, just not forever. All-black frames use recycled acetate instead. Either way the result is hypoallergenic, which matters if metal frames irritate your skin.

Monokel lenses and frame shapes

Every pair uses Carl Zeiss Vision lenses. Zeiss has been making optics in Germany since 1846 and does it for microscopes and camera lenses as well as eyewear, which is a genuine difference from the generic lenses in most sunglasses at this price — sharper edge-to-edge clarity and less distortion when you move your head. All lenses block 100% of UV.

On shapes, the Apollo is the squarer, wider frame and the one stocked in most colours here. The Otis and Marathon are the metal-framed pair, slimmer and lighter on the face. The Crow and Belle are the more rounded options. Two frames use polarised lenses, which cut reflected glare off water, roads and glass — worth having if you drive or spend time near water, and less useful otherwise.

Browse all sunglasses at Yards Store, or see what we have in our Manchester and Sheffield shops.

Monokel FAQs

Monokel's plant-based acetate is made from cotton and wood fibre rather than petroleum, and it is designed to break down at the end of its life rather than persist as microplastic. The brand describes it as still made to last, but not forever. The all-black frames are made from recycled acetate instead, which is a different approach to the same problem.

All Monokel lenses are made by Carl Zeiss Vision, a German optical company making lenses since 1846 for microscopes, cameras and telescopes as well as eyewear. In practice that means sharper clarity across the whole lens and less distortion at the edges than generic lenses. All of them block 100% of UV.

Polarised lenses filter out light reflected off flat surfaces — water, wet roads, car bonnets, glass. They cut glare noticeably in those conditions and make less difference elsewhere. Two frames here are polarised; the rest are not. Worth choosing polarised if you drive a lot or spend time on or near water.

Yes. The frames are designed to be worn by anyone, and the proportions are chosen to suit a wide range of face shapes rather than being cut for one. The larger rectangular styles are the most forgiving; the metal frames sit closest to the face.