Minimal and modern touches combined with classic, vintage-inspired forms have resulted in what Lazare Studio calls neo-retro.
In the winter of 2020, we received a tip about a promising new brand from France —from a very reliable source. We immediately started following the brand on Instagram, but it was in the middle of the pandemic, with no fairs or buying trips. In the summer of 2021, a small trade show was held in Copenhagen, where we finally got to see the collection in person. The decision to bring it in was made on the spot.
The man behind Lazare Studio, Alexandre Caton, has a long history in the eyewear industry. He opened his own shop in Lyon in 2003 and has accumulated a wealth of experience. He knows what works—and has a clear vision of what he wants to bring to the table with his own brand. Strongly inspired by the 60s, 70s, and 80s, he revives vintage cuts with new details and innovative finishes. Lazare Studio creates frames with clean, minimalist lines and an effortless expression. The collection is influenced by traditional Japanese aesthetics and wabi-sabi—the idea that beauty can be found in things that are imperfect, unfinished, and in flux. The mood is calm and understated, with muted, discreet tones. The frames are slim, yet carry a sense of weight and carefully balanced proportions.
Lazare Studio combines French savoir-faire with Japanese materials. All frames are finished in Jura, France. In collaboration with local factories, Lazare has developed unique techniques for soldering and surface treatments that help define the brand’s character. They use yōhaku banezai, an old Japanese alloy that is both strong and flexible. Metal parts are cast in Japan using traditional methods, then assembled in Jura, France, and plated with 12 microns of precious metals—layers of gold, silver, ruthenium, and palladium.
