BARELY-THERE
EYEWEAR
By Denis Langlois
The history of rimless eyeglasses dates back to
the 1820s, but this type of eyewear has almost
always been in fashion.
Rimless specs have maintained their popularity
throughout generations because of how inconspicuous they are on a person's face and due to
their lightweight feel. In 2011, following the
death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, rimless
glasses – part of Jobs' signature look – again
soared in popularity.
16 Optical Prism | November 2016
Within a month of Jobs' death, eyewear brand
Robert Marc reported “overwhelming” demand
for rimless glasses, according to media reports
from 2011.
The company, which first designed Jobs' round,
rimless glasses in 1998, began to mass produce
the specs. Today, rimless specs remain popular.
Some companies continue to sell true rimless
glasses, while others have created their own
twist on the classic look.