MYKITA: Berlin’s Avant-Garde Eyewear at Vintage Sunglasses
For us, MYKITA is more than just a brand – it’s a success story written right on our doorstep. Located just about a kilometer from us, this Berlin-based label has gained worldwide recognition for its innovative designs. However, proximity alone is not the reason we proudly include MYKITA eyewear in our vintage collection.
Our company stories share striking similarities, though MYKITA now plays in a league of its own.
Our paths first crossed in 2006 at the MIDO eyewear trade fair in Milan. At the time, MYKITA (short for "My Kita," as it was founded in a former kindergarten) was still a young company – barely older than a preschooler – while we were just starting to build our vintage eyewear business. Their minimalist stainless steel frames, folded like intricate origami, immediately caught our attention. Little did we know back then how groundbreaking MYKITA’s NO1 collection truly was. But at that moment, the city of Berlin was gripped by a different excitement—the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A sense of optimism and lightness filled the air, reflecting MYKITA’s own design philosophy.
After the so-called "summer fairytale" of the World Cup, MYKITA faded from our radar. Their avant-garde designs felt too modern for our vintage collection at the time, and we had yet to discover the fascinating people behind the brand. However, as we continued our journey through the eyewear industry – searching for unique vintage pieces – we kept hearing MYKITA’s name in conversations with colleagues from all over Germany. “You’re from Berlin – why don’t you carry MYKITA?” they asked. That got us thinking.
Curious, we started researching what had become of those striking stainless steel frames that had caused such a stir at MIDO. What we found was truly impressive – and, as it turned out, closely aligned with our own business philosophy.
Aesthetics and Functionality Over Marketing Hype
MYKITA has firmly established itself as a globally renowned eyewear brand, revolutionizing the industry with its groundbreaking spiral hinge.
This screwless hinge is so unique that countless other manufacturers attempted to replicate MYKITA’s patented innovation – an issue we at Vintage Sunglasses can certainly relate to. Despite the challenges of an increasingly competitive market, MYKITA has maintained its distinctive identity, staying true to its commitment to innovation and craftsmanship.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the brand’s unwavering independence. MYKITA has resisted the allure of licensing deals and corporate conglomerates, choosing instead to remain self-sufficient. The entire production process takes place in Berlin and is open for visitors to experience firsthand – an exceptional level of transparency in the eyewear industry.
A Remarkable Evolution
Minimalism with maximum impact – this is the essence of MYKITA, reflected in its ever-evolving, cutting-edge collections, all meticulously handcrafted in Berlin.
This remarkable journey impressed us so much that in 2020 – right in the midst of the global pandemic – we embarked on our first collaboration with MYKITA. Since then, we have gained deeper insights into this outstanding eyewear manufacturer right in our neighborhood and have fostered a close, trusted partnership. This collaboration enables us to offer a carefully curated selection of rare MYKITA models; glasses that captivate not only through their striking design but also through their innovative engineering.
Every MYKITA collection has set new industry standards, driven by an uncompromising commitment to precision, functionality, and craftsmanship. As the brand’s success is built on a diverse range of collections and exclusive collaborations with renowned designers, we invite you to explore the unique characteristics and visionary concepts behind each MYKITA series in the following sections.
NO1-Collection
Right from the start, MYKITA made waves in the eyewear industry. The frames in the NO1 collection were crafted from ultra-thin stainless steel – not soldered, but elegantly bent into shape, completely screwless. At first glance, the concept seemed simple, but upon closer inspection, its technical brilliance became unmistakable.
With their fresh, sporty shapes, the NO1 collection captivated not only technology enthusiasts but also fashion and design lovers. When Brad Pitt was spotted wearing the ROLF aviator sunglasses from this series in spring 2008, MYKITA was officially recognized as a “cool eyewear brand.” But rather than resting on its laurels, MYKITA continued to push boundaries. The brand introduced even more pioneering collections, including the NO2 and the trendsetting DECADES series.
DECADES
Building on the revolutionary concept of the NO1 collection, the DECADES series took things a step further. MYKITA expanded its minimalist stainless steel frames with bold colors and merged contemporary aesthetics with classic eyewear styles from past decades.
This collection quickly gained recognition, but this time not from Hollywood—it received a royal seal of approval. In 2016, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was seen wearing the MYKITA DECADES Priscilla sunglasses while attending Wimbledon to watch her friend Serena Williams play. At the time, she had not yet officially joined the British royal family, but the attention she – and MYKITA – received was undeniable.
ACETATE
Inspired by the success of its stainless steel frames with the revolutionary spiral hinge, MYKITA ventured into new territory: the development of high-quality eyewear made from bio-acetate.
Inspired by the success of its stainless steel frames with the revolutionary spiral hinge, MYKITA ventured into new territory: the development of high-quality eyewear made from bio-acetate.
Since the signature spiral hinge could not be implemented in acetate, MYKITA’s engineers devised an innovative alternative – the Endura hinge, which is just as functional and groundbreaking. Once again, MYKITA set new standards in sustainability, becoming the first eyewear brand to use Renew Acetate, a bio-based material made from recycled plastic waste. Instead of ending up in landfills or the ocean, this plastic is repurposed into premium eyewear. To put it in perspective: 1,000 MYKITA acetate frames are equivalent to recycling around 300 polyester football jerseys.
Yet, it wasn’t just the eco-conscious approach that made the ACETATE collection a success – its striking aesthetics and refined feel also won over design lovers worldwide. As with many MYKITA collections, this one, too, found a high-profile ambassador: Daniel Craig wore the MYKITA acetate frame HELMUT in the 2011 thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
MYKITA Collaborations – Creative Partnerships on Equal Terms
Despite its success with in-house innovations, MYKITA has always sought creative exchange and external inspiration. However, instead of merely using big names for marketing purposes, the Berlin-based label focused on genuine, equal partnerships – with the ambition to create something entirely new.
These collaborations were true design partnerships with a shared identity. MYKITA seamlessly blended its own unique aesthetic with the distinctive style elements of various designers. The brand worked with both emerging industry insiders and well-established names, including Bernhard Willhelm, Damir Doma, Maison Margiela, Tim Coppens, and Helmut Lang.
One of MYKITA’s first collaborations was with Bernhard Willhelm in 2009. The MYKITA & Bernhard Willhelm sunglasses featured bold, mirrored lenses reminiscent of the Pop Art era, inspired by vintage 1980s eyewear. Unsurprisingly, the collection quickly caught the eye of celebrities. Sarah Jessica Parker not only wore the FRANZ model in her personal life but also gave it a starring role – featured prominently on the Sex and the City 2 (2010) movie poster.
LITE & LESSRIM
Alongside its designer collaborations, MYKITA continued refining its iconic eyewear concepts.
With stainless steel and bio-acetate proving to be the ideal materials, and nearly a decade of positive feedback from wearers worldwide, the next step was clear: to push the boundaries of comfort and material fusion even further. The result? The LESSRIM and LITE collections.
The LESSRIM models set new standards in minimalist design. Thanks to ultra-thin stainless steel – just 0.5mm thick – even full-rim frames appear almost rimless. Subtle color accents and functional details enhance the collection’s delicate elegance, delivering an unmatched wearing experience.
The LITE collection follows a similarly reduced aesthetic but explores innovative material combinations – from pure stainless steel to steel-acetate hybrids and acetate fronts with steel temples. This collection also caught the eye of Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City. In the fourth episode of the first season, she was seen wearing the MYKITA LITE CLAAS sunglasses, as showcased here.
MYKITA STUDIO
Beyond its signature collections, MYKITA has created a truly unique design series that exists like a microcosm within the MYKITA universe – the STUDIO series.
MYKITA STUDIO serves as a creative playground, unrestricted by conventions, existing styles, or materials. Each STUDIO edition is a fresh start – an experimental design project with a distinct character of its own.
The collections are numbered sequentially, beginning with STUDIO 1.1, followed by STUDIO 2.2, STUDIO 3.3, STUDIO 4.4, and so on. One of the most striking examples is the STUDIO 6.6 collection, inspired by 1960s optical illusion art. Delicate, precise lines follow the contour of the frame, creating a three-dimensional graphic effect with an almost psychedelic appearance. A standout example of this artistry is the MYKITA STUDIO 6.6 model: MYKITA STUDIO 6.6.
MYLON & MYLON Hybrid
What do you do when you’ve already achieved minimalist perfection? You take it even further. In 2012, MYKITA did just that by introducing MYLON – a revolutionary material innovation that radically departed from all previous collections.
MYLON is based on high-precision 3D printing technology, originally developed for the automotive industry. MYKITA adapted this advanced process and, in 2012, brought it to the world of eyewear for the first time. The result? Extremely lightweight, durable, and flexible frames that can be individually adjusted for an unparalleled fit.
But MYKITA didn’t stop there. The MYLON HYBRID series combined this cutting-edge material with other innovative components, creating entirely new design possibilities. These MYLON models set new benchmarks in high-tech eyewear, continually amazing industry experts with their bold fusion of technology and design.
MYKITA Eyewear: The Design Classics of Tomorrow
What truly makes a pair of glasses vintage? It’s not their age – it’s their uniqueness. At Vintage Sunglasses, vintage stands for exclusivity, for design icons that you won’t find just anywhere – and MYKITA fits this definition perfectly.
You can read more about how we define "vintage" here. The older MYKITA collections, which are no longer in production, embody this principle to the fullest. They are a testament to visionary design, crafted with precision and technical innovation – eyewear that has already achieved cult status and may only increase in value over time.
It will be fascinating to see how we look back on MYKITA two decades from now – after all, the legendary 2006 World Cup "Summer Fairytale" already feels like a distant memory. One thing is certain: Just like the most iconic vintage eyewear from past decades, these frames have the potential to become timeless classics.
