PICTURED: HARI CHOHAN.
Jermyn Street’s Open Door Series will be honouring the brands and businesses that make our street the home of gentleman’s style, and the pinnacle of British craftsmanship, by spotlighting your favourite brands, and the people behind them, as we get ready to invite you through our doors once more!
Modern spectacle makers Cubitts began life in 2013 around the kitchen table of a flat on Cubitts Street in London’s King’s Cross, and now have ten uniquely-designed stores all over London, including on Jermyn Street.
Cubitts is named after the three Cubitt brothers who, in 1810, founded one of the first building firms as we know them today, employing a range of craftspeople under one management. The oldest brother, Thomas, was arguably the most famous. He designed the winding, column-lined streets of iconic Belgravia and Bloomsbury, while building projects of William, the next brother, included Covent Garden’s market buildings and the Crystal Palace. It was the functional approach of Lewis, the youngest brother, however, that really inspired the ethos of Cubitts eyewear, and he is credited with one of the earliest examples of Modernist Architecture, King’s Cross Station. The station, along with The Granary building behind it, which now houses Central St Martins College of Art and Design, look unapologetically like what they are, a station and a granary, and this no-nonsense, practical approach is exactly what resonates with Cubitts eyewear. Cubitts make the finest spectacles; sleek and paired-back, they do exactly what they say on the tin.
Cubitts eyewear not only took inspiration from Lewis Cubitt’s style but also from his actual physical creations. He famously created the ‘Butterfly’ rivett which was used to join together The Granary’s heavy stone parts and, if you look closely, you will notice that the same rivett is today used to join the front and sides of Cubitts acetate frames. Cubitts doesn’t go in for flowery designs or decoration on their spectacles and their branding (literally) hinges on this simple butterfly rivett, used only for the practical purpose of joining their eyewear together. This modern streamlined approach, ironically based on designs first conceived 200 years ago, is what sets them apart from their peers – they know when enough is enough.
Cubitts are famous for their use of Mazzucchelli acetate, which they put through a series of tests before creating their famous frames. It is extremely resilient but also versatile, and they stock over 300 colour options and have a large array of frames to choose from. Frames are also available in horn, metal and a combination of materials. Cubitts offer a bespoke service in which they use state-of-the-art technology to scan your face, designing eyewear to suit your measurements, and create a truly unique pair of glasses in just four weeks.
Cubitts, with their blend of classic design and modern innovation, are a very welcome addition to Jermyn Street. Visit them in store to shop the exclusive 16-piece St James’s Collection, inspired by the craftsmen and women of the St James’s area, and bring a piece of Jermyn Street-inspired design to your everyday.