For some, eyeglasses are an unfortunate medical necessity. For others, they are a prized functional accessory.
A few years ago, Milwaukeen Josh Rickun found himself disappointed with the quality and fit of wood glasses available. So, he took it upon himself to create better frames. With no previous proper training in woodworking, Rickun took on the project for his senior thesis at MIAD .
Now as proprietor of Proper Eyewear, Rickun designs and fabricates eyeglasses from locally-sourced wood.
“It’s a minimum now of a two-week process,” he says. “Every time I try to improve on the process, it adds more time to it, which is the exact opposite of what I’m trying to do.”
The first pair he created took over two months to move from a scrap of wood to being worn.
With recent improvements in his manufacturing processes, Rickun hopes to see Proper Eyewear in optical shops all across the country. For now, he’s relying on his website and word of mouth.
