Gow Tanaka Launches Single-Author TANAKA Eyewear in East London Atelier

Japan-born designer Gow Tanaka has established TANAKA Eyewear in an East London atelier, producing frames from Richlite compressed paper composite. The brand employs a single-author model where one maker handles each frame from cut to fitting, limiting production to approximately 48 units annually. Two initial silhouettes, Type-I and Type-RO, are offered through the permanent Black Archive line and the numbered Patina made-to-measure collection, which is capped at 150 examples per design. The material is designed to age, developing patina rather than remaining pristine, with oil and wax finishes replacing sealed coatings. Each piece includes serialisation tied to the owner, a five-year warranty, and kintsugi-informed repair options that preserve damage as part of the object’s history.