LGRINSPIRED BY AFRICA
“Some years ago I was in Eritrea, Africa, wandering through my grandfather’s old warehouse of Italian imports, when I discovered a model of sunglasses from a time long forgotten. These beautiful designs immediately evoked the romanticism of an era long gone by. The merging of two worlds; the adventure of Africa and the glamour of the Riviera. I returned to the original manufacturers and created a line capturing this timeless elegance…”
HANDMADE IN ITALY - L.G.R eyewear is entirely handmade in Italy by three artisanal families, who build each frame from start to finish using traditional methods of production in order to deliver an authentic and noble product.
L.G.R preserves Italian values and heritage through hard work by real people who have spent their lives specializing in this meticulous line of craftsmanship. The result is a genuine product that translates excellence through passion and authenticity.
For more info on production click HERE .
Luca Gnecchi Ruscone:
On a trip in 2005, Luca visited one of the optical stores in Asmara, Eritrea owned by his grandfather who had once lived in Africa from 1930 to 1970. There he discovered a box of sunglasses, which had been imported from Italy 50 years earlier. Fascinated by the elegant design of the frames, Luca brought the pieces back to Italy. The news of his discovery spread, and instantly requests poured in for these unique sunglasses.
He tracked down the original manufacturers and began a small production of the authentic frames, respecting the traditional artisanal methods of the past. Soon after, Luca began to sell them to exclusive boutiques all over Europe. Following much success in 2008, he participated to a showroom event in Paris, which resulted in his first published article in the prestigious magazine, Vogue Paris.
With the success of its first collection, made by small artisanal laboratories, Luca Gnecchi recovers ancient knowledge that was now disappearing and, thanks to the mix of tradition and innovation, soon reaches an international success conquering the likes of celebrities like Tom Cruise, Cristiano Ronaldo, Prince William , Marion Cotillard, Gigi Hadid, Kate Hudson, Giorgio Armani, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi and many others.
Nonno:
In 1936 Luca’s grandfather, Raffaello Bini, was sent to Asmara, an Italian colony in Eritrea, by the Instituto Luce to photograph the war effort. When the war came to an end and his assignment was nearly finished, Raffaello was unable to walk away from the Asmara he had grown to love. He decided there and then to become an entrepreneur. He would import the finest photography equipment from Europe and sell it to the local Italian expatriate population.
Raffaello rented a small store in downtown Asmara and started Foto Ottica Bini, where he would sell and develop Kodak film and sell Leica cameras.
Shortly thereafter, he expanded into importing optical frames and sunglasses from Italy straight from the workshops. In the years that followed, his store had earned a loyal following from the local Italian community.
During this same time, he met his wife Nina and started a family. Life had turned out well for Mr Bini, who had seen an opportunity to establish himself in Africa and had taken it. Unfortunately, this happy part of his life came to an end in 1974, when Eritrea was on the cusp of a civil war. Mr. Bini stayed positive and did everything in his power to stay, but eventually the incoming government sequestered his factory and store along with all his possessions. With his family in hand, he returned to Italy where he remained for the rest of his life.
New Chapter:
In 2005 however, he was given the opportunity to return to Asmara by special grant of the Eritrean government to collect his family’s belongings. He decided to take his grandson along with him.
It was this very trip that started the story of L.G.R…
