History – Vinylize Eyewear

Handcrafted in the heart of Europe

since 2004

In 1998, while studying in Seattle, Hungarian-American Zachary Tipton’s vision began to deteriorate. It was the best thing that could have happened to him. Zack decided to make his own eyeglasses and founded Tipton Eyeworks in Seattle.

His first company made customized rimless glasses using titanium. Eventually Zack wanted to make glasses with more volume, but he couldn’t find the right materials to realize his vision.

One day, looking around his garage workshop, he spotted his father’s collection of old vinyl records. He realized eyeglass frames could be made from vinyl.

Beautiful broad horizons opened up and Vinylize was born.

A prototype was handmade from an old Creedence Clearwater Revival album. Zack hit the road to find a way to manufacture frames made from vinyl.

Going Big

In 2000, on a summer trip to Hungary, Zack showed his prototype to the directors of an eyeglass factory originally named Granvisus. Founded in 1962, the factory had supplied many socialist countries with fashionable eyewear but was now in what seemed like a hopeless decline.

All temples are still made by hand on a duplicating mill.

During Socialism exceptional workers were awarded a medal.

Our tireless CNC programmer developed the cutting methods to sculpt vinyl into durable eyewear.

The original factory in it's last days.

All temples are still made by hand on a duplicating mill.

During Socialism exceptional workers were awarded a medal.

For the next three years, Zack apprenticed at the factory. He learned everything there is to know about making eyewear. Together with the factory’s few remaining employees, he stuck at it until they made a prescription-ready frame surpassing European Union quality standards.

Vinyl sourced from one of Europe’s last pressing plant was fused with hypoallergenic organic fiber-based cellulose acetate.

Armed with samples, including frames that have become Vinylize icons, Zack criss crossed Europe by train. He visited every optician in every city en route. Many became customers of Vinylize who are loyal to us to this day.

From Defeat To Victory

In 2004 he joined forces with his brother Zoltan and re-founded Tipton Eyeworks, this time in Budapest. But sadly, the business they brought in wasn’t enough to keep the factory afloat. Between 2005 and 2007, the brothers continued to make eyewear however they could while dreaming of bringing production home.

In 2014, the machines originally used to make the first Vinylize frames were put up for sale. We were able to buy them and brought production home to Hungary where it’s remained.

Today, every Vinylize frame is handmade in Budapest by a team of 16 people. Each frame takes six weeks to make.

Powerful Partnerships

Over the years, we’ve partnered with some of the biggest names in music as well as internationally known brands.

The Art Vinyl Award designed and made by Vinylize.

Vinylize Hell made from ACDC's Back in Black vinyl.

Limited edition comissioned by SZIGET fesztival for 21 Pilots.

The Art Vinyl Award designed and made by Vinylize.

Vinylize Hell made from ACDC's Back in Black vinyl.

In 2014, the Sziget Festival – one of the largest in Europe – invited us to design and make eyewear as special gifts for headlining acts. The relationship continues.

Since 2015, we’ve created hugely successful collections licensed by AC/DC and sold worldwide. These featured vinyl from classic albums Back in Black, Black Ice and High
Voltage.

Vinylize designed the trophy for the prestigious 2018 and 2019 UK and Italian Best Art Vinyl awards.

Outside the world of rock and roll, we’ve collaborated with eyewear giant Maui Jim and, in an inspired move, we made eyewear that turned Nespresso coffee capsules into face furniture.

In 2019, we entered into an exciting partnership with Detroit’s Motown Museum. Designed and made by Vinylize, The Hitsville U.S.A. Sunglasses Collection celebrates 60 years of the label, helps raise funds for the museum and enables fans around the world to wear the music
of Motown.

The beat goes on.

Vinylize x Nespresso

Maui Jim teams up with Vinylize.

Motown 60th made from an original Sammy Davis Jr. pressing.

Vinylize x Nespresso

Maui Jim teams up with Vinylize.

Handcrafted in the heart of Europe

since 2004

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command."

-George Herbert

Born a Creator

1982 the construction site

Our story begins with a man who has always pursued perfection by creating different. Zachary Tipton was born in Sun Valley, Idaho of Scottish and Hungarian roots.

Global Influences

The 90's

His youth was spent in Socialist Hungary, southern France and the Pacific Northwest. While studying in Seattle his vision began deteriorating. It was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Focus

1998: first glasses

Having learned carpentry and handicrafts from his father, he decided to create his own pair of eyeglasses. The quest began with rimless frames and evolved into experimentation with different plastics.

Influences

"I learned to creation from my father and communication from my mother.
Patience and persistence from both of them."
-Zack

By 1999, the project grew in scope and material options became fewer. In an act of desperation to find a suitable material, he noticed his father’s old vinyl collection in the corner of the garage workshop. Zack realized that eyeglass frames could be made from a vinyl record. It was a eureka moment and a legend was born.

The material opened new horizons and required the development of manufacturing technology.

In 2000, during a summer holiday in Hungary, Zack presented the prototypes to the directors of a local eyeglass factory.

The name Vinylize was coined

Handmade from his father's Creedence Clearwater vinyl on a pin router and formed in his mother's oven.
Fitted with prescription lenses and a pair of cigar box hinges.

The factory was founded in 1962, shortly after Communists took power.

It was originally known as Granvisus and had nearly 100 employees at its peak, it supplied many of the Socialist countries with fashionable eyewear, including the USSR.

Little had changed since the 1960's. The factory was renamed and E.M.I. still relied on the Eastern Bloc markets. They were in competition with cheap Chinese imports. The factory workers felt hopeless.

For the next three years, Zack apprenticed at the factory and learned eyewear manufacturing. He and the few remaining employees launched into developing technology to produce eyewear from vinyl records. New methods were developed and novel processes tested until a prescription ready frame surpassing EU quality standards was created.
Many of Vinylize's most iconic pieces were designed during this time.

The most flexible and durable records were sourced from Europe's last pressing plant. Hypoallergenic organic fibre based cellulose acetate was fused vintage vinyl.

Zack, his brother Zoltan and the factory foreman Laci Bácsi in 2003

Interestingly, a disproportionate number of employees had only one eye.

Zack and Zoltan in 2004 launch Vinylize

Counterfeit Eurorail tickets were purchased from a talented forger and he hit the road to sell the collection.

Every optician in every city along the train's trajectory was visited until a customer was found. These are our most loyal clients and the support us to this day.

Unfortunately this was not enough to keep the huge factory in business. The directors closed the doors in 2005 and sold all the tools and machines to a German company which moved them to Romania.

In 2007 a friend offered to build an eyeglass frame milling CNC. Step by step, production slowly moved back to Hungary where it remains to this day. In 2014 the original machines upon which the production of Vinylize was developed went up for sale. In June of that year 2 semi-trucks brought it all back home.

Sex Sells

In 2008 the brothers launched a new collection that recycled vintage film strips. One of the most popular genres was the Stag film. These were sexual in nature and for the most part featured a strip tease. One of our London clients ordered a pair as a gift for Elton John's upcoming birthday. Specifically requesting manly "bits between the belly button and the knees", the frames had to be delivered in two weeks. No vintage footage could be procured in time.
In order not to let the client down, Zack shot a few selfies on 35mm dia positiv film and expedited the finished frame.
This ignited Vinylize's popularity with stars.

Vintage 50's Stag film

Elton John in Wilder

The infamous Wilder frame

Vintage 50's Stag film

Elton John in Wilder

Ashby won the Red Dot in 2016

Vinylize Toney wind an A Design award in 2015

Ashby won the Red Dot in 2016

Vinylize Toney wind an A Design award in 2015

Vinylize is proud to present two design awards

The 'A' Design award for the model Toney was received in 2015 and the the prestigious Red Dot in 2016 for the model Ashby. All Vinylize designs share the same award winning quality and construction.

Today Vinylize is handcrafted in the heart of Europe. Our team consists of 16 people who make each frame by hand over the course of 6 weeks.

Wear the Music
See the Music
Be the Music