Dame Edna

I first saw Dame Edna on TV in 1989, wearing the Double Star. An Anglo American frame we had made for a boutique named FONG LENG in Amsterdam.

Quite soon after my brother, Tony, bumped into Barry in a shop in Hampstead High Street. He explained he had purchased the frame in Fong Leng. Tony explained that we had made the frame in our own factory, down the road on the edge of Hampstead Heath.

Barry visited the factory and it was the beginning of a fruitful and most enjoyable cooperation with the Dame. Over the years we have made many fantastic colourful frames. Not just the Double Star, the Flames, Frondis, Parroqueets and several other designs. They are always very large upswept designs with no lenses, allowing the eyes to be seen clearly with no reflections.

Over the years, our very experienced team of handmade frame makers have made many special designs for Edna, often under the instruction of Stephen Adult, the Dames frock designer. It was an opportunity for all of the designers and makers to showcase their highly developed skills.

We also made Barry prescription glasses. He wore an Angloheavy-weight round acetate frame, model 231. I still make it today.