About CLAYTON FRANKLIN: Background of its establishment, the designer, and the creation of delicate frames

CLAYTON FRANKLIN is a Japanese eyewear brand based in Sabae, Fukui, that was founded in 1999. It incorporates precision metalworking and combinations of diverse materials into classic forms.

What best conveys its appeal is the construction of the thin rims surrounding the lenses and the temples that hook over the ears. While maintaining a composed appearance, one can discover ingenuity in the structure and decoration when viewing them up close. By organizing the background of the brand's establishment and its design system, we take a detailed look at its features through official LOOKs and product photos.

01 / BACKGROUNDBackground of the Establishment and the Designers

A Brand Made in Japan, Delivered to the West

CLAYTON FRANKLIN is produced by Hiero House in Sabae. From the beginning, the brand developed its market primarily in the United States and Europe, later expanding its availability in Japan. The starting point—which combined an appearance synonymous with classic overseas eyewear with Japanese manufacturing technology—is still evident in the current collections.

Source: Begin "Clayton Franklin" Brand Introduction

Founder Toru Murota and the Design Team

The founder is Toru Murota. The designs are created by a team of multiple creators.

02 / CONCEPTCreating Classic Forms with Modern Technology

The concept representing the brand is, "Vintage objects reborn as something new through time." Behind the designs is the traditional British style of the 1930s. Those classic motifs are crafted into modern eyewear using Japanese manufacturing technology.

Looking at the photos, many familiar shapes are used, such as rounded lens forms and thin metal rims. On the other hand, there are variations in the shapes and assembly of parts, such as adding rings of different materials around the lenses or giving the bridge a characteristic curve.

What is noteworthy is the balance of keeping the silhouette clean when worn on the face while lavishing effort on the details. Even glasses that appear modest from the front reveal the luster of the metal, intricate patterns, and the depth of the components when viewed from an angle or from the side.

Source: MEN’S EX (Background of Concept and Design)／CLAYTON FRANKLIN Official

03 / PRODUCT DETAILSThree Features Seen in the Products

1. Drawing the Contour with Thin Metal and Acetate

A representative model that shows how this brand is built is the 606. It incorporates a very thin acetate inner rim into the metal rim surrounding the lens. Acetate is a resin material widely used in eyewear. In the 606, by showing that color thinly around the lens, it creates a contour different from frames made of metal alone.

In the GP-BK colorway shown, the black inner rim makes the roundness of the lens stand out clearly. Outside of it, a thin metal line is visible, continuing to the bridge that connects the left and right lenses, and to the temples that hang over the ears. It is a composition that packs a black contour and the brightness of metal into a small width.

In the 606, how thinly and cleanly the materials can be combined is the key point of the design. The ultra-thin acetate inner rim adds a delicate color contour to the classic lens shape.

Even with the same 606, the GP/PK version features a pale pink inner rim. In contrast to the color scheme that emphasizes the contour like the black, this one makes the boundary between the inner rim and the lens look gentle. It shows that even without thickening the entire frame, changing the color of the thin circle alone alters the impression.

Source: Essential Journal (606 Acetate Structure)／Official 606 Catalog (Shape and Color)

2. Changing the Volume Between the Front and Side Profile

The 768 is a model that combines a resin front with thin metal temples. col.BK features a black front with white-gold-colored temples. It is a Wellington shape with roundness at the bottom of the lens, and the top edge draws a gentle curve.

From the front, the shape of the black frame is clearly visible. Two small metal dots are placed on the upper outer portion of each lens, adding a modest accent to the solid black surface. The area around the bridge is a continuation of the front, smoothly tapered toward the nose.

When viewed from the side, the impression becomes much thinner. In contrast to the thickness of the front, the temples extend as long lines of metal. It is designed to maintain presence from the front while suppressing volume on the sides. The way the materials appear changes depending on whether you are looking at the face from the front or from the side.

The size is 52□17–145, representing a lens width of 52mm, a bridge width of 17mm, and a temple length of 145mm.

3. Fine Workmanship Applied to Temples and Hinges

When the temples of the 768 are magnified, one can see a lattice-like pattern where diagonal lines intersect along the length. From a distance, it appears as a single thin metal part, but up close, there is a difference in the density of the lines and the reflection of light. It creates expression on the surface of the parts without adding large decorations.

The other photo shows the hinge for opening and closing the temples as seen from the inside. One can see the metal plate fixed to the front and the shape of the small connection point. Looking at such places, one realizes that the thinness of CLAYTON FRANKLIN is achieved not just by lining up thin parts, but by how the connection points are fitted.

The temple tips also feature a detail where a black part is surrounded by a metal rim. The combination of color and material continues not only on the front surrounding the lenses but also on the parts hidden behind the ears. It is a small highlight that can only be discovered by magnifying the product photos.

04 / DESIGN RECOGNITIONCraftsmanship Recognized by International Design Awards

At the Love Eyewear Awards 2026, announced at the British eyewear exhibition 100% Optical, CLAYTON FRANKLIN’s 659 won the "Men’s Frame of the Year." It is a category award for men's frames announced at the awards ceremony on February 28, 2026.

What catches the eye on the 659 is the bar crossing over the top of the lenses and the curved bridge above the nose. In the photo, while there is a rounded contour on the bottom, a line close to straight runs along the top. Even with thin metal, it produces a distinct personality through the distribution of the central curve and the top and bottom lines.

While using classic eyewear shapes, the brand carefully crafts the color of the inner rim, the structure of the bridge, and the patterns of the temples. Comparing the 606, 768, and 659, one can specifically see where CLAYTON FRANKLIN pours its efforts. A modest appearance and the richness of detail when viewed up close are the charms of this brand.

Award Source: 2026 Award Announcement by 100% Optical Organizers