Herian Eyewear: The art of being seen

There’s something quietly radical about a pair of glasses made just for you—not chosen off a shelf, not adjusted as an afterthought, but crafted from the start with your face, your style, and your life in mind. In a world that moves fast and produces faster, Herian dares to do the opposite: Slow down, pay attention, and make eyewear like it used to be made—by hand, with intention, and with the kind of human touch you can actually feel.

Behind the brand is Herian Boccali, a Florentine artisan whose story begins not in a glossy showroom, but in the everyday magic of his mother’s optical shop. “My mother taught me attention and care for the customer,” he says. “I remember, from the very beginning of her business, she always tried to offer different and distinctive products, and I think this concept of uniqueness was born and developed in me from that moment on.”

That idea—uniqueness as a standard, not a perk—became the foundation of Herian Boccali as he grew up surrounded by lenses and frames, watching how deeply personal eyewear really is. Glasses aren’t like shoes you wear on weekends or handbags you rotate with the season. They live on your face. They frame your expressions. They become part of your identity, whether you want them to or not. It makes sense, then, that his life would eventually evolve into something more than simply selling glasses.

After working in the family business, Boccali explored other optical centers, refining both his technical skills and his craftsmanship. But it wasn’t until 2016 that his vision became sharp enough to define his future.

The moment it clicked

In 2016, Boccali saw a video that changed everything. Not a marketing film or a luxury campaign, but a process: a frame being made from scratch. “I saw a man who made a single frame with all the steps done by hand,” he shares. “And this nurtured in me the desire to do the same for each of my customers, each with their own taste, style, facial shape, and needs.”

It wasn’t just inspiring; it made everything clearer to him. In that moment, the future of Herian wasn’t about trends or mass appeal. It was about building something that could only exist if it was made slowly and specifically.

That clarity led him to pursue a frame design course, and later to define what would become the Herian signature: handmade eyewear created one client at a time, with every curve and finish shaped through a meticulous artisanal process.

‘Bespoke’ isn’t a buzzword here

These days, “bespoke” gets thrown around like confetti, especially in luxury eyewear, where the price tag often suggests craftsmanship that isn’t actually there. Boccali doesn’t mince words about it. “The terms ‘bespoke’ and ‘handmade’ have become overused in the eyewear world,” he says, “but our glasses, by choice, bear small marks and imperfections that make each pair unique and unrepeatable.” And that’s the point: perfection isn’t always the goal. Personality is.

“When you try on or touch a pair of Herian glasses, you immediately sense something completely out of the ordinary.” In a market flooded with polished sameness, Herian’s slight variations—those tiny, human traces become proof that the frame was truly built, not stamped out.

In a $150-billion industry, Herian stays small on purpose

The global eyewear market has scaled into something immense, with even “luxury” brands often manufacturing in massive volumes. Herian doesn’t pretend to compete in that lane—and doesn’t want to. Instead, Boccali positions the brand for those who value rarity over reach.

“We position ourselves in a segment of customers seeking uniqueness, exclusivity, and a personal relationship with the craftsman who will create their glasses,” he explains. “We cannot and do not want to focus on large volumes, as this would take us in a direction different from our identity.”

It’s not an anti-industry statement; it’s a commitment. Herian is designed for the person who doesn’t want what everyone else has and doesn’t need a logo to prove it.

The real difference between bespoke and pre-packaged luxury

For Boccali, bespoke and pre-packaged luxury exist in different galaxies. “They are parallel worlds, yet at the same time extremely distant,” he says. “Pre-packaged luxury cannot be modified or customized in any way, from the size and fit to the color and finish.”

That lack of flexibility can be frustrating for anyone who’s ever loved a frame—right up until it didn’t sit right on the nose bridge, pinched behind the ears, or slid down the face.

Herian approaches eyewear differently: by designing with the wearer, not just for them. And that collaboration is exactly what attracts his clientele. “Our ideal customer is an eyewear enthusiast looking for something uniquely made for them.”

Florence: Where craft isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life

Herian isn’t just an Italian brand; it’s unmistakably Florentine. In Florence, craftsmanship isn’t something you discover in adulthood. It’s something you grow up around, absorbing it. Boccali credits the city’s artistic soul for shaping not only his aesthetic but also his values.

“Just as growing up in my mother’s shop inspired me with eyeglasses, living and growing up in a city of art and artisans influenced my choice to handcraft our glasses,” he says. “Paradoxically, for me, it was the simplest and most natural choice.”

In an era where everything is built to scale, it’s refreshing to encounter someone who built their dream the old-fashioned way: with time, tools, and stubborn devotion.

Inside the bottega

Herian’s workshop (bottega) is not just a retail space, but a place where clients can immerse themselves in the brand’s creative process. Here, the customer is not a passive buyer but an active collaborator, helping shape the frame that will become part of their everyday life.

“As we mentioned before, our customers become protagonists in creating their own glasses, not simply selectors of what surrounds them,” Boccali says. “Furthermore, the ability to customize the fit and sizes ensures there are no limits to their choice.”

In other words, it’s not about picking a frame and praying it fits. It’s about building a frame that already belongs to you.

And maybe that’s why Herian resonates—because beyond the craftsmanship, it offers something rarer: the feeling of being seen. Truly seen. (And yes, the pun is fully intended.)

Herian pop-up in Rustan’s Makati: Bespoke fittings by appointment

For a limited time, Herian Eyewear will be available at an exclusive pop-up event at the Beauty Courtyard, Level 1, Rustan’s Department Store in Makati, from Feb. 5 to 8. Herian Boccali himself will offer a personalized bespoke fitting experience by appointment.

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To book an appointment, contact Jada Angeles at 0917 832 0695. Appointments are limited; early booking is highly recommended.