In 1996, ic! berlin disrupted the eyewear industry with an innovative approach to design; weightless metal frames with a patented screwless hinge that created a bold and unconventional look.
Founded by Ralph Anderl and his friends, with little financial backing, the brand quickly grew… and the innovations kept coming.
From 2017 to 2022, the company transitioned from being founder-led to management-led under Premium Equity Partners. In 2023, ic! berlin was acquired by Marcolin, marking a new chapter in its journey.
The journey for ic! berlin began when three friends from school created a screwless hinge system for a university project. When interviewed by mivision back in 2015, Anderl told the captivating story. “I was doing my PhD in cultural sciences – a mixture of literature, art and philosophy, when my friends came to me with an idea. They’d designed a screwless frame and cut it out of aluminium, so it was very fragile. They asked me if they could use my head to shoot the prototype to show an eyewear manufacturer in the south of Germany – they wanted to convince him to take the design on.
“They never intended to build a company – they thought design was a difficult business, that because they had no idea about manufacturing, it would be much too risky.
“Luckily the guy in southern Germany didn’t like the idea; he didn’t understand the potential and so he didn’t want to do it… So I said ‘let’s do it ourselves’.
“We did some crowdfunding – we sold pieces of paper that promised a frame within three months. Then, once we had gone into production, we sent two German actors our frames and asked for photos of themselves wearing them. That was magic because they… were filmed wearing them on movies and talk shows.”
Those actors went on to provide the financial backing needed to progress the concept.
FINDING SUCCESS
ic! berlin’s first international trade fair was in 1998 at MIDO. With with no booth and no budget, they walked the aisles discretely showing frames from their premiere collection that they had hidden inside their coats.
This clandestine entry to the market drew solid attention but so too did ic! berlin’s innovative design, leading to participation in the SILMO fair. Over the years, ic! berlin made even more of a name for itself, earning several awards including the SILMO d’Or in 2008 and 2011. This year the brand was recognised with the 2024 International Optical Fair Tokyo award for one of its new Flexarbon prescription models.
TIMELESS STYLE
ic! berlin eyewear has always been designed for individuals who value timeless style over fast fashion and look for essential and meaningful possessions.
According to a spokesperson from the ic! berlin design team, a typical ic! berlin customer is creative, values authenticity and freedom, and approaches life with a playful, self-reliant attitude.
Wearers share a deep appreciation for welldesigned products and aesthetics, and seek luxury and self-expression in high-quality, handcrafted products.
Designed and produced by hand in a Berlin loft, ic! berlin’s collections live up to these demands.
The brand’s iconic material of choice is cold-rolled stainless steel from Germany, although the designers have also branched out to manufacture using beta titanium from Japan, natural and cotton-based acetate from Italy, and their latest innovation, Flexarbon, made from proprietary moulded carbon fibre. Regardless of material used, the comfort and durability of every frame is assured thanks to the brand’s trademark screwless construction.
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
The now extensive collection ranges from optical frames to sunglasses, each piece embodying minimalist design, handcrafted quality, and unusual details that together push the boundaries of eyewear.
Last month, the brand launched its latest collection, featuring a range of new optical and sunglass frames manufactured from metal sheet and acetate.
“After many years of acetate frames dominating the market, ic! berlin now sees a strong comeback of light and flexible metal frames, and combinations of materials that prioritise absolute comfort without compromising individual style and fashion statements,” said the design spokesperson.
“Our new Flexarbon range, for example, offers charismatic and bold front designs while remaining feather-light. The same applies to our flexible and super comfortable stainlesssteel models, which are perfect companions from the boardroom to fitness activities.
“Our design roadmap prioritises individual style, offering a wide variety of designs ranging from bold, comfortable statement pieces to unobtrusive minimalist frames that are barely noticeable when worn.”
Additionally, the roadmap includes the maintenance of long-term collaborative collections with Mercedes-Benz and AMG. And, having recently released a highly limited collector’s sunglass edition, ‘ic! berlin x The Rolling Stones’, and a capsule with New York fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra, we’re told to “stay tuned for more exciting capsules to come!”
ic! berlin is distributed by Marcolin (AUS) 02 8456 0946
