Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Mastel.
Hi Sean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been an Optician for 22 years. The industry has changed a lot, and I wanted to do something different. Like a lot of products in our life, manufacturers have slowly started making products with planned obsolescence and production overseas. I have always enjoyed being creative and working with my hands, so creating frames was a natural progression. The amount of waste in this industry is staggering. I wanted to make a product that was high quality, repairable, and would last a long time. The biggest issue, there is no school or books on the subject, so I had to reach out to individuals to learn my craft. It took a long time, but I am at a point where I am making a high-quality unique product that I can put my own artistic spin on.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No. There is no playbook to do this. Almost no eyeglass frames are made in the US, and only a handful of people in the US are making them small scale like a microbrewery. All of the information and equipment you need are overseas. Tariffs, shipping, language barriers, and people who do not want safeguard all their information was the biggest hurdle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make a micro batch line of locally crafted eyeglass frames. One thing that sets me apart is I use real hand riveted hinges for my glasses. Most that you see on glasses are fake and decorative. Using real hinges ensures long life and allows them to be repaired. We also use the highest quality acetate you can get. The “plastic” is derived from cotton, not petroleum like most glasses now adays. The average life span of a pair of glasses in the US is a little over a year. This is incredibly wasteful and bad for the environment. I also specialize in making custom frames for clients. If you are a tough fit or wants a certain style/colorway, I can help you out. The pair of glasses I am most proud of is one made of horse hair. We fused horse hair between two clear pieces of acetate. It looks awesome, like and ink pattern. It also makes a great keepsake to remember your animal by.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I try to not take life too seriously. The eyeglass industry is very sterile and medical. While the technical part of the eyeglasses is very important, we lean more creative to make it fun and different I think people pick up on this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mastelmade.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mastel_made
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mastelmade/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MastelMade-bi4po
