By Darius Baptist
Corey Shapiro’s zest for life makes a conversation with him an unforgettable experience. As the founder and CEO of the celeb-favorite eyewear brand Vintage Frames Company, he shatters boundaries in the optical industry, turning signature frames into a cultural phenomenon.
When did your fascination with eyewear begin?
Oddly enough, it started one early Saturday morning at a deli in Montreal. My grandfather would take me to meet his group of friends that were politely trying to get away from their wives every weekend. They were larger-than-life—big cars, tracksuits, big jewelry and big glasses. There was always this sort of mystique behind the frames they wore.
Did your collection of vintage eyewear spark the idea to create your own brand?
Vintage Frames Company was the culmination of numerous failures. On my sixth business attempt, I needed to check all my boxes based on previous failures. When I came into the industry, nobody was preserving the historical fashion aspect of the eyewear industry. The original idea was to be the fashion historian for this industry. The truth of it was I really had no intentions when I started. The best businesses are formed by having your passions lead the way.
What’s been the biggest hurdle for you?
The eyewear industry is very stale. It’s an old men’s club that not only do I not want to be a part of, but they are so set in their ways they are scared of a guy like me chomping along. As the industry fought their hardest to try and ignore us, they just had no choice but to get down with us. We wake up too early and are too wild for them to try and cage.
How do you stand apart from the competition?
We really have no competition. With the wealth of knowledge we have, and the dominant inventory, it’s really hard to compete. Most people who sell vintage eyewear are looking to us to start the trends and add value to vintage eyewear styles. Secondly, the company is built on our wild insanities. We aren’t really concerned about how frames fit your face, we want to empower the person who puts them on to be the person they want to be. There is an authenticity that people can’t match.
What is the most coveted pair of frames in your collection?
The ones that mean the most to me are my grandfather’s Cazal 951 vintage sunglasses made in West Germany. These were the frames that sparked the idea to start the company. The superpowers that came when I put on those frames were monumental.
Have you ever acquired a pair of frames you refuse to sell?
The only frames I refuse to sell are ones that have been gifted to me, or that have been worn by Elton John. I’m a bit of an Elton John nut. I love the Clark-Kent-to-Superman effect that frames had on him when he touched the stage.
Is there such a thing as having too many pairs of sunglasses or eyewear?
Absolutely not. Ideally everyone should have 365 pairs of vintage frames. I mean, every day should be a different vision.
Who would you love to see in Vintage Frames next?
It’s always going to be Elton John for me. My North Star, this is the ultimate goal. No person has been more influential in the eyewear industry as he has. The confidence in his eyewear choices is monumental. I just want to make sure that Vintage Frames is part of his legacy.
What are your top five frames for this season?
XXL, Godfather, Full Cuban Snatch, Bal Harbour, Harlem
