I've Got Exciting News! - What Lizzy Loves

You may have already seen on my Instagram that I have a new role as Company Ambassador for MAC Eyewear. (This is alongside my 30 hours a week as an employed optometrist at Benjamin Opticians, my freelance writing work for Optometry Today and my Brand Ambassadorship for STEPPER Eyewear). I shan’t be bored any time soon.

About MAC Eyewear

MAC Eyewear was established in 1994 by Mark Carpenter and is so named from his initials. Since then, the portfolio of collections has grown to include something for every type of spectacle wearer, even children. No other company in the UK has such a broad range of collections. There are attainable vibrant acetates from Dutch brand Outspoken and aspirational, handmade styles with silks, feathers and gemstones from Italian brand Coco Song. Chic metal eyewear comes courtesy of French design house JFREY , classic design via Oliviero Contini and for something a little more, well chaotic, then Kaos will deliver. A recent addition is iGreen, a bespoke, eco-friendly collection. There really is something for everyone.

The collections speak for themselves particularly after seeing, handling and trying the eyewear. However, it’s the company ethos that sets MAC apart and that enticed me to work for them.

WHY MAC Eyewear does what it does

There is a multitude of reasons why MAC Eyewear stands out. The most important is that they ONLY supply independent optician practices. They have never sold to high-street chains, multiples or supermarkets. This is favourable for both optician and customer. The independent optician can offer eyewear that is truly beautiful and often handmade. They benefit from the passion and expertise of the small MAC team who visit the practice and who are always on the end of the phone. Mark, Sara, Jayne and the team know everything there is to know about the history of the collections, the materials and the fabrication processes. They aren’t “sales-y” and they know from experience what will work best for the practice whether that’s because of its demographic, its location or its aesthetic. None of MAC’s brands are available to buy online. This retains exclusivity and means that from a business point of view, an optician isn’t going to spend time advising a patient on their eyewear for said patient to subsequently buy it for less online.

I know from my day-to-day experience working in an independent practice that our patients/customers choose us because we give exceptional eyecare and we offer exceptional eyewear. They don’t want glasses they can buy with their weekly supermarket shop, they want something that makes them look and feel their very best. They want the WOW factor and that’s exactly what they get.

Leopard print eyewear

To give you a first taste, this black and white leopard print eyewear is from a past season collection by Italian brand La Matta. I have got varifocal lenses in it and I wear it frequently. (It was one of my favourites even before I got to know the MAC Eyewear team). Over the coming months, I will showcase eyewear from across the portfolio and share style tips and impart my passion about the transformative magic of eyewear. Let me know in the comments below if there’s a style, colour or occasion that you’d like advice on or if there’s anything in particular you would like to see. I cannot wait.