OUR STORY
For more than 100 years, Art-Craft Optical has delivered superior American-made eyewear that never goes out of style.
Founded in 1918, Art-Craft Optical is the oldest family-owned and continuously operating eyewear manufacturer in the U.S. How did we get here? By providing high-performance frames that marry legendary style with military-grade precision craftsmanship.
Even though our frames are worn around the world, every Art-Craft product is manufactured in Rochester, New York, using proprietary state-of-the-art equipment. At no point in our history have we ever outsourced our manufacturing processes. We're proud to say that Art-Craft eyewear has always been — and will always be — made in the USA.
190
countries we've delivered frames to
2.7M
frames produced for U.S. and NATO-aligned militaries
O%
defect rate reported on
Art-Craft frames
3
generations of family ownership
Our Military Heritage
Art-Craft Optical maintains the legacy of our founder, Charles Joseph Eagle, a Swiss toolmaker and mechanical engineer. After moving to Rochester, New York — then the global center of optical frame manufacturing — Charles traveled around town on his motorcycle repairing optical equipment for industry leaders like Bausch & Lomb and Shuron. Obsessed with all things eyewear, Eagle set out to establish a new benchmark for high-quality optical frames — a mission that caught the attention of the U.S. Army, which contracted Eagle to provide cable eyewear frames for soldiers to wear in the trenches of World War I. Thanks to Eagle's commitment to quality craftsmanship, it didn't take long for Art-Craft to become one of the leading providers of combat-ready eyewear for the U.S. military.
That military heritage continues to inspire our work today. Now under the leadership of Charles Eagle's grandchildren, Christopher and Charlie Eagle, Art-Craft remains the premier supplier of cockpit-approved sunglasses for every branch of the U.S. and NATO-aligned military. Since World War II, Since World War II, to date, we've delivered more than 2.7 million frames to every branch of the U.S. and NATO-aligned military — with a 0% defect rate. And we bring that same dedication to military-grade precision to every Art-Craft Aero Aviation frame we make.
Supporting Our Local Community
Although Art-Craft maintains offices in 35 cities across the country, our home — and our heart — has always been in Rochester, New York.
For more than 100 years, we've been committed to supporting local employees, local businesses, and regional vendors, helping to keep our community vibrant and thriving. We're proud of the people who have worked at Art-Craft today and throughout our history, helping to uphold the uncompromising quality of eyewear our customers have come to associate with Art-Craft.
Our eyewear has been worn by everyone from sitting U.S. presidents to military personnel, and A-list Hollywood stars. And now, with the launch of Art-Craft Sun, our customers can look their best while sporting American-made sunglasses that offer vintage style, modern finishes, and unparalleled protection for your eyes.
We are American innovators, industry leaders, and design thinkers. We are Art-Craft.
