Each piece is handmade in France in small batches to achieve an impossibly high standard of quality and tells a story of artisanal expertise: Throughout production, glasses travel to three specialized ateliers and into the hands of nine skilled artisans, each with a particular craft passed down through generations.
AHLEM is a luxury eyewear brand that was founded in Los Angeles in 2014 by Paris-born designer Ahlem Manai-Platt.
She first broached the subject with friends at a café in Paris. “We were discussing goals, and I showed the group a sketch from my notebook,” she says. “The excitement they expressed gave me the guts; the loss of a beloved pair of vintage sunnies shortly thereafter gave me the final push."
What emerged from those initial sketches was a debut run of nine handmade eyewear frames rendered in plant-based acetate. Out of the gate, AHLEM had a fully formed point of view that carries through today. With boutiques in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, AHLEM’s organic shapes and elegant geometries exist beyond trend, in the belief that objects of timeless design and superior quality are always relevant.
We source materials from the most reputable and sustainable suppliers available to market. From plant-based acetate and naturally non-toxic titanium to recyclable, eco-friendly lenses, we firmly believe that honest, Earth-friendly ingredients make the best and longest-lasting products.
We are committed to delivering exceptional eyewear created with pure concepts, honest materials and heritage techniques. Our award-winning frames are handcrafted in France and Japan with uncompromising attention to detail and quality.
