ic! berlin brillen GmbH
TypePrivate
IndustryEyewear
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderRalph Anderl
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
ProductsOptical and sunglasses frames
Owner
  • Independent (1996–2023)
  • Marcolin (2023–present)
Number of employees
180 (2015)
Websitewww.ic-berlin.de

ic! Berlin Brillen GmbH is a German eyewear company based in Berlin. Founded in 1996[1] by Ralph Anderl, it produces eyewear from 0.5mm thick stainless spring steel sheet metal, using a hinge design which avoids the use of any screws, welds, or glue in the construction of their frames.

In November 2023, it was announced that Marcolin had completed the acquisition of ic! berlin.[2]

History

In 1996, Ralph Anderl joined Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling to help market their idea for screwless sheet metal eyewear in Berlin.[3] Unable to sell the idea, the trio founded HGA Gesellschaft to produce and market eyewear under the brand ic! brille (pronounced "I See Brille"). The first frame to be produced was ‘Jack’, weighing 20 grams,[4] with an initial run of 50 pieces.

ic! brille became ic! Berlin in late 1997. Starting in a small apartment with a shop front in Max-Beer-Straße in Berlin-Mitte, ic! berlin moved to the nearby Backfabrik in 2005.

While Haffmans and Gottschling focused on design and production, Anderl would take control of finance, organisation and distribution. In 2003 the trio split, with Anderl remaining at ic! berlin as the sole Managing Director.

Under Anderl, ic! Berlin has expanded into fashion, launching a line of jeans and collaborating with other designers and fashion labels such as Kix, Bathing Ape, Luisa Hecking and Superfine. In 2013 German artist and entertainer Friedrich Lichtenstein took up residency at ic! berlin an ornamental hermit.

In November 2017, Ralph Anderl sold a majority stake in ic! berlin to the German investment firm Premium Equity Partners.[5]

Today ic! berlin has over 180 employees worldwide with subsidiaries in Berlin, New York and Tokyo. The head office has recently moved from their Backfabrik location near Alexanderplatz, to a bigger location in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district of Berlin.

Awards

  • 2008 Golden Silmo Eyewear Award,[6] France/Paris
  • 2008 Eyewear of the Year 2009/IOFT,[7] Tokyo/Japan
  • 2009 Eyewear of the Year 2010/IOFT,[8] Tokyo/Japan
  • 2010 Eyewear of the Year 2011/IOFT,[9] Tokyo/Japan

References

  1. ↑ "Avoiding the 'Me Too' Syndrome with Boutique Eyewear » Blog @ Midwest Lens". Midwestlens.com. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  2. ↑ "Marcolin completes acquisition of Ic! Berlin". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  3. ↑ Leissler, Brit (2013-10-10). "IC! Berlin Factory Tour". Core77. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  4. ↑ Binnberg, Nils (2017-04-14). "We've been framed: specs appeal from Berlin brands". wallpaper.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. ↑ McClean, Andrew. "Ic! Berlin acquired". www.aop.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  6. ↑ "Winners of Silmo d'Or 2008 :: Silmo d'Or :: The Exhibition :: Home". Silmoparis.com. 2010-09-26. Archived from the original on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "EYEWEAR OF THE YEAR 2011: IOFT 2010 - Asia's Leading Optical Trade Fair". Ioft.jp. Archived from the original on 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
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