TIMELINE
1960
GRAHAM CUTLER & TONY GROSS
1969
Cutler and Gross, British luxury eyewear brand, is
founded by two opticians and friends; Graham Cutler
and Tony Gross. They bring on board frame maker
George Smith, who hand made all frames. Since its
establishment, in fashion’s halcyon days, the brand has
been synonymous with quintessential British creativity
and the highest quality of frames. A perfect blend of
handcrafted heritage and bold design.
TONY GROSS
1970
1971
Cutler and Gross inaugurate its first store in London,
Knightsbridge. Architect Piers Gough, known for his
work in the redevelopment of the London Docklands,
designs the shop and also the examination room,
which still exists to this day.
The brand’s eyewear was initially hand made by
legendary frame maker George Smith, who had a
workshop above Cutler and Gross’ boutique. Smith’s
wife, Frances, hand dyed all the lenses.
EYE TEST KIT
CUTLER AND GROSS KNIGHTSBRIDGE STORE
1979
Photographer Jane England shoots the first
Ophthalmic advertisement, which at the time was
illegal, in promotion of the glasses chains. The law was
abolished soon afterwards!
1979
Then fashion designer, Monica Chong, created
many frames in collaboration with Cutler and Gross
throughout the years. She would later become Creative
Director and she is now the brand Art Director.
1980
1982
Marie Wilkinson joins the team as a trainee alongside
Graham Cutler and Tony Gross. As of 2006, Marie is
the company’s Design Director.
CUTLER AND GROSS CAMPAIGN SHOT BY JANE ENGLAND
1983
Cutler and Gross launches the first ready to wear
collection of glasses, handmade in Cadore, Italy.
Bucking the trend for chi-chi names, the designs are
instead numbered. The first model is titled 0101.
The Cutler and Gross’ collection is presented during
Paris Fashion Week. Designs are picked up by
prestigious department stores such as Barney’s,
Joyce and Harrods, whilst also gaining consensus and
exposure with international press.
1984
0101 IN CRYSTAL
CADORE, ITALY
Princess Anne visits the Cutler & Gross stand at the
SEHM Paris Menswear Show and later returns to visit
the Knightsbridge shop in 1991.
1984
Cutler and Gross rediscovers a World War II frame,
designed to fit under the gas mask. Algha, the company
founded in 1932 that initially made the frame, restarted
the production of the style exclusively for Cutler and
Gross, which was then named the 0138.
PRINCESS ANNE AND TONY GROSS AT SEHM
MODEL 0138 MADE BY ALGHA
1987
Cutler and Gross re-launches the iconic frames worn
by Audrey Hepburn in Charade in 1963. The frames are
produced by French company Fidela, that originally
made the frames.
1987
Iggy Pop wears Cutler and Gross frames in West
Hollywood.
AUDREY HEPBURN
DEBBIE HARRY AND IGGY POP
MADONNA
STING
1988
Madonna steps out along Central Park South in Cutler
& Gross frames, making her way to New York’s Plaza
Hotel.
1989
Sting on his way to celebrate New Years Eve, wearing
the original Eccentric frame.
1990
1990
Cutler and Gross wins the Queen’s Awards for Export
and Technology.
1991
Cutler and Gross frames are worn by Anthony Hopkins
in Silence of the Lambs.
1991
Princess Diana attends the British Grandprix at
Silverstone in Cutler and Gross.
1992
Grace Jones wears Cutler and Gross at the Palladium,
NYC.
PRINCESS DIANA
GRACE JONES
BONO
JARVIS COCKER
1993
Bono wears Cuter and Gross frames in Rotterdam.
1997
Jarvis Cocker start wearing the signature Cutler and
Gross frames at the Royal Festival Hall.
1998
Renowned photographer Platon shoots first campaign
for Cutler and Gross. He will then be reintroduced to
the 2000, 2014 and 2015 campaigns.
1999
Cutler and Gross frames are worn by Julia Roberts in
the movie Notting Hill.
1998 CAMPAIGN SHOT BY PLATON
2000
2001
Cutler and Gross opens a new store in Knightsbridge,
dedicated entirely to Tony Gross’s vintage collection
of glasses that he had started back in the 1950s. A
selection of vintage frames is now available in Cutler
and Gross flagship stores.
CUTLER AND GROSS VINTAGE STORE
2003
March British Vogue cover shot by Nick Knight.
2005
Majid Mohammadi joins the team, and later becomes
Cutler and Gross’ CEO. At present Majid Mohammadi
shares ownership of the company with Graham Cutler.
2007
The first Cutler and Gross boutique outside of London
opens in Hong Kong, together with local partner Puyi.
MAJID MOHAMMADI
2007
Cutler and Gross frames are featured in the Victoria
and Albert Museum’s exhibition, “Surreal Things:
Surrealism and Design”. The cyclops glasses were
originally designed by Tony Gross in 1982 inspired by
the surrealist work L’ introuvable by Marcel Mariën.
2008
Launch of collaboration with British designer Victoria
Beckham for her eyewear collection.
CYCLOPS GLASSES
GILES DEACON
2008
August Vogue Italia cover shot by Steven Meisel.
2009
Eyewear collaborations are launched with Rei
Kawakubo’s - Comme Des Garçons, Giles Deacon and
Erdem.
AUGUST VOGUE ITALIA
COMMES DES GARÇONS X CUTLER AND GROSS FRAME
2010
2010
Eyewear collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela.
2011
Opening of the Cutler and Gross boutique in Toronto.
2012
Cutler and Gross bespoke frames for Isabella Blow
are feature in the Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!
retrospective at London’s Somerset House.
ISABELLA BLOW’S ICONIC MODEL
2012
Michelle Obama wears Cutler and Gross frames in NYC.
2013
To celebrate 20 years of the Elton John AIDS
foundation, who has been wearing the brand frames
for over 40 years, the classic 0734 Cutler and Gross
frame is reinterpreted in deep red, inspired by the
charity’s ‘Love Is In My Blood’ campaign.
2013
Opening of the Cutler and Gross boutique in New York.
2013
Collaboration with Jay Z and Barneys New York, for
the Shawn Carter Foundation.
ELTON JOHN PORTRAIT GIFTED TO TONY GROSS
2013
Cutler and Gross frames are worn by Michael
Fassbender in The Counselor.
2014
Cutler and Gross frames are worn by Sir Michael Caine,
Colin Firth and Samuel L Jackson in Kingsman: The
Secret Service, a British spy comedy film.
MICHAEL FASSBENDER
COLIN FIRTH
RIHANNA
MARTIN SCORSESE
2014
Rihanna wear Cutler and Gross frames at the Chanel
show during Paris Fashion week.
2014
Martin Scorsese wears Cutler and Gross frames at the
Golden Globes.
2014
Opening of the Cutler and Gross boutique in Bath.
2015
Opening of the Cutler and Gross boutiques in Los
Angeles, Leeds and in London, Old Spitalfields Market.
CUTLER AND GROSS OLD SPITALFIELDS MARKET
2015
Cutler and Gross frames are worn by Sandra Bullock in
Our Brand is Crisis.
2016
Cutler and Gross frames are featured in Manolo
Blahnik’s documentary on his life and work, an avid
follower and advocate for the brand for many years.
2016
Tom Hardy wears Cutler and Gross frames to the
Oscars.
2016
Eyewear collaboration launches with Roksanda Ilincic.
TOM HARDY
PHOTO CREDITS
Andrea Dellal
By Jane England
Iggy Pop
By SGranitz/WireImage
Madonna
By Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
Sting
By The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Princess Diana
By Dave Benett/Getty Images
Grace Jones
By Steve Eichner/Getty Images
Bono
By Kevin Cummins/Getty Images
Jarvis Cocker
By Tony Buckingham/Redferns
1998 Campaign
By Platon
Majid Mohammadi
By Kat Green
Giles Deacon
By Gautier Deblonde
Elton John
Gift from Elton John to Tony Gross
Rihanna
By Dominique Charriau/WireImage
Martin Scorsese
By Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon
Tom Hardy
By Dan MacMedan/WireImage
Still life
By Ellis Scott
16-18 Propeller Park
400 NCR Business Centre
London, NW10 0AB
+ 44 (0) 208 451 0331
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culterandgross.com