“About 500 new models are released every month.”

Acetate Frame Glasses Rectangle Computer Glass Men Optica Eyeglass Frames

What Exactly is Cellulose Acetate?

Cellulose acetate, also known as just acetate or Zyl, is a plant-based biopolymer (think plastic created from living organisms, specifically wood pulp and cotton) first developed all the way back in 1865 by scientist Paul Schützenberge. Regarded as one of the world’s first synthetic fibers, its key characteristics include great durability, the ability to customize fit and amazing colors. As we know it today, Acetate was developed following decades of research, eventually making its eyewear industry debut in the 1940s. Opticians and manufacturers, frustrated by their current brittle and difficult to work with plastics, soon discarded their old material in favor of this new innovative material. The introduction of cellulose acetate into the industry was ultimately responsible for bringing forth a new dawn in eyewear design.

How Is Cellulose Acetate Made?

Acetate offers many great features and characteristics that injection molding simply can’t match. The in-depth manufacturing process is responsible for many unique qualities that set acetate apart from other plastics. To start manufacturing acetate specifically for eyewear, clear acetate sheets are mixed with acetone and organic dyes to create brilliant colors and patterns. Once mixed, the dyed acetate is pressed by large rollers and cut into small pieces for further processing. It is then pressed a second time with other completed colors to produce the final raw sheets or acetate blocks used in eyewear manufacturing. Typically a CNC machine is used to cut out a rough shape before being sent off to be finished by hand. In this last step, a master artisan will hand-finish and polish the frame with various tools until they achieve the desired look.