Handcrafted Sunnies Brand AM Eyewear Has Opened a New Boutique That Doubles as an Art Gallery After Hours

Simon Ponnusamy founded AM Eyewear in 2003 with a simple mission: to start a brand that he would wear. “There was a gap in the market for exceptional eyewear that was hand-crafted and of high quality,” he says.

Nineteen years on, the brand is stocked in fashion, design and lifestyle stores around the world and has offices in Europe and Sydney, where Ponnusamy has opened a new boutique metres from William Street’s landmark Coke sign.

“It’s a great neighbourhood, the residents have been very welcoming and even though it’s the inner city it has a village feel about it,” Ponnusamy tells Broadsheet. “The space has also been designed with modular walls so that in the evening it can double as a not-for-profit art gallery.”

Inside you’ll find AM Eyewear’s new Kochi collection, inspired by a trip Ponnusamy made to India in early 2020 just before the pandemic restricted travel. “I was lucky enough to do a solo motorcycle ride across India and I had a rendezvous with a friend in Kochi during one of their festivals,” he says. “My friend is also a designer and we spent our time there immersing ourselves in the vibrant colours of their culture, so it wasn’t surprising both of us took away elements of what we experienced.”

The experience of attending Kochi’s Cochin Carnival – featuring dancers in colourful costumes – as well as exploring the city’s marketplaces filled with rare gems, is found in the new range through bold colours and gold flake embellishments. “Our hope is that every frame can help someone find a new lens on current situations, and stay inspired to explore the beauty of the world,” says Ponnusamy.

Alongside the Kochi range you’ll find his brand’s core collection of sunglasses and opticals, both designed for enduring appeal as well as self-expression.

“Each set of frames forms as an extension of a person – a personality with soul, and a life well beyond a mere fashion item,” he says.

So confident is he in the longevity of AM Eyewear that the company buys back preloved frames and donates them to the Lions Recycle for Sight program.

“We make our frames to last but trends are ever-changing and people like to update their [eyewear] wardrobes a lot more often,” he says. “We buy back frames from our customers and put them back into the community to allow them to live on protecting the eyes of someone who really needs it.”

AM Eyewear
Shop 3, 191-193 William Street, Darlinghurst
02 9357 4550

Hours:
Mon to Fri 8.30am–6.30pm
Sat & Sun By appointment only

ameyewear.com
@ameyewear