Never would I have imagined that snapping my prescription frames this week—an eye-watering $600 mistake—would lead me to a van in a Makro parking lot. Yes, you read that right. Thailand, in all its quirky glory, delivered an eyewear revelation. I am all for Made In Italy but hey I am in Asia.
Makro Eyewear
A local van, parked inconspicuously, offered free frames and lenses starting at a mere $15. Handcrafted in Thailand, these frames rivaled those overpriced, flimsy designer ones that had just met their untimely demise. Not a dupe, not a knockoff—just practical, stylish eyewear that didn’t require selling a kidney. My new frames, bold and on-trend, were ready in 20 minutes. No fanfare, no pretentious sales tactics, just efficiency at its finest.
Frames made in Thailand are free; you just have to pay for the lenses. The van isn’t flashy; the service is normal, like any standard eyewear shop. It’s straightforward and efficient. Off I went shopping at Makro, and 20 minutes later, there they were, all ready to go.
Japan
Feeling indulgent, I explored further. A Japanese optician in the mall provided another option—sleek, polished frames with polarized lenses, all for under $100. The quality? Impeccable. The convenience? Unmatched. Meanwhile, luxury brands continue their masquerade, stamping ‘Made in Italy’ on eyewear that is, in reality, churned out in Chinese factories. A truth long whispered, now shouted.
For years, I played along, convinced that high fashion meant superior quality. Yet, the wear-and-tear on my supposed luxury sunglasses told a different story. A week in the sun, a few careless tosses into my handbag, and they looked as worn as a flea-market relic. How did we reach a point where a plastic frame with a designer logo costs the same as a weekend getaway? Marketing, darling. Smoke and mirrors.
Thailand’s eyewear industry disrupts this nonsense. So if you break your eyewear at a resort then there is a free eye tests? Standard practice. Prescription glasses with clear and tinted lenses for less than $70? Revolutionary. Compare that to Europe, where a consultation alone can cost half a mortgage payment.
The game has changed. Paying for a name is passé when function meets fashion at a fraction of the cost. This is the future of eyewear: practical, affordable, and refreshingly free from the suffocating grip of so-called ‘luxury’ brands. Who knew a van in a supermarket parking lot could hold the ultimate fashion secret?
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