Mr Tortoise, Soho, London

In a destination neighbourhood revered for exclusive fashion, food and design, Mr Tortoise is the most recent addition to the plethora of eyewear stores and eyewear chains in this area of London, and the first specialist to bring a curated artisan selection of frames that is fresh, luxurious and selected for exceptional quality. The collections presented include a substantial display of designs by the highly acclaimed handmade label Rigards by designer Ti Kwa.

Located on Brewer Street at the entrance to Farrier’s Passage, a path which leads to the chocolatier William Curley, the Billy & Bo salon and courtyard cafe Hideaway Coffee, this eyewear corner shop is owned by Greg Karipidis, a Greek expert in luxury eyewear collections, with an existing Mr Tortoise store he founded in Thessaloniki back in 2013. Above: Mr Tortoise was designed by Urban Soul Projects – www.urbansoulproject.co.uk

With subtle reference to the design of the original store which has more of a NYC-inspired vibe, the London location, which is just 110 square feet in size, was designed by Urban Soul Project and features a floor to ceiling glass frame facade, classically styled walnut veneer fittings, and stone finish flooring…..details with give the feeling of a gentle tribute to traditional London architecture in the area. Eyewear stands are placed against the walls, slightly rotated so that the shelves are visible to passers-by.

Mr Tortoise Soho opened in 2019. The store currently stocks an exclusive selection of Rigards frames, as well as Ahlem, EYEVAN and Native Sons, with some of the collections being unavailable elsewhere in the city to date. The choices of design labels shows a clear predilection for fine artisan design and avantgarde style.