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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of FACTORY900, we’re very excited to announce the upcoming release of 20 archival pieces (across models and colourways) designed by Yoshinori Aoyama between 2002 and 2019.
FACTORY900 was launched in 2000 as the in-house brand of Aoyama Optical Co., Ltd. (Sabae, Japan). Aoyama Optical is a small, family-run factory that has been manufacturing eyewear in Sabae for more than 80 years. Located in the Fukui region, Sabae is the epicentre of Japanese eyewear production, responsible for approximately 95% of all “Made in Japan” frames.
Within this environment, Aoyama Optical built a special reputation, often referred to locally as the “last resort” factory. Complex or highly specific requests that other manufacturers were unable to realise were often brought to Aoyama, guided by a simple principle: never declare a design impossible to produce without first trying every other possible solution. Over decades, this mindset and accumulated expertise laid the foundation for what would become the FACTORY900 collections we know today.
As “Sabae glasses” gained international recognition, issues around fraudulent claims of production origin began to surface. In response, the Fukui Optical Industrial Association introduced a registered factory identification system in 1994, assigning a unique number to each manufacturer to certify authentic origin. Aoyama Optical was given the number 900, which later became the name of the brand.
FACTORY900 is built upon the century-old savoir-faire of its Sabae factory. From the outset, Aoyama has operated outside conventional industry norms; their approach to volume, thickness and colour remains largely unmatched and in some cases, unexplained. The brand’s distinctive shapes and avant-garde designs have earned it a strong reputation within the global eyewear industry.
Deeply committed to their craft, Aoyama emphasises that nearly the entire manufacturing process is kept in-house, from initial design through production, allowing full control over craftsmanship and quality. This dedication extends all the way to their flagship store in Tokyo.
When we reached out about any deadstock pieces, they explained quickly that it would be very difficult ; they produce strictly on demand, maintaining virtually no excess inventory thanks to a family-run discipline, and simply common sense.
So, instead of digging through old stocks, we went back to the source. These archive models have been reproduced exclusively for us (production took 3 months), made to order in Japan, and are available exclusively in-store as optical frames. This is quite significant, given that their usual process (from production to consumer) is almost entirely contained within the company itself.
Here’s a peek of some models – followed by the full list by name, colour and date of production:
FA-205 col.565 (rel. 2009)
FA-208 col.001, 376, 447, 840 (rel. 2011)
FA-240 col.001, 425, 389, 745, 747, 746 (rel. 2010)
FA-212 col.001, 425 (rel. 2010)
FA-243 col. 001, 345, 425 (rel. 2012)
FA-342 col. 001, 425 (rel. 2019)
FA-360 col. 001, 872 (rel. 2018)
All pieces are polished by hand and feature incredibly beautiful, functional and flexible hinges that are patented and also manufactured in-house.
We’re truly so excited to bring this drop to you in Brussels. We even received the frames with a special candy selection – if you’re quick enough, you might be able to get one with your coffee during your next visit at the store.
