Factory 900

Overview

Factory 900 is a Japanese eyewear brand launched in 2000 by Aoyama Optical, specializing in avant-garde acetate sunglasses and eyeglass frames with sculptural, three-dimensional designs made possible by proprietary plastic-forming techniques.¹²³ Based in Fukui, the center of Japan's eyewear production, it handles design, manufacturing, and sales in-house, earning international recognition including two Silmo d'Or awards.¹² The brand operates under the concept 'The Futures Eyewear' and maintains flagship stores in Tokyo and Osaka.²⁵

History

Aoyama Optical traces its roots to 1905 when Aoyama Hikosaburo began eyewear production in Fukui, formally establishing as Aoyama Optical Co., Ltd. in 1937 and incorporating in 1969.³⁵ In the 1970s, under chairman Aoyama Kyoji, the company developed proprietary numerical control cutting machines, refined by president Aoyama Yoyuki into unique manufacturing methods.⁵ Factory 900 was launched in 2000 by head designer Yoshinori Aoyama (also referenced as Aoyama Yoshinori or executive designer Aoyama Yoshimichi) as an in-house brand to freely express innovative designs under the 'The Futures Eyewear' concept.¹²⁵ Flagship stores opened in Tokyo in 2015 and Osaka in 2019.⁵⁶

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All products are manufactured in-house at Aoyama Optical's factory in Fukui, Japan, where the company has produced plastic frames for three generations using proprietary numerical control cutting and advanced plastic-forming techniques developed since the 1970s.¹²³⁵

Notable Products

• Silmo d'Or Award Winners - Frames that won the Paris Silmo d'Or award twice for innovative design and craftsmanship.
• Three-Dimensional Acetate Sculptures - Eyewear featuring complex, volumetric shapes achieved through unique molding processes.
• Futures Eyewear Series - Core line embodying the brand's avant-garde, forward-looking aesthetic.
• Sabae-Made Avant-Garde Frames - Bold, non-traditional designs produced in Fukui's eyewear hub.

Reputation

Factory 900 is praised by eyewear enthusiasts and professionals for its boundary-pushing designs, superior Japanese craftsmanship, and in-house control from concept to production, setting it apart in the avant-garde segment.¹⁴⁶ It holds prestige from international awards like the Silmo d'Or and is sought after for quality in select boutiques worldwide.¹² Some note its high price point reflects specialized techniques, with limited criticism available in sources.¹⁶