F-elia, 3D printed optical jewelry that rethinks glasses

F-elia is a young French brand of 3D printed optical jewelry that gives a second life to the glasses we know. Indeed, these accessories combine aesthetics, practicality and new technologies! The use of 3D printing in the creative process produces original, complex and unique shapes that showcase the full potential of 3D technologies in the design sector. It is also a method that is increasingly popular with eyewear manufacturers, according to the latest SmarTech Analysis report, this market is expected to reach $3.4 billion by 2028. Therefore, we met Sandrine Henry, the founder of the F-elia brand, to learn more about the manufacturing process of these optical jewels and understand how 3D printing can impact such a sector.

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and your link to 3D printing?

Sandrine Henry

My name is Sandrine Henry, I am a product designer with a specialisation in optical and solar eyewear, for more than 20 years. After studying industrial design at the Nantes school, I started my career in a large French eyewear group located in the Jura, for the Nina Ricci and Chevignon licenses. Then, as design manager for a French manufacturer, specialised in luxury frames. Boucheron and Henry Jullien Collection. Rich in these experiences, I settled near Paris, at the Garenne Colombes where I founded Eiffelia design in 2011. The agency offers a global approach: from the creation of frames to cases and the product environment for sports, fashion and designer eyewear

In 2019, I created the f-elia brand, and just launched my first collection of 3D printed optical jewelry. My first link with this technology began a decade ago, with a Chinese manufacturer specialising in Packaging. They wanted to develop their own range of cases using a more innovative approach to differentiate themselves from competitors. To do this, I had developed different concepts, and it was necessary to quickly validate the technical feasibility as well as the aesthetics of the products. From the 3D files, functional prototypes were printed.