Short answer: no — and that’s entirely by design.
Banton Frameworks is a small, independent, direct-to-customer eyewear brand. Lucy and I hand-make every frame ourselves in our Glasgow workshop, in small batches, and release them just six times a year via our website during four-day buying windows.
- We don’t have physical stores.
- We don’t have stockists.
- And we’re only open 6 times a year.
Instead, we focus on making fewer frames, better — and offering a home try-on service that lets you decide properly, in your own time, without pressure.
Here's how it works 👇
Do you offer a home try-on service?
Yes.
When you add a frame (or frames) to your basket, simply select the ‘lenses later’ option at checkout. After placing your order, we’ll send your frames out with demo lenses fitted so you can try them at home before committing to prescription lenses.
This is the best way to decide between frames or to make sure you’re happy with the fit, feel and look before moving forward.
You can wear them around the house, check them in different mirrors, live with them for a few days, and make a calm, informed decision — rather than a rushed one under that intense shop lighting.
Why don’t you have stockists?
Back in 2018, we did.
At one point we had around twenty stockists in Japan, along with various opticians, boutiques and fashion stores across the UK. On paper, it sounded like success.
It wasn’t.
To keep up with demand, we had to make more and more frames. The pace increased. The pressure crept in. We lost direct contact with the people wearing our glasses and, without really noticing at first, the work started to feel transactional.
Trying to play BIG, we lost sight of the original goal;
Make the best frames, not the most frames.
Then Covid hit.
Opticians closed almost overnight. Our overseas distribution stopped. It should have felt devastating — but quietly, I was relieved. Lockdown forced everything to pause.
In the months that followed, we returned to selling directly through our website, just as we had in the very early days. By making less, we cared more. More about the process. More about the materials. More about the people choosing to wear our glasses.
We could speak directly with customers again. We partnered with a lens lab that could produce pin-sharp prescriptions. And for the first time in a long while, it was fun again.
So when the world sped back up, Lucy and I made a decision that scared us more than losing all our stockists ever had. In the summer of 2022, we closed the website and changed how Banton worked.
How our releases work
Lucy and I work in small batches and release our frames just six times a year.
When the website is open, you can place your order. When it’s closed, we’re back at the bench making the next batch.
This way of working allows us to focus properly on each stage of the process — without rushing, outsourcing, or cutting corners. Yes, it’s slower by design. But the frames we make are genuinely better for it. They’re made with intention, not urgency.
What if the glasses don’t suit me?
That’s completely fine. You’re welcome to return your glasses for an exchange or a refund, even after the website has closed. Like any online purchase, you have a 14-day cooling-off period to make your decision.
Can I return the frames if I change my mind?
Yes, that’s the whole point of our home try-on service. You have 14 days to decide whether the frames are right for you. If they’re not, you can return them for a refund.
How do I know which size to choose?
A great place to start is your current glasses.
Most frames have their dimensions printed on the inside of the arm. You can use these measurements as a reference point and then filter our frames by lens width or bridge width on our website.
If you’d like a deeper explanation of how frame sizing works, check out this full in-depth guide to how glasses are measured.
Do you help with fit and frame selection?
Yes. If you’re unsure about the fit or size of a frame before placing an order, feel free to get in touch and we’ll happily advise. And after purchase, we offer unlimited adjustments with all our handmade frames.
Is buying glasses online risky?
Not really, especially if you use our home try-on service. Your selected frames are delivered with demo lenses, allowing you to try them properly before committing to prescription lenses. It’s the lowest-risk option and the most realistic way to know whether a frame suits you.
Why don’t you keep the website open all year?
We used to.
But as a team of just two makers, Lucy and I realised that working in small batches lets us work far more effectively and produce better quality frames.
Being permanently open meant constant pressure to make, ship and repeat. Closing the website gives us the breathing room to focus on craftsmanship rather than speed.
What happens if I miss a release?
If you miss a release, check the homepage of our website. The date of the next opening is always listed there.
On average, we open every two months. Openings always happen on a Wednesday at 4pm UK time and usually fall towards the end of the month. The exact date depends on things like finishing a fresh batch, releasing a new collection, or waiting on materials to arrive at the workshop.
We announce the next opening shortly after the previous one closes, so you’ll always know when the next opportunity is coming.
Are your glasses made to order?
No. Between shop openings, we make batches of frames to replenish those that have sold out. Every couple of years, we also develop and release entirely new collections.
Those launches are always exciting (and slightly terrifying) because we never know how they’ll be received!
How do prescription lenses work if I try first?
The process is simple:
- You order your frames using the home try-on option
- We send the frames to you with demo lenses
- You return them to us for lens fitting (or a refund)
- We fit your prescription lenses and send them back to you
Is home try-on more expensive?
Slightly, yes, but only because we offer a discount for orders with pre-fitted prescription lenses.
At the time of writing this, the pre-fit discount is £29.95 GBP (approximately $69 USD). That discount isn’t applied when choosing home try-on, as it involves additional shipping and handling.
Still deciding if Banton is for you?
As you can tell, we're a little different compared to the big optical brands. The fact you're reading this article is a miracle considering how small we are! But if 'different' doesn't scare you, perhaps you'd like our other before-you-buy articles.
Thanks for reading x