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Avant-Garde Style D.L. Eyewear
Dan Levy’s Avant-Garde Sense of Style and Eyewear to Match
BY CAROL KAHN
IIt may be that smile — the coiffed hair — or his sense of style. Whatever it is, Dan Levy has got it.
If you are a fan of Schitt’s Creek, you may know that it broke Emmy records by sweeping the comedy category and winning all four major acting awards. You also may know that each character had their own fashion acumen and some of the outfits were just as epic and outrageous as the show itself.
If you’ve watched Schitt’s Creek, you get it. Dan Levy, co-creator, actor, producer and writer of the sitcom, explained that each character’s fashion played a critical role in the show. “Wardrobe is probably the most important element in storytelling outside of actually writing,” he said. “We as people say so much about who we are and what we believe in and what we want and what we think of ourselves by the way that we dress. To me, wardrobe was like a huge focus, making sure that we thought through each of our characters and making sure the details were there.” Whether it’s Dan Levy or David Rose, it seems like the real life person — and the character — are mirror images of one another. Throughout six seasons and 80 episodes it was the character, David Rose, who continuously broke gender norms with his couture style. Levy says that he used the
show as “a Master Class in aspirational fashion.” Levy’s fashion sense occurred long before Schitt’s Creek. The show gave him an outlet to experiment and try new things. In 2013, long before Schitt’s Creek became an overnight sensation,Levy started his company, D.L. Eyewear. “Eyewear is so personal. I started wearing glasses at the age of eight and pretty much ever since, I have loved how they can be a statement — a form of self-expression that extends beyond their function,” Levy stated. Levy says that D.L. Eyewear is the result of decades of experimenting with his own eyewear. He believes that eyewear should be fun. Photos courtesy D.L.Eyewear It’s the thrill of matching a frame to your mood, exploring your personal style and building an optical wardrobe. Levy wanted to create special, yet accessible frames that people would love to wear and collect. Every frame that is created under the D.L. Eyewear brand is inscribed with “See with love,” a friendly reminder to do that everyday. It has been the company’s guiding motto since its inception. “We believe that seeing with love involves viewing others with compassion, empathy, inclusivity and a respect for the differences that may exist between us.”
D.L. Eyewear supports the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which assists small businesses — prioritizing those owned by women, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and entrepreneurs located in historically disadvantaged communities. LISC also offers emergency relief to small businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
D.L. Eyewear is upfront about their sustainable practices. Their frames are designed in the U.S. and manufactured in China. Their manufacturing partner complies with ethical sourcing guidelines and has a longstanding reputation as a global supplier of quality frames. The company uses eco-friendly materials where they can, but as of now, the options are limited within the global eyewear industry. The D.L. Eyewear development team is on the lookout for new ways to make their product more sustainable. The company says that they offer limited runs of most frames. If they produce fewer frames at a time, they are less likely to be left with an overabundance of materials and product. The smaller the carbon footprint of sourced materials, the better.
In addition, D.L. Eyewear doesn’t follow a fashion calendar, but releases smaller curated collections only when they feel that they’ve perfected each frame. If you’re a Schitt’s Creek trivia buff, you might like to know that Levy’s father, Eugene Levy [Johnny Rose], and Catherine O’Hara [Moira Rose] both wear frames designed by D.L. Eyewear on the show. The Rose, a cat-eye style, was named after O’Hara’s character. Levy’s favorite frame is the Beaumont. Visit www.thisisdl.com for more information about D.L.Eyewear.
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