Takiron: The Art of Patience
For almost a century, Takiron has been quietly perfecting the art of acetate in Japan. Their process is less industrial cycle and more ritual: two months to extrude the sheets, four to dry, another eight weeks to laminate by hand. The result is acetate with rare depth, character, and longevity - material that holds its lustre for years, resists warping, and carries colour like no other.
This autumn, as we expand The Golden Age Edition, we introduce Takiron acetate for the first time. The edition is a celebration of early 20th century craft - when interwar Clerkenwell ushered in the golden age of optics. With the arrival of new plastics, British makers combined emerging technology with meticulous craftsmanship. Balance, proportion, and detail became the hallmarks of a new design language.
That same spirit of precision finds its echo today in Japan, where Takiron’s artisans approach acetate with almost monastic patience. Just as Clerkenwell’s craftsmen transformed unfamiliar materials into enduring forms, what Clerkenwell’s makers once achieved with early plastics, Takiron achieves today with acetate - proving that materials, in the right hands, can carry both history and human skill.
The Philosophy of Colour
Takiron’s colourist doesn’t look to trend forecasts or Pantone charts. Inspiration comes from the textures and tones of daily life in Japan.
“The hues of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, the textures of washi paper, ceramics, and lacquerware, and the muted tones of wabi-sabi all play a role,” they explain. Bright primaries are tempered with touches of black or grey, resulting in tones of quiet depth rather than loud brilliance.
This sense of restraint runs through every sheet. “In Japan, we value nuance. I always try to create colours that carry a distinctly Japanese essence.”
Imperfection as Beauty
Uniformity has never been the goal. Instead, Takiron embraces irregularity, leaving small fluctuations in block materials to create unique character.
“Complete uniformity feels lifeless,” says the colourist. “No face is perfectly symmetrical. By designing imperfections into the material, we celebrate individuality rather than erase it.”
These human gestures - subtle, almost imperceptible - are what give Takiron acetate its signature tactility and lustre.
Longevity as Sustainability
In a market often driven by novelty, Takiron takes a longer view. “True sustainability is longevity,” the colourist notes. “If people love and wear a frame for years, we have succeeded.”
It’s a philosophy that aligns perfectly with The Golden Age Edition. Just as the 1930s produced silhouettes - pantos, ovals, soft squares - that remain timeless nearly a century later, Takiron creates acetate built to endure, both materially and aesthetically.
ather than chasing fleeting trends, Takiron invests in materials that endure. Frames made from their acetate retain gloss, colour, and structure for decades, resisting the dulling and warping that can affect others. It is a philosophy that pairs naturally with The Golden Age Edition — designs that were timeless in the 1930s and remain relevant today.
Art, Design, and Science
When asked whether their work is art, design, or science, the colourist insists it is all three. “Colour formulation is design; reproducibility is science; and the hands of our craftsmen bring art to the final product. If any element is missing, the work loses its harmony."
This harmony is what makes Takiron acetate stand apart. Colours aren’t just conceived; they are tested, adjusted, and refined until they achieve clarity and depth. Every stage matters: the precision of the formula, the patience of the drying process, the delicacy of the lamination, and finally, the polish that draws out the lustre.
The colourist likens it to a kind of choreography: idea, chemistry, and handwork working together to bring balance. The result is material that doesn’t simply serve a function but carries the imprint of artistry and the rigour of science. That is why, decades from now, frames cut from Takiron acetate will look as luminous as they do today.
Takiron's inspiration, Himeji Castle
