Lisa Gabellini & Jochen Andreas Zeh

Woo Class

Eyewear maker

©Roberta Vaglian

©Olga makarova

©Lisa Gabellini

Seeing through bespoke frames

Lisa and Jochen are a married couple who love art and nature
They handcraft eyewear using wood and organic oils
They capitalise on the past to create innovative designs

If you believe that everything you wear must be special and represent your personality, you cannot fail to be seduced by Woo Class Atelier, in the heart of the city of Florence. Here, Lisa Gabellini and Jochen Andreas Zeh will help to showcase your uniqueness with a pair of glasses. Lisa is a designer and Jochen is a sculptor. They share a great passion for art and beauty. When their little girl needed to wear eyeglasses, they found that models and materials were mostly standardised, so they decided to undertake a new adventure. Combining their skills and passions, in 2004 they started to produce eyeglass frames at home using wood and in 2011 they launched their own workshop, Woo Class Atelier. Now their eyewear, created with handcrafted techniques and advanced technologies, is recognised as an example of excellence in Italian craftsmanship and sustainable fashion around the world.

Interview

©Roberta Vagliani

©Olga makarova

How did you learn this special craft?: Jochen: With a friend’s advice, an optician, I learnt how an eyeglass frame should be made and I also studied ergonomics to achieve a perfect fit. I have worn glasses since I was a child, I know very well what it means to wear a comfortable pair.
Why did you choose wood to create your frames?: Jochen: Wood is a natural, living and sustainable material, light and strong. We protect and treat it with a special blend of organic oils that make it completely hypoallergenic. Our mission is to create glasses perfectly in tune with a person’s facial features and tastes, but also light, pleasant to wear and natural on the skin.
Why did you decide to call your workshop Woo Class?: Lisa: Our aim was to suggest the word 'wood', our favourite material, but also evoke the art of courtship and sensuality. When you are looking for a pair of glasses you make a choice of style: your eyewear must represent you, and, as during a courtship, you want to best express your personality, and maybe surprise.
What inspires your creations and who are your customers?: Lisa: Art, history, the world of fashion and cinema are our main sources of inspiration. We create classic collections of timeless pieces as well as bespoke models for those searching for something unique and tailored. We have very diverse clients, but they all share one desire: to wear something special that make them unique.

Lisa Gabellini & Jochen Andreas Zeh are master artisans: they began their career in 2004 and they started teaching in 2010