Theo at Ekla: A guide to the avant-garde frames from the Antwerp house
Theo is a house founded in Antwerp in 1987. A city that, at the time, was already redefining European fashion. An eyewear brand that grew in this spirit: provocative, coherent, and uncompromising in its vision.
At Ekla, we distribute Theo in our two boutiques in the 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is the brand we pull out when someone really wants to break away from established norms. Not just a little different. Truly different. Theo is the opposite of the consensual.
If you are looking for a frame that looks like nothing else out there, this article covers what we have in the shop.
Why Theo is a brand apart
Theo was founded on a simple conviction: glasses are a fashion accessory, not a neutral medical tool. This conviction has guided every decision the house has made since 1987: the atypical shapes, the intentional asymmetries, and the geometries that challenge the conventional symmetry of the face.
The house works with limited collections. This is not a marketing tactic. It is an editorial choice: when a collection is sold out, it is replaced by a new, different one. Theo does not indefinitely reissue the same models.
What distinguishes Theo technically: the hinges and assemblies are out of the ordinary. Temples that start from unexpected points on the frame front. Asymmetries in shapes that create a new balance on the face. These are frames that should be examined in hand before being placed on the nose.
An opinion we stand by: Theo is not for everyone. That is exactly the point. The house has made a deliberate choice not to try to please the greatest number. For some clients, Theo is the first pair of frames they wear with genuine excitement. For others, it doesn't click. Both reactions are normal.
The Theo design approaches we have in stock
Here is how the Theo offer is organized in our boutiques.
Asymmetrical shapes
This is Theo's most recognizable signature. Models where the front is not perfectly symmetrical, or where the temples start from asymmetrical points. On the face, the effect is less dramatic than on the display: the asymmetry creates movement, a visual lightness.
Target: all faces. Theo's asymmetry is not a morphological constraint; it is an aesthetic. It works on many types of faces, including those for whom highly symmetrical frames appear rigid.
Playful geometries
Shape: squares, rectangles, shapes with unusual angles. Material: acetate or metal depending on the collections. Target: round or oval faces, where the geometry provides structure.
These models are often the most accessible in the Theo range for someone discovering the brand. They keep the avant-garde spirit without going as far as full asymmetry. With us, this is often where we start the fitting when a client is curious but cautious.
Metal and combination structures
Material: thin metal or acetate/metal combination. These models offer a lighter interpretation of the Theo style: the shape remains original, the presence on the face is less assertive than with thick acetate.
Target: varied. For those who like the brand's positioning but prefer a more discreet or lighter frame. Or for wearers of strong prescription lenses who need a frame that is more structurally neutral.
Seasonal thematic collections
Each season, Theo releases a collection with a strong visual concept. The models change from one season to the next. What we have in stock today will not necessarily be available in six months.
At Ekla, we update our selection regularly. If you have seen a Theo model on social media or on a friend, stop by the shop to check availability: limited collections sell out.
How to choose a Theo? The role of visagism
Theo visagism (face styling) works differently than other brands we distribute. The classic rules still apply, but they take a backseat.
What matters most with Theo is intent. Are you wearing this frame to be noticed, or for your own satisfaction? Theo can do both: some models make a bold statement, others intrigue discreetly.
At Ekla, we conduct the Theo fitting by taking the time to watch the frame settle on the face rather than checking if it follows the rules. It is often a surprise: models that seem impossible on the display rack work very well once worn.
Here is what we observe in the shop:
- Round face: Theo geometries provide effective structure, and the asymmetrical designs create movement that lightens the look.
- Square or angular face: Theo's round or oval shapes soften the features.
- Oval face: most models work, including the most daring ones.
- Long face: wide models or double bridges widen the face visually.
- Wearers of strong prescriptions: Theo's metal structures are often the most suitable.
These rules are guidelines. A fitting remains essential: Theo is the brand in our selection where surprises are most frequent, in both directions.
Choose Theo at Ekla if you are looking for:
- A genuinely avant-garde frame: Theo since 1987 in Antwerp, limited collections, no models reissued indefinitely;
- Asymmetry or geometry you don't see elsewhere: the house has made originality a working principle, not a brochure claim;
- A fashion accessory designed as such: Theo believes that glasses should be chosen like a jacket or shoes, not like medical equipment.
Theo is probably not for you if:
- You are looking for a classic or discreet frame: take a look at Lindberg or Eyevan in our selection;
- You want an evergreen model that can be found in stores season after season: Theo changes, that is its model.
Practical information
š Ekla Paris 10, 84 rue d'Hauteville, 75010 Paris. Tel: 01 42 28 90 89
š Ekla Paris 11, 147 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris. Tel: 01 56 61 00 00
š Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm
š
Visagism consultation by appointment or by dropping by the shop
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Theo glasses in Paris?
Theo is distributed in Paris at Ekla (10th and 11th arrondissements) and in a few selected designer opticians. At Ekla, the universal third-party payment applies: no upfront costs with your mutual insurance.
What makes Theo unique in the eyewear industry?
The asymmetry and unconventional geometries. Theo designs frames that challenge standard symmetry: temples that start from unexpected points, shapes that are deliberately not identical on both sides. The house has been working with limited collections since 1987 in Antwerp. When a model is sold out, it does not come back.
Do Theo glasses suit all faces?
Yes, with the right model. The idea that atypical shapes only work on certain faces is a shortcut. At our shop, we have seen Theo models that appear impossible on the display rack work very well on very different faces. Trying them on is essential: it is the brand in our selection where surprises are the most frequent.
What is the difference between Theo and the other designer brands at Ekla?
The degree of conviction. Anne & Valentin plays with color and graphic creativity. Lesca plays with thick vintage style. Lindberg plays with disappearing on the face. Theo plays with formal provocation: shapes that disturb conventions. It is not just original; it is a design philosophy that has been consistent since its founding in Antwerp in 1987.