Lesca is a brand founded in Paris in 1964 by JoĆ«l Lesca, a passionate devotee of French eyewear since the 1950s. His sons, Mathieu and Bertrand, carry on this craftsmanship todayāthick acetate, manufacturing in Jura workshops, and limited runs of 120 pieces per color.
At Ekla, we stock Lesca in our two shops in the 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is one of the brands with which we share the same philosophy: independent designers, small production volumes, and carefully selected materials. In 2024, we even co-created a frame with them for the house's 60th anniversary.
If you are looking for a French frame with a historyānot an industrial reprint, not a chain store bestsellerāthis article covers what we have in stock.
Why Lesca is a brand apart
Lesca represents sixty years of Parisian eyewear without ever having sought to expand. JoĆ«l Lesca began by collecting French frames from the 1950sāthe kind that were no longer being made anywhere. He derived his first models from them, having them manufactured in the workshops of Oyonnax (Jura), the historical capital of French eyewear.
What sets Lesca apart today is that production runs are limited. 120 pieces maximum per color. This is not a marketing ployāit is a constraint of artisanal manufacturing. The Corbs in black and the Corbs in honey are two distinct small series. Once they are sold out, thatās it until the following season.
A firm opinion: Lesca is not a frame for everyone. It is a bold aesthetic choiceāthick acetate, shapes inherited from the 1950s, warm or muted colors. If you want thin, light metal, this isn't where you should look. If you are looking for something that resembles what you no longer see elsewhere, that is another story.
The Lesca models we carry in-store
Here is what we regularly have in stock at our shops.
The Corbs: the most requested model
Shape: round, 8 mm thick acetate, 1950s inspiration. Recommended for: angular, square, or long faces. The roundness of the Corbs softens facial features. Classic colors: black, tortoise, honey, pine green.
The Corbs is the model we pull out most often when someone walks into the shop asking for "vintage." It is versatile on many types of facesāthe proportions are balanced, neither too large nor too bold. It is often the starting point for our Lesca visagism consultations.
The Pica: the most architectural
Shape: pantos with cubist lines, cut with sharp angles. Recommended for: round or oval faces. The geometry of the Pica provides structure without being overwhelming. Colors: black, midnight blue, honey, pine green. Available in standard and XL sizes.
The Pica is the one that divides opinions most in the shop. It either appeals immediately, or it seems too bold. On a round or oval face, it often works better than one might imagine at first glance. That is why we insist on trying it on before judging it on the display stand.
The Crown Pantos: the most versatile
Shape: rounded pantos, balanced proportions. Recommended for: round or oval faces. Colors: classic tones, marbled acetate.
The Crown Pantos is often the second Lesca choice for customers who find the Corbs too round or the Pica too bold. It is the most accessible model in the rangeāwhich does not mean boring, but rather that it looks good on the majority of face shapes.
The Gaston: for larger faces
Shape: 1950s style, thick temples, three-point hinge. Available in standard and XL. Recommended for: large faces, unisex. Colors: black with several seasonal exclusive border colors.
The Gaston is the only Lesca model specifically designed for larger proportions. In XL, it doesn't try to minimize the faceāit complements it. For customers who consistently struggle to find frames in their size, it is often a revelation.
The Heri: the most minimalist
Shape: slim round, 1920s inspiration. Recommended for: oval and angular faces. Colors: classic black, and editions with interior color accents.
The Heri is the most sober Lesca. Where the Corbs and Pica show off their thickness, the Heri plays the card of discretion. It is for those who like the Lesca spirit but prefer a frame that is less present on the face.
How to choose your Lesca model: The role of visagism
Choosing a Lesca isn't just about picking between the Corbs and the Pica based on gut feeling. Face shape and proportions count just as much as aesthetics.
With us, we take the time to test several models side by side, on the face, in natural light. 8 mm acetate has visual weight. A Corbs on an already full face can weigh down the features. A Pica on a slim face can appear disproportionate. These are errors we avoid in the shopānot by trying them on through photos.
Specifically, here are the combinations that work best based on what we see in the shop:
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- Round face: Pica or Gaston (geometric shapes provide structure) Ā
- Square or angular face: Corbs or Heri (roundness softens the features) Ā
- Oval face: most models work, particularly the Corbs and Crown Pantos Ā
- Long face: Crown Pantos or Pica (visually widen the face) Ā
- Large face: Gaston, the only model designed for these proportions
These rules are starting points, not absolute truths. Haircuts, skin tone, distance between the eyesāall these play a role as well. Thatās why we take the time in-store rather than letting you choose on a screen.
Lesca upcycling: a fundamental link with Ekla
Lesca is one of the rare houses that practices the renovation of its own vintage frames: acetate polishing, replacement of damaged temples. This isn't a mass-market serviceāit is a practice rooted in the houseās DNA since its beginnings.
At Ekla, we do the same. Our upcycling serviceārenovation and restoration of vintage framesāis one of our most requested services. It is one of the reasons we chose to stock Lesca in our shops, and not just for the colors: there is a real coherence between what we do and what they do.
In 2024, for the houseās 60th anniversary, we co-created a frame with them. This is the kind of relationship we seek with the brands we distribute.
If you have an old Lesca frame to restoreāor any other frameāour repair and restoration service is available without an appointment at our two shops.
Choose Lesca at Ekla if you are looking for:
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- A French frame with a history: a Parisian house founded in 1964, artisanal production in Jura, limited to 120 pieces per color; Ā
- A long-lasting thick acetate: no mass production, each model is a small, handmade series; Ā
- A model chosen according to your face, not current trends. Thatās where our visagism expertise comes in.
Lesca is probably not for you if:
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Ā
- You are looking for a discreet frame that goes unnoticed: the Lesca DNA is the opposite; Ā
- You prefer thin metal or titanium: Lesca is thick acetate, which is a different aesthetic.
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 in
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Lesca glasses in Paris?
Lesca is distributed in Paris at Ekla (10th and 11th arrondissements) and at a few selected designer opticians. At Ekla, universal third-party payment appliesāno out-of-pocket expenses with your health insurance.
What is the most iconic Lesca model?
The Corbs. It is the model we pull out most often in the shopāa round shape in 8 mm thick acetate, inspired by the 1950s, versatile on a wide variety of faces. If you are hesitant about where to start with Lesca, this is it.
Are Lesca glasses suitable for small faces?
Yes, with the right model. The Heri, thinner and more compact, is often the right choice for small faces. The Corbs in standard size works as well. The Gaston, however, is designed for larger proportionsāit will rarely be suitable for a slim face.
What is the difference between the Corbs and the Pica?
Both are made of 8 mm thick acetate and are vintage-inspired. The difference: the Corbs is round, with balanced proportions that adapt to many faces. The Pica has sharper lines and a pantos silhouette with cut anglesāit is more architectural and more assertive. In the shop, we always have customers try them on side by side.