A Note From The Founder

This is supposed to be the time in the calendar where we prepare for British Summer and the weather is usually getting milder and sunnier. This year however, I am sitting inside while 'The Beast From the East' is apparently returning for a third time.

For me, this is the start of a busy period for us a brand. In the coming months MONC will be involved in multiple events and pop-ups - this is one of my favourite parts of being in a small business. It gives me the chance to get in front of our customers and discuss with them why I started MONC, and why we believe that products can do more than just fill a purpose. With this in mind, I want to revisit some questions that I regularly get asked. I have written down some thoughts below for people who are interested in reading...

How did MONC first come into existence?

MONC came into existence at a kitchen table in my parents' house in Northamptonshire. Whilst working at my previous job in an amazing small design agency we started developing a list of products that we could potentially design in-house. I had an increasingly apparent obsession with sunglasses, so I kept trying to push us in that direction - so much so that I soon after left the job to pursue my passion for sunglasses design.

This meant I could focus all of my attention on creating a brand and a range of sunglasses that would suit any woman or man who walked into a store.

What were the frustrations I felt with the current state of the market?

I felt the market as a whole was full of messages that weren’t always true to their word, I still do today really. These inconsistencies weren't just in fashion but in all products -something I experienced while working in design agencies doing jobs for big and small corporations/companies. I felt that there was a lack of transparency in knowing what something was made of, where it had come from and if their real intention was to try and impact on people’s lives in a positive way at all!

It was only my love of eyewear that led me to researching that industry directly and discovering that the market is dominated by a small handful of big players, the largest of which controls about 30% of the whole industry. In my opinion this scale of mass production is so big that the product loses its charm. I love buying products that have charm and a story, so I thought there was a place in the market for a transparent brand that could provide high quality products that support real makers.

What Does MONC stand for to me as a person?

As I was defining the brand I came up with a dictionary definition graphic which I take to every event.

It says “MONC (Noun) – a person or group of people who appreciate the design process especially quality and craftsmanship.” This was because I want MONC to stand for community. It’s a lifestyle choice as a person and it means knowing and celebrating the people that create something.

For me, MONC is my life and I live and breathe it every day.