With the inspiration “be kind, work hard and amazing things will happen,” Christy Kimball and Stephen Clark, owners of Framed Ewe, have brought their passion for high-quality and independently made eyewear to the city of Phoenix. As I sat down with them outside their store one afternoon to hear a little more about the history behind their business, I could see in them a genuine adherence to this motto.
The charming optical boutique is located in UNION Biltmore, a new section of the Biltmore Fashion Park that is now home to eighteen locally owned stores. Both Kimball and Clark, long time friends and now business partners, are devoted to promoting locally made products. “I always want to support local,” says Kimball, “All of our glasses are made by independent manufacturers.”
UNION Biltmore is the perfect location for these local products advocates. All the shops within UNION help to promote each other via social media and various UNION events. As Clark points out, since Phoenix is so spread out, a person may have to drive all over the city to hit up local stores, yet at UNION, one can enjoy several local businesses in a single, air-conditioned venue.
“Not only are we driven by a passion to be a part of the blossoming that is happening in Phoenix, but we also want to provide the coolest sunglasses in the Valley,” says Kimball. One of the many things that makes Framed Ewe stand out is the vast collection of distinct brands they offer. Among the assortment are frames by Garrett Leight, Super, Salt, Anne et Valentin, Oliver Goldsmith, Thierry Lasry, Theo and Scojo. “Our goal from the beginning was to have something for most people that walk through the door,” mentions Kimball.
They also hold an excellent line of vintage frames including brands like Ray-Ban and Gucci. According to Kimball, “The lines we carry are special, unique and hand selected. The glasses speak for themselves as far as style and quality.” Framed Ewe is one of the only retailers in Arizona that carries some of these high-quality lines, like Garrett Leight and Anne et Valentin. They take many of these designer frames and turn them into readers, as well as sunglass readers, which are especially important yet surprisingly hard to find in Arizona.
Expanding their influence even further, Kimball and Clark have collaborated with Amir’s La Voûte, a vintage men’s clothing and accessory store with locations in both Scottsdale and Phoenix. Framed Ewe is doing a small pop-up shop in both stores this summer and fall as another way to collaborate with a local business owner. Framed Ewe has also teamed up with some local hair salons for various fashion shows.
With the slogan “Let You Be Ewe” and gift cards that say “I Got Ewe,” the owners use the catchy play on words from the business’ name to adorn their advertising and grab people’s attention. It is easy to see that amazing things have indeed happened and will continue to for this fun-loving, kind and hardworking pair. Kimball remarks, “Our selection would stand out in New York, San Francisco or any other big city, and we are so excited to bring them to Arizona!“
