After testing the waters with a temporary pop-up store earlier this year, Dutch eyewear brand Ace & Tate have established themselves permanently in one of the hottest shopping districts in Stockholm, Bibliotekstan. Sharing their bit of Mäster Samuelsgatan with heavyweights like Byredo, Happy Socks, and COS, the location couldn’t be better. Launched in 2013 by Mark De Lange, they want to give everyone the opportunity to switch up their eyewear wardrobe as often as the heart desires. The frames are modern, cool and affordable – a pair of optical frames ring up at 1000SEK including prescription lenses. The brand’s cool vibe doesn’t rely purely on the product. The new Stockholm store’s sleek and edgy interior was created by Stockholm based design studio MP12 and inspired by Swedish modernism. Like all of their stores it features original artwork by local artists – in this particular location by Gothenburg artist EKTA. Speaking to De Lange at the opening of the store, it’s clear his love for art and music runs through the core of the brand. As well as creating a visually desirable place to shop, Ace & Tate also run a creative fund helping emerging artists financially so they can continue to flourish creatively. De Lange’s an avid music fan and this becomes apparent with the names of many of the frames: you’ll find styles like the Francis after Kurt Cobain’s daughter, the Axl after the Guns N’Roses frontman and the Iggy after Iggy Pop.
Words: Beatrice Trodden
