EYEWEAR COMING 2025
About Brand
“Emotional Armor was born out of a need I saw in the eyewear industry: stylish frames that also offer real comfort, especially for people with low and wide nose bridges. I wanted to create something that looked great but also felt good to wear. The designs are inspired by classic shapes from the 60s to 80s, but with a modern twist to make them fit today’s style. Sustainability is super important to me, so all of our frames are designed and handcrafted in our workshop in Mile End, Montreal, in small batches. This makes each frame exclusive, with only a few color options available for each model. And to top it off, we even make our own hard shell cases right here in the atelier!”
-Omar Ho, founder/designer/maker
About Founder
“I started my journey as a passionate, professional classical musician in Toronto, dedicating most of my life to performing. While I was building my freelance career in Canada’s incredibly competitive music scene, I was also managing one of the busiest optical shops on Queen St West in Toronto. I never planned for the optical world to become such a big part of my life—it was just a way to make some extra cash. But when the pandemic hit in 2020 and forced me to stop performing, I found myself reevaluating everything. I decided to get creative again and explore a new path. That’s when I began my eyewear journey in 2021, traveling to Oyonnax, France—the heart of acetate eyewear manufacturing. From there, I shifted gears and threw myself into becoming an eyewear designer and maker. My long term goal is to create opportunities for other queer and marginalized creatives and open up more space in an industry that’s often very hard to break into”
-Omar Ho, founder/designer/maker
Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh™ embarks on a new narrative where free thinking inspires a pioneering format for the future, where the age of imagination is the product of reality.
Inspired by Virgil’s vision and approach to his art, Off-White™ nourishes a collective of creative minds that represent the best in their category and have a strong and personal connection with Virgil. Ibrahim’s relationship with Virgil and Off-White™, born and nurtured through Instagram DMs, blossomed both personally and professionally over the last 3 years creating a strong bond based on mutual respect and shared values.
“Making a successful luxury brand in nine years is genius. It’s a feat that I admire and hope to continue building upon with a rich legacy. He revolutionised streetwear and luxury that crosses generations and decades. He showed the world that the underrepresented, the underdogs and Black people, in particular, have brilliant minds and can push and compete equally in the establishment. He inspired hope and brought about change.” - Ibrahim Kamara, Art&Image Director Off-White™