Scottish Brand Makes TV History

As one of the UK’s biggest dramas prepares to air its highly-anticipated final season, Scottish eyewear company IOLLA is looking back to a huge moment in its history - creating glasses for iconic Peaky Blinders character, Tommy Shelby. Played by Cillian Murphy, the beloved protagonist looked to Scotland for his eyewear inspiration, when he wore a pair of bespoke IOLLA glasses in the fifth season. 

While Tommy Shelby's glasses were a one-of-a-kind IOLLA has designed a similar, retro style frame, meaning that fans of the show can replicate his look for themselves in time for the final season with the classic ‘MacDonald’ frames. The petite, statement-making glasses bring the Peaky Blinders vintage style to life, with signature IOLLA engraved tips. Fans of the show can also visit one of IOLLA’s welcoming showrooms to learn about the design process in more detail, and even take a closer look at some early prototypes.

Approached in 2018 by costume designer, Alison McCosh, IOLLA founder and frame designer Stefan Hunter worked closely with the BBC production; producing various prototypes and even attending a pre-filming fitting with Cillian Murphy to ensure the frames were the perfect fit.

Set to make a highly anticipated return to our screens this month for the sixth and final season, IOLLA’s epic collaboration with the BBC drama will go down in the brand’s history, as one of the all-time classic characters modelled his very own IOLLA frames. With actors like Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy set to star alongside Cillian Murphy, the final season is sure to be more unmissable television. 

Stefan Hunter, Founder of IOLLA said: ’The culmination of a huge amount of hard work and collaboration, it’s been a joy to see such an iconic character wear a pair of IOLLA frames. When we were approached in the summer of 2018, we couldn’t have imagined the journey we would go on with the production and it’s really incredible to have our homegrown business be part of Peaky Blinders history. We can’t wait to tune into the new series to see how things will end for the famous Tommy Shelby!’

IOLLA launched in 2015, introducing a better way to buy eyewear by offering of complete prescription glasses and sunglasses for £75. The mission is to help people look and feel great, empowering glasses wearers to build an eyewear wardrobe thanks to their diverse range of unique frame designs and affordable price point.