Chimi Sunglasses: The Best Frames Right Now

I love an origin story that begins with something breaking. Childhood friends Daniel Djurdjevic and Charlie Lindström started Chimi in Stockholm in 2016, after Charlie found himself still hunting for the same silhouette years after replacing a broken pair. The idea behind it is a good one: there is no reason to replace a frame while the shape still feels right. Eyewear is personal, and I like that this story begins with a plain wish to keep something familiar.

In its own story, Chimi talks about glasses as expressive, lived-in objects, and its work as a canvas for experimentation and connection. There is a core collection arranged by shape and color, plus a Labs side that builds special pieces around subcultures, and the brand has even commissioned a score from Jacob Mühlrad. It is the balance I keep thinking about: a frame can be a reliable object first and a cultural reference second.

I think the best way to read Chimi is shape before color. The Ellipse Sunglasses and Dele Sunglasses make familiar forms feel personal through tortoise and burgundy tones, while the black Vox Sunglasses stay spare. The Cadenza Oval Sunglasses have a softer outline, and the 06.3 Core Sunglasses are the pair I would reach for when I want a familiar everyday profile. The Tome Sunglasses, Oona Sunglasses, Halo Sunglasses and Kai Sunglasses are there for anyone who wants a little more to look at.

Picture her stepping out on a bright Stockholm afternoon in the Lou Sunglasses, a crisp shirt and the same coat she wears most days, with nothing else competing. If your wardrobe is already full of color, I would start with the Lex Sunglasses or Aria Sunglasses in black. If you live in neutrals, the burgundy Dele or tortoise Ellipse gives you contrast without pushing the rest of the outfit aside.

The square, pilot, cat eye and rectangular frames round out the range for different faces. What I would skip is any shape that squeezes at the temples, no matter how good it looks from the front.

I like a sunglasses wardrobe that starts with one dependable pair, then adds a more playful shape only if it earns its place. Chimi's idea of a repeat-wear frame is most persuasive when the silhouette is easy to return to and the color still feels like yours. A good first pair should work with your ordinary days and ask for no new wardrobe. I would choose the frame that feels most natural on my face before chasing the one that gets the most attention. I went deeper on a related idea in Banbe Sunglasses: How to Choose the Right Pair.