I remember the day I got my first pair of glasses. I was five-years-old and they were from Wal-Mart. We were living in Kentucky at the time and this would have been 1996. They were comically large and, given my parents' income at the time, probably on clearance. But, man, was I hooked. For years, eyewear has been a part of my style and personal identity. While most days I wear contacts for convenience, I couldn't imagine not reaching for my frames when I first wake up. On more than one occasion, I have contemplated getting LASIK, but then I would be like boring ol' everyone else with 20/20 vision.

I've come a long way since the aviator-style Wal-Mart glasses from my kindergarten days and now appreciate frames as a form of art unto itself. While the eyewear market is inundated with discount frames, designer shades and the Warby Parkers of the world, if you're looking for something a little more bespoke, we've compiled a handful of independent brands to keep an eye out for (pun very much intended).