Alain Mikli

I purchased Stark Mikli titanium frames at my optrician, and was told they would last a lifetime. After 2 years I had an issue with the rubber temple piece coming apart. My optrician called their Stark rep, who said the frame was out of warranty and couldn’t be fixed. their only solution was for me to purchase a whole new $ 800 frame. No thanks.
Enter Alain Mikli’s little shop in Union Square. I brought the frames in, and they said they could send them off to the manufacturer to replace the temples. I even got to choose a new color! About 2 weeks later I had my glasses repaired and like-​new. Total cost — $ 40. Thank you Alain Mikli!!!

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Alain Mikli is quite a small boutique that offers unique colors and shapes, and are a favorite among European celebrities and avant-​garde Americans. Mikli claims his use of color is inspired by his Lebanese Armenian heritage.
Alain Mikli opened his design studio in Paris. By 1983, celebrities like Elton John helped to promote the brand. Kanye West wore Alain Mikli sunglasses in his music video, Stronger. Madonna also wore his glasses.
We were just looking at the window, then Mr. Steven came out and opened the door for us. Mr. Steven was very nice and patient to my visiting friend. My friend wasn’t the type that can be easy to deal with, but he surely got the taste for finer things in life.

Thank you Mr. Steven, for making that transaction as easy as a breeze… He even offered us water… and if you checked in on Unilocal,you got a free coffee or latte, not bad at all.

My MIKLI frame was purchased in 2014 through Costco in Orlando Florida. It was a high end frame. Spec: ML0939 0040. The metal linings near the ear handles have come off, creating sharp edges, tearing into my skin, causing considerable pain and discomfort. It is a basic structural flaw that I didn’t expect out of the MIKLI brand.
I am being told that the flaw is not covered by warranty, although it is clear that the issue is related a design and not wear.

I had some trouble with my Starck frames coming apart for some odd reason, but Stewart the manager was able to replace them without any questions. He was very helpful and offered to change my style frame for something else. With his recommendation and my friend that was there with me, I was able to get some nice glasses that changed my look and I’m glad I went with it because I’ve been getting compliments. Thank you so much for taking care of me. I will certainly come back once I am due for new frames.

I’ve stopped in here a few times when I’ve wanted new glasses, and I’ve bought one pair from them. Each time, I was really impressed at how they not only listened carefully to what I wanted, but managed to know exactly what the perfect frame would be. They are unusually good at selecting frames that will fit your face, and they know exactly which of the bolder frames (Mikli sells a lot of very colorful stuff) will work on you. They don’t pressure you to buy, and they even remembered me when I came back months later! Thanks a lot for the great new frames.

These guys were awesome and the service here was beyond a doubt a reflection of how seriously these people take the craft and art of designer engineered eye glasses; especially when it comes to Alain Mikli and now the collaboration of renowned architect Philipe Starck.
Design comes to no compromise when you are dealing with professionals and that is exactly what you will find at this botique. I was greated respectfully and attended too immediately. If you dread this kind of shopping because of time constraints, you can find your perfect frames here in under 30 mins. I achieved this with the help of Stuart, who is not only a professional optician, though also has a very natural sense of style. He was able to gauge my style almost immediately and make the most perfect suggestions based on my demeanor, and I believe facial structure. To be honest it felt like he had been styling me for years. There is also another gentleman who was very helpful and also very respectful and nice.
I walked out of Alain Mikli with two pairs of Starck and Mikli collabs and I could not be more happy and feel more confident with how I look. Thank you guys! Everyone one there was awesome! These guys are more than deserving and appreciative of your patronage.

The service at this SF shop is terrible. I broke my great Starck eyeglasses and went in to get a replacement pair on a Monday. I was promised a call back with availability info by Wednesday. Friday I called them and it seemed challenging to get an idea who I was and which frames I was looking for. Apparently nothing had happened. I did get a call back the same day that they were still «in process» of locating the frame. Well, as it is a great frame I agreed to wait. Now, it’s been two weeks, nobody ever called me back and I ordered the same frame from an online retailer for significantly lower price. Well done guys! Meanwhile I was also able to locate the frame even from Europe and it would’ve been faster to order it directly from Italy.
I would recommend this place only for testing out the frames. Please do a favor and order and buy them from elsewhere.
Considering the previous reviews. There’s probably been plenty of changes in the shop staff.

Alain Mikli is simply the place to buy glasses in the city. They have a great selection of quirky frames, Stuart and Inez are very helpful and honest when it comes to styling, and the brand is solid. I have owned many eyeglass and sunglass frames and my Mikli ones are by far the ones that get the most wear. If you are looking for glasses, this is a store you must check out!

The best of eyewear — the very best.

Years ago I purchased my first pair of Alain Mikli + Philippe Starck Sunglasses at their boutique in Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Stylish yet refined, unsurpassed workmanship, selectively priced yet considering their lifespan, these sunglasses have represented a great investment for me. Like buying a fine watch.
A few years ago I lost a screw off of the hinge on one side during a ski trip, and so sadly, the sunglasses remained in my dresser drawer in their case for quite some time.
I recently discovered the new Alain Mikli boutique in San Francisco’s Union Square, and thought– hey why not? I sent an email asking if there was anything they could do, and Robb replied immediately to let me know that they would take care of the replacement and repair — at no cost.
Sure enough, they were completely repaired two days later, and I left the store with my prized sunglasses ready to be worn once again.
I have several pairs of sunglasses — Persols, Carerra, Rayban, and my Mikli’s — but it’s the Mikli’s I grab when I want to be noticed.
Worth every penny.

Have you ever had that moment when you just know that you’ve lost your glasses?
No, they aren’t in the car, or in your bag, or on your desk. They are LOST. For good.
I had that moment just last week when I lost my beloved German-​made glasses. They had traveled with me around Europe, been to New York twice, almost got stepped on by a rockstar, and been perched on my face when I drove a Ferrari this past summer.
I was sad to see them go, and I knew that finding a replacement wouldn’t be easy.
The moment I stepped in the Alain Mikli boutique, I knew I was in the right place. The styles are elegant and chic, and there were so many to choose from from along the stocked walls. The staff didn’t rush me. I was able to take my time, feel the weight and materials of the ones I liked, and they let me critique my reflection for almost an hour.
Finally, after many indecisions over which pair I wanted, I found the pair for me. These glasses are perfect, and I think I like them even more than the old ones (I didn’t think it was possible!).
Thank you again, Alain Mikli.

This boutique shop just opened and I’m so excited because one of my favorite pairs of glasses that I still wear (I believe from 2003) are Miklis. I stopped down there this past Saturday and the store is not big but it is very chic and well-​designed. The staff there was friendly and I must have tried on over 20 pairs and there are at least 5 that I want NOW.
This is the place for folks who want some unique, handcrafted frames which definitely make a statement that you have taste. The woman helping me was so elegant and funny. Both she and the manager were very knowledgeable and picked out some great pairs for me – I never thought that I would look good in purple frames! Plus the female associate tried on a bunch of pairs that she personally liked and I cannot wait to take some of my lady friends here, because the frames are amazing! We are talking art here.
The prices are not cheap but, as a friend of mine always says, «cheap is expensive,» and if you consider the fact that I’ve had my original Miklis for almost 10 years and they are in great shape and I still get compliments when I wear them, these are worth every penny.
The other bonus is that my old Miklis were in need of a slight lens upgrade because of a prescription change and they are going to take care of this for me on site. I will report more once they are done and again once I have bought my first new pair… I just have to make a difficult decision on which ones to buy first.
Definitely check this place out if you are into eyeglass frames. (They even have this cool video that shows how they make them looping in the back.)