Berlin · Germany · Since 1996
ic! berlin
Berlin-made sheet-steel frames built around a famous screwless hinge.
The story
ic! berlin began with an idea from two Berlin University of the Arts graduates, Philipp Haffmans and Harald Gottschling: glasses made from thin sheet metal with no screws. In 1996 Ralph Anderl joined them to market it, and when no manufacturer would buy the concept, the three began making frames themselves under the name ic! brille. Their first model, Jack, weighed about 20 grams and was made in a run of 50, and the brand became ic! berlin in late 1997. After the founders split in 2003, Anderl grew the company into a Berlin manufacturer sold internationally, which Italy's Marcolin acquired in 2023. 02 People Co-founder; sole managing director 2003-2017 Ralph Anderl Marcolin describes him as a designer, singer, photographer and musician.
Look for
The screwless spring hinge where temple meets front, with a laser-engraved logo on the temple.
- Made
- Own manufactory in Berlin, Germany
- Owned by
- Marcolin Group since 2023
- Frames here
- Catalogue coming
- Stores listed
- 8
- Official site
- ic-berlin.com
Where to try ic! berlin
8 listed stores.
- Willow EyewearQueen West, Toronto
11 designers: Barton Perreira, Blake Kuwahara, Hoet, ic! berlin, LINDBERG…
- Saffron EyewearSoHo, New York
10 designers: Barton Perreira, BLAC, Bruno Chaussignand, ic! berlin, LINDBERG…
- Fable Spectacle Co.West Village, New York
9 designers: Anne et Valentin, FACTORY900, ic! berlin, LINDBERG, Morà Busoli…
- Pillar Eye StudioUpper East Side, New York
7 designers: Anne et Valentin, Barton Perreira, ic! berlin, LINDBERG, Lucas de Staël…
- Dune OpticiansWest Hollywood, Los Angeles
9 designers: Anne et Valentin, Barton Perreira, Bevel, Blake Kuwahara, ic! berlin…
- Halcyon OptiqueSanta Monica, Los Angeles
10 designers: Anne et Valentin, Barton Perreira, BLAC, Blake Kuwahara, Gold & Wood…
- Fennel OptiqueHayes Valley, San Francisco
8 designers: Anne et Valentin, FACTORY900, Falvin, ic! berlin, LINDBERG…
- Verity Eye StudioMission, San Francisco
8 designers: Barton Perreira, BLAC, Falvin, Hoet, ic! berlin…
News
All news →ic! berlin · Launch
Racing Edition frames launched with Audi F1 drivers
A global campaign featuring drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto introduced the Ryan and Gabriel Racing Edition frames. Both have red temple tips and racetrack-themed packaging and are sold at selected stores.
ic! berlin
ic! berlin · Collection
Mineral Ic! capsule with Barberini glass lenses
Part of the spring/summer 2026 line, this capsule pairs three sport-inspired frames on the screwless hinge with Barberini mineral glass lenses. The lenses come in polarized and mirrored options.
Eyecare Business
ic! berlin · Collection
30th-anniversary capsule in Transformative Teal
To mark 30 years since its 1996 founding, ic! berlin released a six-style capsule: the classics Leif, Wanda, Oli the 2nd and Pina, plus the new Sodium and Xenon. All come in a blue-green Transformative Teal with matching photochromic lenses, backed by an I See Berlin campaign.
OptikNow
ic! berlin · Collaboration
Official eyewear partner of the Audi Revolut F1 Team
The Marcolin-owned Berlin brand was named official eyewear partner of the Audi Revolut F1 Team in its 30th-anniversary year. Both sides pointed to shared values of precision engineering and minimalist design.
Optical Prism