Tortoise shell glasses from Flatlist Eyewear

Tortoise shell glasses are classical frames originally from the 1920s. Back then, the original frames were made of actual tortoises, giving the frames and the look its name.  

At Flatlist, we adore tortoise shell glasses and how the frames can supplement a stylish look. Tortoise shell glasses are here to stay and here on the site you can find the tortoise glasses of the Flatlist collection as well as getting to know the style in depth.

See for instance our popular le bucheron in tortoise with brown gradient lenses. They're one of our absolute bestsellers and come in various styles.

What are tortoise shell glasses made from?

Don’t worry. Tortoise shell glasses aren’t made from actual turtles anymore. They were for a long time, from the 1920s until the early 70s. In the early 70s, they were luckily banned from the market to protect the rare species from going extinct. The simple explanation of tortoise shell glasses is today that they imitate the appearance of real turtles and have a dotted look.

The tortoise shell glasses collection from Flatlist is made from premium Italian biodegradable acetate. At Flatlist Eyewear, we’re committed to minimizing the negative impacts of manufacturing and worldwide logistics to the environment. Therefore, we can also offer premium sustainable materials without sacrificing the flair for design, aesthetics, and craftsmanship, which are our core characteristics. Biodegradable acetate is 100% eco-friendly and recyclable, which we are proud to apply to our tortoise shell glasses.

Tortoise shell frames: An enduring and popular trend

Tortoise shell frames suit anyone and everyone. It is a timeless addition to one’s presence and look. The frames are a smoother option for fair skin types where darker frames can prove to be harsher and more intense. The frames light up your eyes and they complement your skin with warm tones. Furthermore, tortoise shell frames can be used within any setting whether it is formal or informal.

The frames have during the past years made a massive comeback because people’s desire for vintage have increased significantly. Tortoise shell glasses are considered as a part of the vintage movement and thereby they are one of the hottest styles today.

Tortoise frames at Flatlist

At Flatlist, we have decided to stick to the more classical colors in which we offer our dark tortoise and our amber tortoise. 

Our tortoise colored frames are available in several of our collections. For instance, you can explore them among our best sellers Hanky and Le Bucheron. Our tortoise colored frames also come with different colored lenses, so that you have the opportunity to mix and differentiate your look. See for instance our Priest model with solid orange Lenses here. Browse our whole collection here.   

We hope that our explanation of tortoise shell glasses will help you in the search of the most stylish pair suiting you or a beloved one. The style is unarguably one of the most classic looks and will probably forever stay in fashion.

Here you can browse another one of our tortoise best seller frames - the Hanky with solid black lenses.

FLATLIST® was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark to make quality eyewear. Every style is born from a moment of inspiration — ignited by a character in a film, a special corner in a special city, or an evening in good company.