BRIGHTON, U.K.—Kirk & Kirk will launch their debut collection of eyewear, Vivarium, at Silmo 2014. The collection is inspired by the Victorian obsession with science and nature and each frame is named after a celebrated scientist of the era, the company said.

“We wanted to create something unique, something that would surprise our audience but at the same time be easy to wear,” said Karen Kirk. “It is one thing to create a frame that stands out from the crowd but an altogether different challenge to make it sellable for the optician.”

The eyewear is handmade in France from acrylic and includes eight shapes in six colors; metallic hues of blue, bordeaux, anthracite, brown, green or silver. Each is decorated with a 3-dimensional animal pin—a lion, fly, ram or horse—in 925 sterling silver or 9 karat gold on the frame’s front designed by Karen Kirk and crafted in England.

A companion sunglass collection, Solarium, includes four acrylic shapes in six metallic colors with graduated mirror lenses. Again, Kirk & Kirk offer a choice of animal decoration or classic modernist pins.

“We are extremely excited to be launching this debut collection in Paris,” added Jason Kirk. “We have had amazing industry support, for which we are very grateful, and have assembled a superb team to communicate our ideas.”

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