Six months since our opening, we have invited various brands to collaborate with Nagoya on POPUP events, but this time, it is an exclusive project for Circles Tokyo!
August 12th is Mountain Day! To celebrate, we have planned a POPUP featuring a brand that is great not only for cycling but also for mountain activities!
We will be holding a 3-day POPUP from August 10th to 12th for the sunglass brand OWL MILS, which is steadily gaining support among outdoor enthusiasts.
As I personally use this brand and want you all to experience it as well, they will be hosting a POPUP at Circles Tokyo! It is usually difficult to see many of their models in Tokyo, but they will be providing a significant number of items for this event!
OWL MILS
Sunglasses are an essential item year-round for cycling, not just during this season. While cycling-specific eyewear is great, one might hesitate to wear it with anything other than a jersey. On the other hand, while fashion sunglasses look cool, they can be inconvenient on gravel roads as they tend to slip off due to vibrations, making them less than ideal in terms of usability.
I imagine many of you share the same frustration. That is when I was recommended OWL MILS by Inocchi from WELLDONE, who happened to visit our last POPUP.
Created from the personal experience of director Okuzawa, these products follow traditional designs while focusing on materials and processing, elevating them to specifications that can withstand both city use and the outdoor field.
They feature materials that allow for adjustment of the temple shape and special treated nose pads to prevent slipping. Additionally, they include details like carabiner-style temple tips and frames with slightly raised sides.
They pack all the functions you want for the outdoors without compromising the classic look, allowing for a seamless transition from outdoor activities to daily use. They are exactly the sunglasses I was looking for!
Also, perhaps their greatest feature is the high performance of their proprietary MILS LENS. They combine polarization to suppress light reflections with high-contrast technology that cuts out excess light to provide a clear view.
With these two functions, you get a clear field of vision while maintaining brightness, even in outdoor environments where colors might otherwise appear oversaturated.
My Personal Experience
Places you visit on a gravel ride often have dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. With regular sunglasses, while bright areas become easier to see, dark shaded areas often look crushed and murky, don't they?
When I tried the OWL MILS sunglasses, I was able to see clearly even in places where light and shadow mixed, allowing me to accurately read the road conditions. On rough gravel, this is incredibly helpful. It reduces the risk of getting a flat tire and, more than anything, lets you fully enjoy the thrill of a gravel ride, which is all about tracing your target line.
Also, having a clear view when it's cloudy or when entering tunnels without needing to take off my sunglasses was a first for me. Of course, the fit was also great, and I experienced less irritation from the frames and no pain even after long hours of use.
I also went hiking in Fukushima the other day and was able to walk accurately even on rocky trails! Most of all, I was moved by the beauty of the scenery seen through the sunglasses.
The "Witch's Eye" (Majo no Hitomi) seen through the OWL MILS sunglasses radiated a blue so deep it felt like being sucked into it. (The photo was taken using a polarizing lens for a camera, but the clarity is remarkably higher than the naked eye in the same way.)
On the day of the event, the staff from OWL MILS, who are fully dedicated to playing in the mountains, the city, and on bicycles, will be present. This is the perfect time to get expert advice based on their extensive experience and find your ideal pair of sunglasses, so please do come and try them out!
We have also received many inquiries asking if the lens performance can be customized with prescription lenses, so we will be offering prescription customization for this event—please feel free to take advantage of it.
[ Regarding MILS LENS Prescription Customization ]
・Compatible frames are OWL MILS and owl classic only.
・Please bring a prescription measured by an ophthalmologist.
・Processing will take approximately 3 to 4 weeks.
[ Pricing ]
● For new frame purchases
Normal lens: 18,700 JPY (tax incl.)
Multi-coated: 22,000 JPY (tax incl.)
Example) Izanagi 23,100 JPY (frame price) + 22,000 JPY (multi-coated prescription lens price) = 45,100 JPY (tax incl.)
● For bringing your own frame
Normal lens: 22,000 JPY (tax incl.)
Multi-coated lens: 26,400 JPY (tax incl.)
※ Once completed, the sunglasses can be picked up at the store.
If you would like them shipped to your home, separate shipping fees will apply.
[ Supported Prescriptions ]
※ The following values from your prescription measured by an ophthalmologist are required.
※ Progressive and bifocal lenses are not supported.
● For Myopia (Nearsightedness)
① SPH (Sphere): 0.00 to -5.25
② CYL (Cylinder): 0.00 to -4.00
└ ① + ② = within -5.25
Example: ① -4.0 + ② -1.25 = -5.25 → Compatible
③ AXIS (Astigmatism axis): 0 to 180 degrees supported
④ P.D. (Pupillary Distance)
● For Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
① SPH (Sphere): 0.00 to +3.0
② CYL (Cylinder): 0.00 to +3.0
└ ① + ② = within +3.0
Example: ① +2.0 + ② +1.0 = +3.0 → Compatible
③ AXIS (Astigmatism axis): 0 to 180 degrees supported
④ P.D. (Pupillary Distance)
[ Notes ]
※ Compatible frames are OWL MILS and owl classic only
※ We accept new frame purchases or customer-provided frames
※ If providing your own frame, we will check for any damage
※ Please bring a prescription for glasses measured by an ophthalmologist if you wish to order
※ Lens color is Purple Gray only
※ Delivery will be either by picking up at the store at a later date or shipping from the store (separate shipping fee applies)
※ Please be aware that prices are subject to change in the future