Meet Anne Berberian of Sunglass Museum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Berberian.

Hi Anne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Sunglass Museum really started with a moment of disbelief. My cousin Toni and I both grew up around eyewear. Our family has been in the industry for over 40 years. She’s a natural saleswoman and has been in the business for over three decades, and I’m a photographer by trade, so I’ve always approached things from a visual and creative perspective. One day, Toni stumbled upon a massive lot of vintage, deadstock sunglasses that had been sitting untouched for years. She called me and said, “You have to come see this.” When we opened those boxes, we couldn’t believe what we were looking at. Perfectly preserved frames from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Never worn, incredible craftsmanship, thick acetate, wire core temples, glass lenses. It felt like uncovering a time capsule. We kept saying, “This is like a sunglass museum.” And that was it! The name stuck instantly.
At first, we started wearing them ourselves, gifting them to friends, photographing them and listing them on Etsy and eBay just to see what would happen. We didn’t overthink it. We just knew they were special. People responded immediately. They appreciated the quality, the nostalgia, and the fact that these weren’t reproductions. They were authentic new old stock pieces with history. What started as two cousins excited about a cool discovery has now grown into nearly 200,000 sales worldwide, from Australia to Kazakhstan, and thousands of five-star reviews. For the past 12 years, we’ve been carefully curating and recirculating these pieces, giving them a second life instead of letting them sit forgotten in warehouses or end up in landfills.
From the very beginning, it was about preservation of craftsmanship, of design, and of history.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think any small business journey is completely smooth, especially when you’re working with vintage. One of our biggest challenges has always been sourcing. Deadstock is finite. Once a style is gone, it’s gone. We don’t mass-produce these pieces, so every time we discover a new lot, it feels like a treasure hunt. But it also means constant searching, building relationships. Storage has also been a real learning curve. When you’re dealing with thousands of one-of-a-kind frames from different decades, organization becomes everything. We joke that our “museum” is very literal behind the scenes. Another early challenge was educating customers about what deadstock actually means. Many people assume vintage equals worn or used, but our frames are new old stock, discontinued pieces that were never sold or worn. They’re authentic, but untouched. Once customers understand that, they really value it. Sustainability has always been part of our vision, even before it was a bigger conversation in fashion. Selling vintage and deadstock eyewear promotes circularity and carries a lighter carbon footprint than producing something brand new. For 12 years, we’ve proudly recirculated hundreds of thousands of sunglasses that might otherwise have been discarded. We may be a small business, but contributing to keeping beautiful pieces out of landfills means a lot to us. There were definitely moments where we were figuring things out as we went, but that’s part of building something meaningful.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Sunglass Museum is really a curated archive of eyewear history. We specialize in authentic vintage and deadstock sunglasses primarily from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Many of our pieces were manufactured in places like France, Italy, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong back when eyewear was made with incredible attention to detail. Thick acetate frames, wire core temples, glass or CR39 lenses materials that feel substantial and lasting.
We truly have something for everyone. If you’re drawn to bold, unusual pieces, our 90s-inspired Steampunk collection is filled with rare finds like industrial-style metals, colored lenses, unexpected silhouettes. If you love classic, tailored styles, our retro ’40s, ’50s and ’60s-inspired frames give that timeless, effortless look. We also carry vintage aviators in every size and era, and we personally measure every single frame to help customers find their best fit.
Over the years, some styles became so popular that we began designing our own Signature Collections inspired by the vintage originals but made with upgraded, durable materials. It’s our way of honoring the past while making it accessible for today. We’ve been fortunate to see our pieces featured in pop culture moments from Netflix’s GLOW to major fashion publications and events, but what means the most to us is our loyal community. With over 10k five-star reviews and nearly 200,000 sales globally, we know people aren’t just buying sunglasses they’re connecting with a feeling. For us, it’s not about trends. It’s about preserving design that deserves to be worn again.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up in Southern California, near the ocean, definitely shaped my aesthetic in ways I didn’t even realize at first. There’s something about the California light, it’s warm, golden, and nostalgic. Long summers, backyard barbecues, that relaxed and effortless energy. I think that naturally influenced what I’m drawn to when curating frames. Even when a piece is bold or dramatic, I’m subconsciously looking for comfort and wearability. Something that feels expressive but still easy.
Being raised in a family that was already in the eyewear business also had a huge impact. I grew up seeing how frames were made, how materials differed, and how quality really mattered. I think that’s why we’re so passionate about the craftsmanship of vintage pieces. And building this with my cousin has been one of the most meaningful parts of the journey. It’s not just a business , it’s something rooted in family, trust, and shared history. We each bring different strengths, but we both share the same excitement when we find that one special frame that feels like it was waiting to be rediscovered.
At the end of the day, Sunglass Museum isn’t just about sunglasses. It’s about preserving little pieces of history and giving them a new life while staying true to where we come from.

Pricing:

• $18-$55 price range

Contact Info:

• Website: sunglassmuseum.com
• Instagram: @sunglassmuseum
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunglassmuseum/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sunglassmuseum558
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SunglassMuseum?

Image Credits
Ani Berberian