Shade Theory

Fashion

Hanley is redefining modern eyewear with timeless shapes, premium craftsmanship and an effortless Mediterranean ease.

By Institute Team Hanley — designed in Galicia

There are sunglasses, and then there is Hanley. Designed in Galicia and shaped by the unhurried confidence of Mediterranean living, the brand has become a quiet favourite among those who prefer considered design to fast fashion.

Each frame is cut from premium acetate and built for daily wear. The silhouettes are clean and certain — the kind of pieces that lift a plain tee as readily as tailoring.

From city streets to coastal escapes, Hanley is made to move with you. Understated. Unisex. Effortless.

The Institute Picks

Cloud9 Black Premium

£90

A pointed cat-eye with weight behind it.

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Benedict Brown

£90

Warm lenses, quiet frame. Built for daylight.

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Selene Carey

£90

Slim, oval, tortoiseshell. Understated.

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Napali Carey

£90

A wide seventies silhouette, softened.

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Use code INSTITUTE10 at checkout

Products gifted by Hanley. This feature was produced independently by Institute. Photography courtesy of Hanley: @mtsnko, @alvaro_tc, @gigihgutti. Prices shown in pounds for UK readers, correct at time of publication. Hanley prices vary by delivery country.

Every frame here is cut from acetate — a plastic made from cotton and wood pulp rather than petroleum. It matters more than it sounds. The colour runs through the whole thickness of the material instead of sitting on top of it, so an acetate frame that gets knocked about does not reveal a different colour underneath the way a coated one does. It also softens with heat, which is why an optician can adjust the fit rather than telling you the shape is the shape.

All four are £90 and all four are designed in Galicia, in the north-west corner of Spain. The differences are worth knowing before you choose, because they photograph more alike than they wear.

Frames were supplied by Hanley for this feature. Links are tracked and carry a reader discount code.