Rims & Goggles

IN 1975, FASHION MAVEN AND BUSINESS-WOMAN, ROSEMARY GROW AND EX-HUSBAND-TURNED-FRIEND HOMER, VENTURED INTO THE NEW FRONTIER OF PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES AS A FASHION ACCESSORY–LONG BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR. WHY THE OPTICAL BUSINESS? “THIS BUSINESS OFFERS ME THREE THINGS I LOVE THE MOST, FASHION, PEOPLE AND TRAVEL.” ROSEMARY WOULD OFTEN SAY WHEN ASKED.

IN 1986, ROSEMARY & HOMER PARTED WAYS, WITH ROSEMARY CARRYING ON HER UNIQUE VISION WITH THE MILL VALLEY LOCATION (A STORE THAT WAS ALWAYS DEAR TO HER HEART–AS A LONGTIME MARIN RESIDENT) AND HOMER MAINTAINING THE SF LOCATIONS.

VISITING PARIS AND MILAN EACH YEAR TO HAND SELECT THE BEST THE WORLD HAD TO OFFER IN EYEWEAR–ROSEMARY FOUND THE NOW INFAMOUS LAFONT PARIS WHERE RIMS & GOGGLES OF MARIN BECAME THE LAFONT FAMILIES’ VERY FIRST OPTICAL ACCOUNT IN THE UNITED STATES, A RELATIONSHIP THAT PROUDLY CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

DURING THIS TIME, ROSEMARY ALSO BEGAN DESIGNING HER OWN LINE, CURATING HER YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY INTO AN EYEWEAR COLLECTION THAT HAS HAD MARIN AUDIENCES EXCITED FOR YEARS. IT WAS CLEAR… ROSEMARY HAD THE GOLDEN TOUCH. HER BUSINESS MODEL BLOSSOMED OVER THE YEARS WITH REQUESTS FROM HOLLYWOOD TO DUBAI FOR HER PERSONAL STYLING AND EXPERTISE.

IN 2006, A NEW GENERATION BEGAN WHEN ROSEMARY & HOMER’S DAUGHTER PENNA, A DESIGNER, MOVED FROM LOS ANGELES TO TAKE OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE MARIN COUNTY STORE, CARRYING ON ROSEMARY’S LEGACY OF LOVE.

ARMED WITH THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER, THE STORE AND THE COMMUNITY, PENNA AND THE R&G OF MARIN STAFF TEAMED UP TO TAKE RIMS & GOGGLES OF MARIN TO THE NEXT LEVEL ONCE AGAIN–FOCUSING ON INDEPENDENT EYEWEAR LINES.

“MY MOM HAD AN AMAZING EYE FOR DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP AND COULD SEE WHERE FASHION WAS HEADED WELL BEFORE ANYONE ELSE," SHARED PENNA. "LUCKILY, THAT TRAIT IS HEREDITARY!” LAUGHS PENNA.

AS A RESULT, R&G NOW PROUDLY SERVES NEW “MARIN-ITES” AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF OUR ORIGINAL CUSTOMERS FROM THE 70’S.

2015: THE NEXT 40 YEARS IS LOOKING BRIGHT FOR R&G OF MARIN, WITH THEIR FOCUS ON THE LAUNCH OF THEIR NEW LINE… GRO EYEWEAR.

2016: LOOK OUT BERKELEY, HERE WE COME! RIMS & GOGGLES IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW LOCATION ON BERKELEY'S ICONIC 4TH STREET!