Custom Eyeglasses in Quebec, Designed by Marie-Sophie Dion and Handcrafted in Her Saint-Lambert Workshop
An optician and eyewear designer with more than three decades of experience, Marie-Sophie Dion creates custom eyeglasses for people looking for a truly unique frame that simply can’t be found in an existing collection.
It all starts with you: your face, your proportions, your personality, your style, and how you want to be seen.
From that first meeting, a frame is envisioned and designed specifically for you, then handcrafted in our Saint-Lambert workshop, founded by Marie-Sophie Dion in 2014 as Quebec’s first eyewear frame manufacturing workshop. From the initial sketch to the final polish, every step is completed by hand in Saint-Lambert by our team of eyewear artisans, under the direction of designer and optician Marie-Sophie Dion.
The result is a truly personal pair of custom eyeglasses, designed for your face and handcrafted right here in Quebec.
AT A GLANCE
Marie-Sophie Dion Custom Eyewear Design Program
A fully custom eyeglass frame designed around your face using 15 precise facial measurements, with the material, shape, proportions, and colour selected specifically for your project. Rather than adapting your face to an existing frame, we create the frame around you.
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the initial consultation to the final fitting: consultation (60–90 min) → design and modelling (1–2 weeks) → handcrafted production (2–3 weeks) → precision fitting (30 min).
Marie-Sophie Dion, optician and eyewear designer, together with her design and manufacturing team.
At the Marie-Sophie Dion workshop in Saint-Lambert, on Montreal’s South Shore.
Custom frames start at $690 CAD, depending on the complexity of the design.
Yes. With our virtual consultation service, custom eyewear is available to clients across Canada, the United States, and internationally, with worldwide shipping.
Marie-Sophie Dion, Eyewear Designer and Optician, a Pioneer of Custom Eyewear in Quebec
Marie-Sophie Dion is a trained eyewear designer and optician. In 1992, she opened her first Bar à Lunettes in Sherbrooke, where she introduced clients to independent designer eyewear collections, primarily from Europe. For more than three decades, she has studied thousands of faces and developed a refined understanding of the shapes, proportions, and colours that naturally enhance each person’s features. Over the years, she has helped tens of thousands of clients across Quebec, Canada, and the United States find eyewear that truly suits them.
In 2014, Marie-Sophie Dion decided to take her work one step further. Instead of searching for the ideal frame among existing designs, why not create it from scratch?
She established Quebec’s first eyewear frame manufacturing workshop in Saint-Lambert. Today, this is where both the Marie-Sophie Dion collection and fully custom eyewear designs are created.
Her dual expertise as both an optician and eyewear designer is central to her approach. Understanding the face always comes before designing the frame.
Her philosophy is simple: “A great pair of glasses is one you forget to take off.”
Today, Marie-Sophie Dion continues to create alongside her team in Saint-Lambert. Every custom eyewear project brings together her optical expertise, her understanding of facial proportions, and her designer’s eye.
What this means for you: Your custom frames do not begin with a catalogue. They begin with your face.
What Exactly Is a Custom Eyeglass Frame?
A custom eyeglass frame is not simply an existing frame with a different colour or a few adjusted dimensions. It is a creation that starts with you: the proportions of your face, the shape of your eyes, your nose, your eyebrows, your temples, as well as your personality, your style, and the image you want to project.
These elements become the design parameters used to draw the shape, determine the proportions, and select the colours.
So you are not simply personalizing an existing frame. You are taking part in creating your own.
What If Your Perfect Pair of Glasses Hasn’t Been Created Yet?
Custom eyewear may be the right choice for you if:
- You’ve never found eyeglass frames that fit perfectly and feel truly comfortable.–
The temples feel too tight around your ears, the frames slide down your nose, touch your cheeks or eyelashes, or put pressure on the sides of your head.
- You’re looking for a truly unique signature style.–
A one-of-a-kind frame you won’t see on anyone else.
- You value local craftsmanship.–
And you appreciate knowing where your eyewear comes from, who made it, and the workshop where it was crafted.
- Your facial features don’t fit standard frame proportions.–
Whether you have a wider or narrower face, an atypical pupillary distance, or a flatter or more prominent nose.
- You wear your glasses every day, all day long.–
Investing in perfectly fitted frames pays off in everyday comfort.
- You’re looking for eyewear designed to last, with ongoing maintenance and repairs handled by the same workshop that made it.
Ready-to-Wear or Custom-Made: Two Ways to Wear a Marie-Sophie Dion Design
The Marie-Sophie Dion collection and custom eyewear program share the same design philosophy, while offering two distinct experiences.
MSD Signature Collection (Designer Ready-to-Wear Eyewear)
Frames designed by Marie-Sophie Dion and available in a range of shapes, sizes, and colours.
You choose the design from her collection that best complements your face and reflects your personality.
Marie-Sophie Dion Custom Eyewear Design
A frame designed specifically for you, based on your facial features, 15 precise measurements, and personal preferences. Here, the process is reversed: instead of finding your frame among existing designs, we start with you to create the one that doesn’t exist yet.
| Criteria | Ready-to-Wear Frames | MSD Signature Collection | Bar à Lunettes Custom Eyewear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production Type | Mass-produced on a large scale and sold worldwide | Small-batch designs created by Marie-Sophie Dion and available exclusively at Bar à Lunettes | A one-of-a-kind frame created by Marie-Sophie Dion specifically for you, directly in our Saint-Lambert workshop |
| Design | Designed for large-scale production | Designed by Marie-Sophie Dion for her ready-to-wear collection, drawing on more than 35 years of expertise in eyewear styling and design. | Designed by Marie-Sophie Dion to match your exact facial measurements and unique features |
| Place of Manufacture | China, Italy, and other countries | Montreal’s South Shore, Quebec, Canada | Rive-Sud de Montréal, Québec, Canada |
| Facial Fit | 2 to 3 standard sizes | Available in a range of sizes, from extra small to extra large | Precisely fitted to the millimetre based on your unique facial features, including your temples, nose, ears, and more |
| Colour Customization | None | Available in several predefined colours | Choose from 35 colours, available in a variety of finishes |
| Shape Customization | None | MSD Collection Shapes | A custom shape designed specifically for you, based on your unique facial features |
| Materials | Injection-moulded plastic, acetate, and metal | High-quality cellulose acetate | High-quality cellulose acetate |
| Signature / Engraving | Brand logo | MSD signature engraved on the temple | MSD signature and your name engraved on the temple |
| Timeline | Available immediately in store | Available immediately in store | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Estimated Durability | 2–3 Years | 8–12 Years | No Fixed Lifespan |
| Lifetime Adjustments | Typically limited to one year | Included at all six locations with the purchase of an MSD frame | Included at all six locations with the purchase of an MSD frame |
| Repairable | Repairs available for an additional fee | Yes. Repairs are included with the purchase of an MSD frame and are completed in our workshop. | Yes. Repairs are included with the purchase of an MSD frame and are completed in our workshop. |
A pair of glasses that truly feels like you starts with a conversation.
Book My Virtual ConsultationEyewear imagined, designed, and handcrafted right here in Quebec
For Marie-Sophie Dion, keeping design and craftsmanship closely connected is an essential part of the custom eyewear experience.
Your frame is conceived and designed here in Quebec. The acetate is then cut, shaped, assembled, and polished by hand in our Saint-Lambert workshop. Adjustments and maintenance can also be handled by the same teams who know our frames and how they are made.
This close connection means you know where your eyewear was created, how it was crafted, and that even years later, you can return to the workshop that made it.
The Benefits of Eyeglass Frames Made in Quebec
- Traceability :
You know exactly where your frames come from and who made them.
- Reduced Carbon Footprint :
No overseas manufacturing and no transcontinental shipping of finished eyewear.
- Easy, lifelong repairs :
Your frames can always return to the workshop where they were made. A hinge accidentally breaks after 12 years? We repair it. A temple is damaged by an impact? We replace it.
- Local Craftsmanship :
Local production directly supports and preserves eyewear-making expertise in Quebec.
- Creative Control :
From the initial concept to the finished frame, every step remains in the hands of the Marie-Sophie Dion team.
From Your Face to Your Frames: The Custom Eyewear Design Process
Creating a pair of custom eyeglasses takes time, and that is part of what makes them special. Here is what to expect, step by step, from your initial consultation to the moment you put on your one-of-a-kind frames.
01
Style and Facial Analysis Consultation
Goal: to understand your face, your style, and your lifestyle.
- In-store or by video consultation, we discuss the image you want to project and analyze your facial features, including the overall impression and personality you want your eyewear to convey, whether playful, outgoing, artistic, understated, or something else.
- We review your wardrobe, personal style, and everyday clothing choices.
- We study your face from multiple angles. Two photos are taken to help assess your proportions.
- We record 15 precise facial measurements, including eye size and shape, balance and symmetry, temple width, nose shape, pupillary distance, cheek length, ear height, eyebrow thickness, and more.
A deposit is required at this stage to begin the design process.
02
Design, 2D Modelling and Approval
Goal: to translate your preferences and facial measurements into a precise design for your approval before production begins.
- Marie-Sophie Dion or a member of her team designs your custom frames based on the measurements collected during your consultation.
- The design is then converted into a precise 2D model, with every curve, angle, and proportion refined to a tenth of a millimetre.
- You receive the design by email, along with a colour palette for your review and approval.
- You can request adjustments, such as a rounder shape, slimmer temples, a different colour, or changes to the nose angle.
- Once the design is approved and the colour selected, your custom frames officially move into production.
03
Handcrafted in Saint-Lambert
Goal: to bring your custom frames to life by hand in our Saint-Lambert workshop.
- Cutting: the cellulose acetate sheet is cut to the exact dimensions of your frame.
- Shaping: each curve is formed according to your facial structure, including forehead depth, cheek contour, and temple width.
- Assembly: the hinges are installed with millimetre-level precision. On acetate frames, the internal metal core is heat-inserted into the temples.
- Hand polishing: depending on your preference, the frame is finished in gloss, satin, or matte. Hand polishing creates a depth and richness of colour that cannot be replicated through mass production.
- Personal engraving: your name can be engraved inside one temple, in addition to the Marie-Sophie Dion signature, as an optional detail.
04
Final Precision Fitting to the Half-Millimetre
Goal: to complete the final in-store fitting so your custom frames align precisely with the measurements and contours of your face.
- Horizontal alignment: we adjust the position and height of the frame on your nose so your eyes are properly and evenly centred.
- Pantoscopic angle adjustment: we fine-tune the angle of the frame front in relation to the temples to support optimal lens performance and visual comfort.
- Temple pressure: we adjust the temple opening around the sides of your head and ears to achieve a secure, comfortable fit.
- Fit behind the ears: we shape the temple tips to follow the contour behind your ears, helping distribute the weight of the glasses comfortably.
- Final evaluation: we review the overall balance, weight, comfort, and appearance of your frames to ensure they feel as good as they look — and reflect the custom design you could never have found off the shelf.
Ready to take the first step? Book your consultation in-store or by video call.
Book My Consultation NowCellulose Acetate: A Rich, Luxurious Material
The material is never just a detail. Its transparency, depth, colour, and thickness all play an essential role in defining the character of a frame.
Highly valued in designer eyewear, cellulose acetate offers exceptional versatility in colour, transparency, patterns, and layered effects.
For custom eyewear, this richness becomes an important part of the creative process. Colours can be selected to complement your skin tone, eyes, and hair, while also expressing your individual style and personality.
- Material: cellulose acetate, made from cotton and wood pulp, offering a more sustainable alternative to injection-moulded plastic.
- Benefits: exceptional colour depth, lightweight comfort, durability, hypoallergenic properties, and a finish that ages beautifully over time.
- Customization options: more than 300 colours are available, including exclusive shades and multi-layer combinations such as gradients, inlays, and contrasting interior and exterior colours.
The Key Benefits of Custom Eyeglass Frames
How Custom Eyewear Makes a Difference Every Day: 5 Lasting Benefits
Comfort You Barely Notice
Your glasses no longer slip, pinch, or leave pressure marks on your nose. They are designed to match the exact proportions of your face, so after a few days, you may barely notice you’re wearing them.
Proportions Designed for Your Face
The width, height, bridge, temples, and overall balance of the frame are designed around your facial proportions, rather than being limited by the dimensions of an existing model.
A Truly Personal Aesthetic
The shape is not simply designed to follow a trend. It is created to feel balanced with your face and aligned with your personality.
10 to 20 Years of Durability
With premium materials, handcrafted construction, and lifetime maintenance included at all six of our locations, your frames can last for decades. It is a long-term investment that delivers lasting value over time.
Sentimental Value
Your name is engraved inside the temple. Your frames carry the story of their design, the colour you chose, and the consultation that brought them to life. They are more than eyewear; they become a personal keepsake, and sometimes even an heirloom passed down over time.
Why Choose Marie-Sophie Dion for Your Custom Eyewear?
The Dual Expertise of an Optician and Eyewear Designer
More than three decades of studying faces and working with eyewear now inform every custom frame she creates.
Quebec’s First Eyewear Frame Manufacturing Workshop
Founded by Marie-Sophie Dion in Saint-Lambert in 2014, the workshop brings both design and manufacturing together under one roof.
A Collection That Inspires Every Custom Design
Hundreds of frame shapes created over the years form an extensive library of proportions, volumes, and design ideas, providing a depth of experience that enriches every new custom eyewear project.
A Design Process That Starts with Your Face
At Marie-Sophie Dion, understanding your face comes before designing your frames.
A Relationship That Continues Beyond the Design Process
Adjustments, maintenance, and repairs help keep your frames in excellent condition long after the day you receive them.
“For me, creating a custom frame is the ultimate expression of my craft: starting with a face, understanding a personality, then designing the shape, proportions, and details that will enhance the person while providing exceptional comfort.
And when I see the person enter a room with their glasses, rather than the glasses entering first, I know I’ve succeeded.”
— Marie-Sophie Dion
Client Testimonials
“The pifometer measures the angle at the bridge of your nose so the frame you choose sits perfectly in place. In short, this tool changed my life, and I’m not even exaggerating!”
“My Marie-Sophie Dion frames, designed and handcrafted in Quebec, truly reflect my style and my appreciation for modern, authentic design.”
“Strangers stop me on the street to compliment my glasses! I’m sure I’ve received more compliments on this pair than on all my other frames combined. Thank you to Marie-Sophie Dion and the team behind this custom design.”
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Your Most Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Eyewear
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What Are Custom Eyeglass Frames?
A frame whose shape and proportions are designed specifically around your face, precise measurements, personal preferences, and style.
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Where Can You Get Custom Eyeglasses Made in Quebec?
Marie-Sophie Dion custom eyeglass frames are designed and handcrafted in her Saint-Lambert workshop, on Montreal’s South Shore. Founded in 2014, it was Quebec’s first eyewear frame manufacturing workshop.
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What Is the Difference Between Personalized and Custom-Made Eyeglass Frames?
Personalized eyewear typically starts with an existing frame and modifies certain elements. True custom-made eyewear starts with the client’s face and precise measurements, which become the foundation for the entire design.
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How Much Do Custom Eyeglass Frames Cost?
Marie-Sophie Dion custom frames start at approximately $1,200 CAD, with pricing varying depending on the complexity of the design and the materials selected.
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How Long Does It Take to Create Custom Eyeglass Frames?
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the initial consultation to the final fitting, depending on the complexity of the project.
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Who Designs the Custom Eyeglass Frames?
The custom eyewear program is led by Marie-Sophie Dion, optician and eyewear designer, together with her design and manufacturing team in Saint-Lambert.
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Are the Frames Really Made in Quebec?
Yes. The design and various stages of frame production are completed in the Marie-Sophie Dion workshop in Saint-Lambert, Quebec. Specialized raw materials, including Italian acetate, are sourced from carefully selected international manufacturers.
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Can You Choose the Shape and Colour?
Yes. That is one of the key advantages of custom eyewear: the shape, proportions, colours, and design details are all selected specifically for your project.
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Can We Use a Favourite Previous Frame as Inspiration?
Yes. A previous pair of glasses, a photo, a colour, a shape, or even a specific detail you love can serve as inspiration. The goal is not necessarily to reproduce it, but to understand what you like about it and use that as a starting point to create a new frame that feels uniquely yours.
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Can You Start the Custom Eyewear Process Remotely?
Yes. A virtual consultation is available for clients who are unable to visit in person. Depending on the project, however, certain fitting steps may still require an in-person appointment.
What If the Frames You’re Looking for Haven’t Been Created Yet?
Creating custom eyewear rarely begins with absolute certainty. You may come in with a very specific idea, a colour you love, a favourite old frame you want to reinterpret, or simply the feeling that you have never found the right pair.
That is where our work begins.
A conversation, your face, a few precise measurements, and an idea. Then the design process starts.
BAR À LUNETTES LOCATIONS
Custom Eyewear Available at All 6 Bar à Lunettes Locations
- Montréal
401 McGill Street, Montréal, QC H2Y 2G2
- Québec
30 Saint-André Quay (Old Port), Québec City, QC G1K 9B7
- Sherbrooke
3073 Portland Boulevard, Sherbrooke, QC J1L 2Y7
- Laval
3240 Curé-Labelle Boulevard, Laval, QC H7P 0H9
- Bromont
201 Champlain Street, Bromont, QC J2L 3B2