“It is my job, my hobby, and essential for my life”

Malmsten describes first wearing glasses at nine years old, and facing teasing from bullies calling him “glasögonorm” – the Swedish term for ‘four eyes’ but which also translates as ‘eyewear snake.’

Vasuma Eyewear was founded from a desire to empower glasses-wearers – with each frame named after a type of snake.

OT heard about Malmsten’s collection of eyewear, his go-to shapes, and the inspiration he finds in Old Town, Sweden.

How many pairs of spectacles and sunglasses do you own?

Around 30 different frames in the drawers at home.

What frame shapes, colours, or styles, do you usually opt for?

My nose is kind of small, so I usually go for frames with nose pads since these fit the best on me. However, now I am wearing a Japanese acetate frame without pads – the Vasuma ‘ECHIS’ – although this frame has a rather common nose bridge size (20), it fits well on my small nose due to the material and shape. I tend to choose various ‘panto’ shapes, both in metal and acetate frames. Most often, I go for transparent or semi-transparent tones, such as ‘prosecco’ or ‘cognac.’

Can you describe your favourite pair?

The look and colour are important, but it is the fit that makes you want to wear the frame frequently. I’m still searching for my favourite pair, and it’s a privilege to be able to try out a couple of difference frames each year. When doing sports or riding a bike, I usually wear a cylinder mask with a mirror lens. When picking autumn chantarelles, I recently ordered a specially made slight yellow tinted lens, after reading an article about colour and contrast. It did actually make a difference while strolling the forest.

Vasuma Eyewear

The ‘Echis’ frames are a favourite in Lars’ collection

Who would you pick as your style icon when it comes to eyewear?

David Bowie.

How long have you worn spectacles for, and what prompted you to go for your first sight test?

I’ve worn spectacles more or less since I was around nine years old. I was very shy as a kid, always sitting at the back of the classroom and trying to avoid questions from the teacher. For years I had to squint my eyes to see the text on the blackboard, which created headaches. I went to get a sight test and the headache disappeared. Another headache occurred though – bullies shouted “four eyes” and “eyewear snake,” but if it hadn’t been for this, I wouldn’t have founded Vasuma Eyewear.

What does vision and eye health mean to you?

It is my job, my hobby, and essential for my life. I ought to wear frames more frequently, but my visual defect is a bit ‘odd’ with astigmatism and slight strabismus.

How important is eyewear to reflecting your personality?

I wear different outfits depending on the daily mood. It's cool to choose different frames if you’re at the office, a party, mingling, or chilling at a café. The choice can reflect what ‘character’ you feel like having for the day.

What are your top tips for selecting the right pair of frames?

Fit, quality, and conscious, sustainable brand. Also, go for your own style, but if you’re unsure what to select, find an optician who loves their work and pays attention to giving you top-notch service.

What inspires your work at Vasuma Eyewear?

The cosy environment in Old Town, Sweden, with music and restaurants, but also journeys to other countries and vibrant cities.

What are you proudest of in running Vasuma?

It has been 20 years, and we still have the same entrepreneurial team running the extra mile each day to exceed customer expectations.