On Saturday, May 10, Bloomingdale’s Lenox Mall location hosted “Framed Elegance: Anwuli Eyewear Frame Fashion Show”.
When Dr. Nwamaka Ngoddy first began practicing optometry in the metro Atlanta area over a decade ago, she quickly noticed a persistent problem that had less to do with eyesight and more to do with design. Despite the growing diversity of her patients, the eyewear available to them remained stubbornly uniform—often built with narrow bridges, limited sizing, and little regard for facial features that deviated from European standards.
“I wanted to create a brand that considers diverse facial features within its design so people can feel included and also have statement pieces,” she said.
That vision sparked the creation of Anwuli Eyewear, an inclusive eyewear brand founded in 2019, before releasing products in 2021, as a result of COVID-19. Named after the Igbo word for “joy,” Anwuli Eyewear reflects Dr. Ngoddy’s mission to celebrate individuality, honor cultural heritage, and elevate style—while addressing a long-overlooked gap in the optical industry.
A first-generation Nigerian American and Atlanta native, earning her undergraduate degree from Xavier University of Louisiana before completing her doctorate at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. After finishing her education, she returned home to Atlanta to practice, where her work in clinical optometry began to intersect with her love of fashion and design.
The transition from optometrist to brand founder didn’t happen overnight. “We started the business in 2019, but the pandemic hit shortly after,” Ngoddy said. “There were delays prototyping, manufacturing, all of that. But we pushed through.”
By 2021, Anwuli Eyewear launched its first collection, offering thoughtfully designed frames in an array of sizes and styles. Today, the brand is carried by independent optical retailers across the United States and will be in Bloomingdale’s this summer.
In 2024, Dr. Ngoddy’s hard work received a national spotlight when she won the Macy’s Retail Readiness Program, securing a $100,000 grant and a key partnership opportunity with Bloomingdale’s. Through that partnership, Anwuli Eyewear has hosted multiple trunk shows at Bloomingdale’s Lenox Mall, offering customers a first-hand look at Anwuli’s collections.
Among those walking in the upcoming show is Anaiah Jones, a 19-year-old model who began her career at age seven but is stepping into eyewear modeling for the first time.
“I’ve done smaller projects, but this is the biggest thing I’ve done,” Jones said. “Modeling eyewear is different—it’s actually easier. You don’t have to move around as much. And walking at Bloomingdale’s? That’s a first.”
Jones received the call a few weeks before the event and joined a Zoom orientation to prepare. “We were told to wear neutral spring colors to match the frames,” she said. “It was a really good experience. The DJs were great, the whole setup was beautiful.”
The fashion show held in the eyewear department at Bloomingdale’s, highlighted eight distinctive frames from the Anwuli Eyewear collection, as Dr. Ngoddy shared, “It’s about creating space for people to feel celebrated and seen—for who they are and how they show up in the world.”
To see the full collection, visit: https://anwulieyewear.com/
