Life & Work with Michael Nicolas of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Nicolas.

Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve loved fashion for as long as I can remember. While I was in college, a friend and I walked into a LensCrafters to look for jobs. We filled out applications and took a test, and after passing, I was hired as a frame stylist. That’s where I truly fell in love with both optical work and fashion.
That experience marked the beginning of my career.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride. Kazoku is my second brand, I never got the chance to release my first.
One of the most stressful decisions of my life was quitting my job to fully pursue fashion and optical. I poured everything into designing my first collection. To save money, I stored it in my basement after it arrived.
One night, during a high tide, my basement flooded. By morning, my entire collection was gone. Years of work lost overnight.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Fashion and optical design are more than interests to me ,they’re my passion.
My name is Michael. I was born and raised in Haiti, where my journey began. After studying optics and spending over a decade in the field, I found a way to merge technical precision with creative expression through eyewear design.
At Kazoku, we call it “fashion with function.” Each piece I create is bold, distinctive, and intentional. I believe eyewear is more than an accessory
it’s a reflection of your personality. Every design is, in many ways, a reflection of who I am.
Kazoku is a handcrafted brand built with care and purpose. Each frame is measured and developed using real models to ensure a precise, comfortable fit, because style should never come at the expense of function.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next five to ten years, I believe people will value creativity and individuality more than brand labels. We’re already seeing a shift, consumers are becoming more intentional about what they wear and how it represents them.
We live in a world where everyone is beautiful in their own way, and eyewear has the power to enhance that uniqueness. It’s no longer just about vision, it’s about expression.
Eyewear will continue to grow as an essential part of fashion, but more importantly, consumers will increasingly gravitate toward distinctive, thoughtfully designed pieces that stand out. The future belongs to originality.

Pricing:

• $450
• $1900
• $3500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.kazokulunettes.com
• Instagram: Kazokulunettesofficial
• Facebook: Kazokulunettesofficial
• Youtube: Kazokulunettesofficial