Kio Yamato is not a person's name.  It is the philosophy of an eyewear line that isn't stuck in the 'now'.  Kio Yamato looks to the future to develop the fashion needs now using titanium technology other eyewear companies are just learning about.  Our name was chosen specifically to represent this philosophy.

KIO translates as pure and clean.  Pure and clean undoubtedly is the essence of this collection.  The clean, refined lines of the design accent the concept of lightweight titanium and clean, polished cellulose acetate.

YAMATO is the name of an ancient Japanese province, better known as 'The Court of Yamato', which literally signifies 'The Great Peace'.  This was between 100 and 300 BC.  At this time, the chiefs of the Kyushu clan settled in this province.  For fifteen centuries, they ruled over the destiny of the country.  The whole period was marked by the develpmet of techniques-in particular the widespread use of iron and considerable cultural advances.  YAMATO, a narrow plain situated 20 to 30 kilometers from Kyoto and Osaka, holds great archeological wealth, and thus symbolizes with eloquence this first Japanese state whose power sprang from wisdom and grace.

The union of these two names illsutrates the spirit of this new collection, where the subtle mixture of the splendor of an era and purity are intrinsically linked.