illesteva was founded in 2010 with the mission to produce sunglasses with a classic, vintage feel. The luxury eyewear brand was founded by Daniel Silberman in downtown New York City. The name comes from a skilled artisan named Luigi Esteva and an infatuation with Ilsa Lund of the film Casablanca. illesteva set out to modernize the idea of a simple pair of glasses and has since taken the eyewear industry by storm. 

Handmade in Italy, France and Germany by the world’s leading manufacturers of luxury eyewear, illesteva hand-crafts each piece in various family-run factories using contemporary materials to offer strong, quality, vintage products. Each new frame design pushes the normal boundaries of eyewear by mixing classic shapes with modern details. illesteva glasses are a balance between traditional frame silhouettes and universal appeal. illesteva’s drive stems from the thought that sunglasses are the first thing people see when they look at you, hence, "sport the spirit of independent, handmade eyewear...show that you are not following the trends, but making a statement.”

illesteva has been producing high-quality eyewear for over a decade and has gained amassed a strong following from a variety of celebrities. Notable collaborations include N.E.R.D and Michael Jackson.