Five pairs of sunglasses you won't see on every face

The sun has finally made an appearance here in the UK. Even if it's still a tad chilly. Annoyingly, my trusty sunglasses are looking battered after years of happy wear. But instead of reaching for the same old brand – the one that has pretty much dominated the market over the last decade – I wanted something fresh and unusual. Partly to avoid looking like everyone else, yes… but mostly because it's nice to support independent businesses competing in the same space.

I'm not necessarily talking about under-the-radar brands. The names I've pulled out are established and doing really well. It's just that sunglasses tend to keep loyal customers – we don't often consider leaving our beloved pairs for something new. We're creatures of habit. We know what works and we know what we like. But look around any beer garden right now, and the whole "playing it safe" vibe is very much alive. It's time to break free, wouldn't you agree?

The following recommendations come from brands doing some brilliant things with eyewear right now. From different coloured lenses to frames that break every mould, I've picked out five of the best. Which will you choose now that the (seemingly) better weather has arrived?

1. Gower Sunglasses by Cubitts

Powerful and architectural, Gower is a quadra, angular-lens shape that reimagines a classic. Featuring graphic lines and a sculptural keyhole bridge, balanced with tapered temples, it's available in a range of hues to suit different skin tones. Personally, I'm leaning towards these green frames. But they also come in light brown, lilac, purple, light blue, and black – to name a few.

More recent collections include Raw Edge, a "celebration of process by revealing, not concealing, the marks of making". The Randell is an interesting option, especially the models with a two-tone design. The problem now, of course, is which pair to choose?

2. Deboer by Kaleos

Thank goodness for Kaleos, the sunglass brand launched in 2013, blessed with creative director Claudia Brotons at its creative helm. Every six months, Kaleos graces us with a new eyewear collection, almost certainly setting trends across the fashion industry and breaking all the style rules. It's become a bit of a respected icon of late, and you just know you'll feel unique, no matter what product you wear.

For this article, I've chosen these cat-eye sunglasses because they are lightweight, modern, and striking. Each pair has front and temples in silver stainless steel. And the temples have transparent crystal acetate tips. The gradient-coloured lens offers 100% UV protection and an anti-reflective coating. There are integrated nose pads, too. All handmade.

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3. Apollo by Akila

For those of you who still reach for a timeless silhouette, the Apollo by Akila might be a good fit. Just go for a quirky lens colour, like yellow. Or maybe blue or pink. This is a chunky frame with flat "zero base" lenses that bring this classic style into the 2020s. Also available in optical, you can choose from various frames, including tortoise, cement, and amber.

Not heard of Akila? It's an independent eyewear brand based in Los Angeles, focused on handmade, limited-run eyewear. All of its lenses are now made with 50% certified recycled content, and its frames are biodegradable and extracted from cotton and wood pulp. Cool and conscious. Probably our favourite of the bunch.

4. RSF One-Offs: Sugo Lampone by Retrosuperfuture

'One-offs' are an ongoing series of collectable eyewear drops by the very edgy Retrosuperfuture, released at select moments throughout the year in very limited runs to celebrate a season, person, place, or thing. Totally exclusive, too, so you're unlikely to see anyone else wearing your shades.

For this season, the focus is on Sugo. The model's smooth, sturdy black acetate is reinterpreted with fresh raspberry lenses for a sharp, chromatic contrast that really stands out. Chunky and bold, these are the kind of lenses that you'll colour-match with your socks.

5. River by Monokel

For a classic, timeless design that still feels unique, Monokel's River frames are hard to beat. It's become something of a staple in the fashion industry in recent years, and this particular pair features a solid green lens. Why? "Aviator pilots of the 1930s are often credited with making green lenses popular, choosing to wear them due to their ability to work in both sunny and low-light environments while reducing glare and brightening shadows," explains Monokel. Well, that makes sense, then. Personally, we just love how it softens our face.

Handcrafted from organic and biodegradable acetate, featuring anti-scratch and anti-reflective treatments with 100% UVA/UVB protection. Made by the renowned German lens and optics manufacturer Carl Zeiss. Beautiful.