CHICAGO — Off the soccer pitch, Chicago Fire goalie Sean Johnson said he's routinely asked where he bought his glasses.
The Fire keeper wears specs from Desiar Eyewear, a company founded in Chicago in 2012 by Johnson's friend and former Central Florida classmate Jamal Robinson.
"I have a love for fashion and respect that trends are forever changing," Johnson said. "For me, Desiar was exactly what I was looking for to complement my style and it's perfect for all occasions."
Johnson is not the only celebrity to don the eyewear, which features wooden frames and sunglasses, according to Desiar marketing chair Jelani Whitehorne. The West Loop resident said singer Trey Songz, Bulls star Jimmy Butler, former NBA center Eddy Curry, BET host Julissa Bermudez and Portland TrailBlazer Dorell Wright have donned the glasses.
"I see it changing the world on how people feel about the eyewear," said Whitehorne, a Kenwood High School and University of Illinois at Chicago graduate.
The glasses retail from between about $90 and $200. Robinson, a former Gold Coast and Lakeview resident who now lives in his native Fort Wayne, Ind., launched the company in 2012 in Chicago.
His debut collection was dropped at the Randolph Street Market, and he said the first store to sell his product was the Silver Room in Wicker Park. He also crafted the designs at Lacuna Artist Lofts Studios in Pilsen.
"Chicago's always been really supportive," Robinson, 27, said. "Chicago was a major part of the foundation of spreading the brand awareness because of the opportunities that Chicago offers — especially a startup fashion brand."
Robinson, whose company has seven employees, said his next line of eyewear will be revealed in April or May and is hoping to open a boutique in Fort Wayne soon.
He doesn't have a paid spokesman, but said Johnson — who is now training with the U.S. National Team — is probably the No. 1 fan of his glasses.
Johnson, who has played five seasons with the Fire — earning a 6-9-18 record last year with 96 saves — said the eyewear is "unique that sets your accessory apart from the next guy."
"Definitely adds a swagger that you don't see often," Johnson said. "I love when people notice the shades because every reaction is as if they have never seen anything like it before."
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