My friends, here’s to Friday and a bit of an early start to the holiday weekend. I’m looking forward to a bit of time to rest and recharge back in Brooklyn, along with the chance to stay in hot pursuit of my freelance writing ventures. Of course, if you follow me on Instagram, you know it’s been a busy week around these parts — and elsewhere, as I trekked up to Boston for a quick overnight trip with one of my favorite sunglasses brands, the USA-made, military-approved premium eyewear makers at Randolph Engineering.

I’ve been wearing the brand since 2015, and I’m an especially huge fan of its classic men’s aviator sunglasses, but that’s not all: I’ve lately taken to wearing another stellar pair from a fitting collaboration. Randolph Engineering teamed up with Todd Snyder on the Randolph x Todd Snyder line of sunglasses, an all-American collaboration that plays off the designer’s penchant for updating timeless classics with a touch of modern flair.

Those were just one of the pairs we chatted about as myself and my fellow journalists toured Randolph’s factory and spent some quality time with the team there (including a Boston stay on the waterfront at The Envoy Hotel Boston). I particularly appreciate the brand’s approach to precise craftsmanship and extreme attention to detail, be it the Todd Snyder x Randolph line or its fan-favorite aviator sunglasses.

And to get the chance to go behind the scenes of a classic brand — making accessories in America, the hard way — is always a pleasure. I was already a big-time fan of Randolph, and this trip further cemented them as an all-time great in my mind. Be sure to check out pairs from the Todd Snyder x Randolph collection (or the rest of the company’s offerings), and I’ll see you out there, sunglasses on, this season. Cheers, my friends!