Larry's company, which is based in Aliso Viejo, CA, set up its wholesale division, Optical Shop of Aspen International, in 1988. His expertise in the field allowed him to see the potential for a division focused on designing and distributing in conjunction with exclusive high-end fashion houses. Sands considers the wholesale division an integral part of the business and not just a way of securing exclusives for the shops, but a necessity for setting direction in the industry. As he says, "We want to be in control of what we stand for. When we create a direction in eyewear, we want to take it to the next step."

In 1996 Optical Shop of Aspen International entered into a licensing agreement with Barry Kieselstein Cord to design, manufacture, and distribute the Kieselstein-Cord Eyewear line worldwide. The line adheres to Barry's high fashion museum piece design aesthetic and brings a previously unseen style to the eyewear world. The frames are made of the highest quality materials and include Barry's trademark crocodile, frog, and celestial motifs.

In 2002, OSA International launched the Chrome Hearts Eyewear line through a license with the Chrome Hearts Brand. Chrome Hearts Eyewear stays true to the exclusivity of Chrome Hearts and the OSA philosophy. It is the most handcrafted eyewear made in the world today. In 2004 the IOFT "Frame of the Year" award was given to Optical Shop of Aspen for the "Red Riot" frame, part of the Chrome Hearts Collection. Chrome Hearts is a favorite of celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Karl Lagerfeld, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, and Elle MacPherson.

What started with a unique vision of providing high fashion frames in an industry that had, up until that time, remained within the parameters of medical optometry, has developed into a highly successful chain of 15 retail stores under the Optical Shop of Aspen and Emporio Optic names, and a wholesale division responsible for designing and distributing the most fashion forward and unique eyewear frames in the field. Sands is regarded as the man behind the development of the "eyewear as fashion" concept. For the future, only time will tell. "There's so much opportunity to create and so much more we can do with this business," Sands says. For the man voted least likely to succeed in his high school yearbook, the sky is the limit.

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