Gabriel Hanfling is the founder and owner of Infinit Eyewear. He is the creative director and chief designer of the eyewear brand, represented by its infinity logo. Hanfling is a public figure in the eyewear and fashion industries. He inherited his interest in optics from his family, but later forged his own path and started a frame-manufacturing workshop.
Early years and aesthetic discovery
“When I was seven my father had an optical shop; I would come home from school and spend hours playing with glasses and screwdrivers,” Hanfling said in an interview with La Nación. As a teenager, he discovered his interest in aesthetics and had the opportunity to attend an international fair in Los Angeles.
Breaking from family tradition
Unlike his brother and the rest of his family, Hanfling realized he wanted to move beyond traditional optics and merge it with aesthetics and design. He worked briefly for a clothing brand until an investor bought it out. “I will never again work for a brand that isn’t mine,” he stated—an idea that ultimately shaped Infinit.
The beginning of Infinit: Hanfling’s dream
The brand was created in 1997, and since then Hanfling has handled multiple roles within his company. Since 1996 he has also worked as an independent art director. Between 1993 and 1996 he studied at the Escuela Superior de Creativos Publicitarios, where he learned communication and advertising management.
“At the beginning of ’96, at 22, I started Infinit,” he said, adding: “I’m the only one at international fairs who truly knows the métier as a designer from Buenos Aires.”
From selling frames to building an experience
Infinit initially sold through optical shops until Hanfling realized that “glasses sit in the most visible part of a person,” leading him to rethink the business. He opened his own stores—first in Caballito, later in other Buenos Aires neighborhoods—turning the brand into an experience built around design, music, and accessories.
Expansion and international recognition
Infinit began expanding in the early 2000s and has grown ever since. It became known as a design-focused optical brand and received an international award in Milan for “Best Design Optical Store.” The company maintains a strong relationship with Italy, which supplies some of the acetate for its frames.
A global production model
Beyond being a pioneer of eyewear fashion in Argentina, Hanfling expanded internationally through a hybrid production model, with part of the manufacturing based in South Korea. Only about 20% of the production occurs in Asia; the rest takes place in Buenos Aires.
More than just glasses
“When I started, they were an orthopedic accessory; today they’re part of who a person is,” Hanfling said, noting that eyewear now functions as a style element. Infinit’s website highlights collaborations, frame models, blue-light filters, and store locations.
Collaborations and product lines
The most notable collaboration is with Carolina “Pampita” Ardohain, featured in the “By Pampita” section. Another collaboration comes from model and influencer Candela Ruggeri.
Product lines include metallic frames, luxury editions, sustainable models, micro-frames, and oval designs. The sustainable line uses eco-friendly materials aimed at reducing environmental impact.
A pioneer with a distinct vision
Infinit Eyewear was born from a different concept of what an optical shop could be. Hanfling’s creative approach—design-driven, aesthetic, and experiential—earned recognition in Italy and positioned the brand as a leading presence in the industry.
