About BBIG · 25+ years

The story of BBIG

More than 25 years ago, Rob Bresser founded BBIG. His mission was clear: to design children's glasses that are not only comfortable, but also beautiful, stylish and contemporary. At a time when children's glasses were mostly about practicality, BBIG deliberately chose design, quality and a great fit. That vision made the brand a trusted name among opticians in the Netherlands and far beyond.

2011 · Maarten

Maarten saw that growth up close. He joined BBIG in 2011 and over the years became a familiar face in the company: first in the office, then on the road, at trade fairs and in opticians' shops. He got to know BBIG inside and out, and built the strong relationships with opticians that are still the foundation of the brand today.

Kirsten

Kirsten has been part of the optical world for years too. She grew up in a family of opticians, so the trade was second nature from an early age. She started out as a sales representative for the eyewear brand Bloomdale and later represented the Japanese brand Yellows Plus for Eyewearstudio. Everything she learned along the way, she now brings to BBIG every day.

Paris

A trade fair in Paris sparked not only the relationship between Maarten and Kirsten, but years later also the idea of taking over BBIG. Over drinks, Rob mentioned that he was looking to expand his team. Kirsten replied that she would be happy to think about it, provided she and Maarten could take over BBIG one day. She meant it, even if Rob laughed it off that evening. It did set him thinking. Not much later the first serious conversations followed, and it turned out all three of them saw the same future for BBIG. In September 2023, Rob officially handed the company over to Maarten and Kirsten.

Since 2023

Since then, Maarten and Kirsten have been building on the strong foundation Rob laid, with respect for BBIG's history and a fresh eye on the future. The values the brand is known for have stayed: quality, personal contact and partnerships that last. At the same time they have made the brand their own, designing every frame themselves and listening closely to what opticians need and to what is happening in the market.

Today

Today, BBIG is an international brand sold by opticians in the Netherlands and far beyond. With BBIG Eyefashion for Kids and ANM Eyewear, the team keeps creating frames that children and teenagers love to wear and that opticians choose with confidence.

What Rob Bresser started more than 25 years ago, Maarten and Kirsten proudly continue to build today.

Maarten and Kirsten together behind the counter of the BBIG stand, with the neon logo in front

Hi, we are Maarten & Kirsten.

We met through the optical world. Our love story began at a trade fair in Paris. Years later, that same city also brought the chance to take over BBIG. Since September 2023 we have been building the brand further every day.

At BBIG we design all our frames ourselves. We listen to opticians and develop the frames they actually need in their shops. We follow the trends and keep an eye on adult eyewear collections, and everything we see, hear and learn finds its way into contemporary frames for children and teenagers.

Kids and teenagers today know exactly what they like. So we don't design childish glasses; we design contemporary frames made for young faces, where design, fit, quality and comfort always go together.

And then… ANM

Why ANM exists

On our visits to opticians we kept seeing the same thing: the step from a children's collection to an adult one was often just too big. So we developed ANM Eyewear, a collection made for teenagers, with the sizes, shapes and look that suit that in-between stage.

ANM Eyewear →

On the road

Out and about

We spend a lot of time out and about: visiting opticians, at international trade fairs, talking to customers. That is where we find inspiration, hear what is happening in the market and discover what is needed. Those insights shape everything we design.

The BBIG and ANM stand at an international trade fair
Maarten and Kirsten in the stand, among the campaign imagery

From our base in the Netherlands, we work with opticians across Europe and beyond every day. We believe in personal contact, direct communication and clear agreements. We like to think with our customers, listen to them, and build partnerships that last.

Together with opticians, we want children and teenagers to wear glasses they feel good in.

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