Style eyes: Sustainably stylish

September 1, 2017 Cynthia Pizzini-Martin

There are hundreds of companies that manufacture eco-friendly eyewear these days. The most popular sustainable material is bamboo as it’s self-regenerating and needs little to no water to survive. Bamboo also replenishes itself within just four years from harvest, which is a great deal faster than any other woody materials used in eyewear. Plus it’s as strong as steel and extremely lightweight. But, above all, if you’ve ever tried a pair of bamboo frames, you will know it’s very comfortable to wear and warm. It‘s also hypoallergenic and can be dyed a multitude of colors to make that all important fashion statement!

 

The other raw ingredient making it’s mark on the eco-eyewear world today is good, old-fashioned trash; disregarded and recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

 

Taiwan-based Miniwiz, under the guidance of designer, architect and self-professed “do-er“, Arthur-Huang, produces a range of recycled products for use in building construction, interior design and consumer products, including iPhone covers. His eyewear range is made from recycled CDs and carbonised-rice husks which, say fashion commentators, are suprisingly soft and quite flexible.

 

MINIWIZ

Miniwiz eyewear made from 100% trash

 

Other companies repurpose remnant acetate and build new eyewear from the rest of the industry’s scraps (Dick Moby), while some are creating beautiful eyewear from particular bits of rubbish, such as broken and discarded items such as old skateboards, surfboards and even fishing nets (Bureo).

Many of these companies don’t stop the good work there, however, with several ensuring locals or charities benefit from the purchase of their eyewear. The following are a few of those that merge sustainability with fashion and a charitable purpose. Their mission: saving the environment one pair of eyeglasses at a time.

 

BUREO

Bureo's 'Net Positive' sold online and by Karun in Chile

 

Bureo’s recycling programme in Chile, 'Net Positiva', provides fishing net collection points to help stop plastic fishing nets being dumped in our oceans. By preventing harmful materials from entering the ocean, the company aims to protect wildlife and supporting local fishing communities through financial incentives. The company’s products are sold online and are paired with Carl Zeiss Polarized lenses by Karun in Chile. www.bureo.co

 

BAMB-U EYEWEAR

 

BAMB-U's Sandman

 

This Australian based company was founded with the objective of fusing fashion with sustainability. Bamboo is a unique material as it does not require water or fertilizer to grow and regenerates after being harvested. For every pair of eyewear sold, Bambu-U plants seven trees in areas of the world that are suffering from deforestation. Currently the company is averaging an impressive 1700 trees planted per month. www.bamb-u.com

 

EQO OPTICS

 

EQO Optics' Sycamore

 

One person’s trash is another one’s treasure: this is the philosophy behind the unique eyewear brand EQO Optics. They recycle old unusable skateboard decks into beautiful custom eyewear. You can select the color of the temple and even add engraving for an additional charge. A great choice for the environmentalist’s gift list. Handcrafted in the USA and free shipping, what more could you want. www.weareqo.com

 

DICK MOBY

 

Dick Moby - DOH (matte lavender)

 

With a tagline of “quality is key, sustainability is king”, Dick Moby Eyewear was created by two surfers who wanted to do something about world’s plastic pollution. All Dick Moby eyewear is made from recycled and/or bio-based acetate. The company uses and reuses plastic without creating more waste in the process. Even the cleaning cloths are made from recycled plastic bottles, while Moby Dick’s eyewear cases are made from recycled leather. www.dick-moby.com

 

GROWN EYEWEAR

 

Grown Eyewear - Meraki (walnut silver)

 

As one of Australia’s first wooden eyewear brands, Grown Sustainable Wooden Eyewear was developed with the do-good fashionista in mind. All its eyewear is created using Forest Stewardship Council- approved wood and bamboo products, and every pair is unique, as no wood grain pattern is alike. The company’s entire collection is offered with UV400-polarized lenses. Many models are also offered with, the very on-trend, mirror coating as an additional option. Grown Eyewear has partnered with the Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation, Wires (www.wires.org.au) to help save one orphaned or injured Australian animal with every purchase made. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s bamboo frames even float! growneyewear.com.au

 

 

Cynthia Pizzini-Martin is a retired  luxury eyewear executive residing in South East Asia, who writes occasionally and helps small businesses become bigger businesses with better retailing knowhow - www.cpmretailconsulting.com