Shield your baby blues in style with cool-kid shades that are way more than
meets the eye. These sunglasses aren’t shady at all when it comes to the core
values of integrity, sustainability, and social responsibility. Behind their
handsome frames is a range of initiatives that give back — in more ways than one
— providing a whole new way of seeing the world with 20/20 vision.
1. Woodzee
Before we even scratched the surface of Woodzee’s dedication to protecting
the environment through the use of natural, renewable resources and nontoxic
materials, we were already sold on the impressive collections that include chill
wayfarer-style frames made from bamboo and a full set of colorful shades created
from re-purposed maple wood skateboard decks.
However, it’s the American-made brand’s new collaboration with Maker’s Mark
that really commanded our gaze. You can have your drink and wear it too with
these unique, hand-charred sunglasses crafted from the small-batch bourbon
whiskey company’s recycled wooden barrels. As if you needed any more reason to
order up a pair, Woodzee plants a tree for each and every pair of sunglasses
sold. Going against the grain never looked so good.
2. Grown
Creating the change they wanted to see in the world, a passionate group of
Australian-based surfers rallied together to launch Grown, a company that
designs, produces, and provides original, organic, and sustainable wooden
eyewear that not only looks awesome but “does good,” too. You may recognize the
company from Shark Tank, where it showed off its socially conscious sunglasses
that are handcrafted from ethically sourced, renewable bamboo and hardwoods.
What stands out most about the shades is their unique, one-of-a-kind grain
patterns from woods including carved maple, zebrawood, and Pacific ebony. But
the real eye-opener is the company’s responsible capitalism. With every item
purchased, Grown fully funds sight-restoring eye surgery for one person or
diagnostic eye exams for 12 children.
3. Warby Parker
The Warby Parker model is simple — and simply impactful for its domino
effect. You buy a pair of glasses; they give a pair to someone in need. Not a
bad exchange, especially when their frames are known for being some of the most
trendsetting on the block.
Take, for instance, the retro Winston in a ginger lemonade hue that’s the
exact fusion of 1960s cool and 21st century bold, and the oversized swagger of
the whiskey tortoiseshell Lowrys that ooze pure attitude. Or go classic mod with
the angular Halfords, which are inspired by the iconic aviator shades.
The options truly are endless, and with its try-at-home program, you can
choose up to five sunglasses to order online and take for a test drive.
4. Parkman Sunglasses
Ever wonder what happens to the leftover wood in the guitar-making process?
No, you probably don’t. But Parkman Sunglasses knew exactly what to do with
those wood scraps, turning them from trash to treasure in a collaboration with
Patterson Guitars. Both Parkman and Patterson share a passion for handcrafted,
American-made products so the match was a perfect fit — as are the resulting
“Bombay” shades.
Made from the mahogany bodies and rosewood fretboards of the guitars, the
frames have the distinct benefit of being both environmentally responsible and
naturally beautiful. In the same vein, Parkman has imbued old vinyl records with
a bright new tune, re-fashioning them into another version of the “Bombay”
model. We’d recommend snagging both pairs so you can channel your inner guitar
hero and hipster DJ, depending on which mood may strike.
5. Dick Moby
When surfers Tim Holland and Robbert Wefers-Bettink were angered by the sheer
amount of plastic waste floating in the ocean, they decided to take matters into
their own hands and find the “sunny side of plastic” with Dick Moby. Indeed,
plastic never looked better than in this Amsterdam-based, sustainable sunglasses
label that will immediately land you in the street-style club with a single pair
of their shades.
The all-black frames are constructed of 97% recycled industrial plastic waste
while the colorful bio-acetate versions are the epitome of hipster cool with
punchy hues including chalk, forest, peach, and ink. All handmade in Italy, they
feature a variety of quirky, retro frame shapes named for and inspired by iconic
cities and their airports — think LAX, LHR, ORY, SFO, and more.
In addition to making good use of old plastic, Dick Moby gives 10% of
revenues to innovative projects to address plastic pollution in collaboration
with the Surfrider Foundation and Terra Cycle. Last year, they even also
organized 30 beach cleanups and collected more than 5,200 gallons of plastic
waste on beaches. We’ll catch that wave any day.
