Per the World Health Organization, approximately 90 percent of visually impaired people live in developing countries, and 80 percent of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured. Some of these companies have made it their mission to help. Others focus on the environment—producing eco-friendly frames from sustainable materials. Now more than ever, customers are looking to align their purchases with their politics. Here are some fashionable frames that are also trying to make the world a better place.
Mosevic
Based in Cornwall, U.K., Mosevic recycles damaged and discarded jeans and uses the reclaimed denim fabric to create their unique sunglasses. Handcrafted model Kepler gives a new life — other than cutoffs — to old jeans.
+44 (0)1872 859738 | mosevic.com
$122-$159
Toms
Known for their “one for one” model (and their shoes), every TOMS eyewear purchase — Abram is shown here — provides a person in need with a full eye exam by trained medical professionals. Each patient then receives the proper follow-up treatment.
(424) 289-3485 | toms.com/optical
$155
Awear
Made with sustainable materials — a bio-based plastic which absorbs CO2 in the raw form — that are also recyclable, alluring model CC 3725 is from Awear, an eco-friendly line from Charmant.
(800) 645-2121 | charmant.com
$175
Panda
Handcrafted from sustainably sourced bamboo, model Kennedy inspires one to get into public service. Panda has partnered with Optometry Giving Sight so that every pair purchased provides an eye exam and prescription glasses to someone in need.
(971) 267-2632 | wearpanda.com
$120
Eco
Red-hot model Copenhagen is part of ECO’s Recycled line; all frames are made of 95 percent recycled materials, and a tree is planted for every frame sold. They have planted over 1.4 million trees so far.
(800) 223-7610 | modo.com
$180
Solo
Named after the Dominican Republic, where SOLO has funded eyecare, hybrid model Dominican is made of repurposed bamboo. The company donates 10 percent of profits to fund eye exams, eyeglasses and cataract surgeries in 32 countries to date.
(504) 813-5228 | soloeyewear.com
$89
Neutrø
For their new NEUTRØ collection, Komono collaborated with a Dutch science-based company to create a frame material derived from the sustainable castor bean. Flexible model Francis allows one to be fashionable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(844) 240-4130 | komono.com
$99.95
This article originally appeared in the April 2017 edition of INVISION.