Find your sustainable sunglasses for summer
alexander stemplewski
If you’re looking for sustainable sunglasses this summer, you can’t make a better choice than going for a vintage or preloved sunglasses frame. These ethical, eco friendly frames already exist so no new resources or energy are being used producing them, and so they have much lower impact on the environment.
It’s National Sunglasses Day this month so we’re talking sun protection, prescription and custom colour tinting for your sustainable sunnies to keep you cool in the shade.
old sunglasses
sustainable sunglasses for summer
The most sustainable options are the items we already own, so why not freshen up your old sunglasses with a new tint colour. Still loving an old glasses frame? Turn your old glasses into sunglasses and give them a new lease of life.
If you’ve got old sunglasses you’re rewearing or you’ve purchased vintage sunglasses with the original lenses and aren’t sure how old the lenses are, you need to make sure the UV protection is still intact.
The UV protection in old lenses can degrade over time and this can be worse than wearing no sunglasses at all. Wearing dark sunnies opens up the pupil, allowing more light in and if the UV protection isn’t there, you could be opening yourself up to more damage. It’s a simple check - take them to your local opticians and ask to have them UV tested or we’ll do it for you.
summer sun protection
RF._.studio
Sunglasses are the most essential accessory (we’re biased but still) they’re not only super stylish, but have the important task of protecting our eyes. The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 11am and 4pm from early April to late September in the UK and this is where the sun can really do some damage.
Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light and UV radiation is linked to some serious eye conditions like photokeratitis (corneal sunburn) and research has found that 5-10% of skin cancers occur on the eyelid - ouch!
Protect your peepers by investing in quality sunglasses that filter out both UVA and UVB radiation. Over 90% of UV light can pass through even light cloud - so don't leave home without your sustainable sunnies. When you’re shopping for sunnies go for UV 400 protection, we fully refurbish all our sunglasses frames before adding in new modern optical grade 100% protection UV 400 lenses.
The bigger the frame, the better the coverage. Oversized or wraparound sunglasses block the most sun, especially when those rays are bouncing off pavements and pools.
custom colour tints
It's not the colour of your lenses that matters, it's the percentage of UV protection that counts. So you can go for that dreamy pale tint as long as you go for 100% UV protection, although darker tints can offer more comfort and relaxed vision in bright sunlight, as they reduce the amount of light that enters the eye - this equates to less squinting ergo less wrinkles.
Talk to us about custom tinting and take a peep at our latest custom colour creations of brown-to-pink and brown-to-yellow ombres, sheer 70s vintage sepia tint washes, or talk to us about colour matching your favourite shirt.
prescription sunglasses
sustainable sunglasses for summer
We can add in your prescription to any of our vintage or preloved glasses frames. Prescription sunglasses are available for all prescriptions including far sighted, near sighted and astigmatism, as well as multifocal (varifocal) lenses.
Any of our sunglasses frames (or frame only styles) can be fitted with prescription UV sunglasses lenses, they’re even good for contact lens wearers taking a break when eyes feel irritated during allergy season or at the beach.
To be super sustainable we can reglaze your own sunglasses with new lenses adding in your prescription for that all important garden reading, while you’re about it why not change up the tint colour or go for polarising to filter out even more glare and enrich true colour.
sustainable style
francisco rivera
Choosing sustainable sunglasses is about more the materials they’re made from, it’s also about getting the most longevity out of your sunnies by choosing the right style for you and looking after your eyewear with regular cleaning (with the cloth) and proper storage (in the case).
Go for classic styles that won’t date, timeless designs and easy to wear shapes that won’t go out of style or styles you know suit your face shape, colourways that work with your wardrobe and palettes that suit your skin tone.
Take a peep at our ready to wear sunnies or customise your own from our frame only range. Every pair plants a tree so lower your carbon footprint this summer without lifing a finger.
Jo