Are you among the growing number of Canadians conscious of the sustainability practices behind their fashion purchases?
If so, you’re not alone: many people are buying more eco-friendly products for environmental conservation.
While several fashion companies meet this demand by rolling out green merchandise, 57% of people in the country are still skeptical about their sustainability claims. These consumers find it hard to determine if companies are only greenwashing or are genuine about being eco- friendly. This can be even harder to determine for eyewear, as glasses usually don’t come with labels that show the materials they’re made of like clothing tags have.
If you’re looking for long-lasting and sustainable eyewear to go perfectly with your wardrobe, you may think you’re in for a challenge. Fortunately, the search for eco-friendly glasses doesn’t have to be difficult at all. Here’s a few simple tips to get you started:
Consider the frame’s materials
In the past, frames were mostly plastic—usually made of polycarbonate and acrylic. Thankfully, eyewear trends are changing and eco-friendly frames have finally entered the marketplace! While other eyewear brands are still using non-biodegradable materials, The Reincarnate frame line by Clearly are created from recycled plastic bottles which exemplifies this recent push for more sustainable materials.
Meanwhile, even designer brands like Stella McCartney and Burberry now use biodegradable plastic bio-acetate for frames like the Bold Geometric and Poppy.
With a wider range of frames now available, it’s best to check if your preferred eyewear is made of eco-conscious materials so you can help the environment without sacrificing your personal style. Most retailers are now offering sustainable collections, so it should be easier for you to curate a group of frames to choose from.
Know the eyewear’s production process
Another factor that determines eyewear sustainability is its manufacturing process. While companies can claim their eyewear is eco-friendly, sustainable style stats reveal that 76% of consumers believe that companies should be more transparent about the work environment in which they are made and how much their laborers are paid. After all, eyewear isn’t sustainable if made under unethical conditions.
For this, you can look to brands like Pala Eyewear. It implements a limited production run to reduce waste, hires local artisans and workers, and traces its supply chain to ensure ethical labor practices. By buying from a brand that’s open about its production methods, you can ensure that your eyewear is both sustainable and made by experts who are talented at creating stylish additions for your wardrobe.
Choose a timeless design
Sustainability shouldn’t stop at buying eyewear made with eco-friendly materials and fair practices. You should also aim to get eyewear that has a timeless design instead of going for sunglasses trends that come and go. Shield sunglasses were an early 2000s trend that came back in 2022 after celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa wore them. If you’re only following their lead and don’t see yourself wearing shield sunnies in the long term, opt for more classic styles so you avoid being wasteful by purchasing multiple specs just to keep up with the times.
For example, you may want to opt for the Aviators from Ray-Ban. Its classic teardrop lens silhouette complements many face shapes, and it’s unisex. In general, choosing eyewear that fits your face and comes in more classic colors—like black—will be a more versatile asset for your wardrobe and allow you to get more mileage out of a single pair.
Get eyewear that has a lifetime warranty
The goal is to keep your eyewear for a long time so pick a pair from a brand that provides a years-long—or even lifetime—warranty. You can easily replace your eyewear’s nose pads, have the screws tightened, or even get new lenses. That way, you don’t need to buy replacement pairs and contribute to fashion waste, especially if only one part of the eyewear needs a repair or replacement. Smith Optics is one provider that offers lifetime warranties against manufacturing defects or failure. It also offers repairs and replacements at its discretion.
Ensuring that your eyewear is sustainable and goes with your style can be challenging. As long as you look for the characteristics above, you’ll surely find your perfect pair in no time!
