Introducing Woodys at EYES on St Albans

Getting shelf space at EYES on St Albans is no mean feat!  Just like Jez did back in the day when he travelled around with a suitcase of frames to sell to optical practices, there is still a steady stream of reps that come to the shop with their latest offerings.

Any brand that joins the selection in the shop has to meet our exacting standards for quality, look, price and definitely not be available in the high street opticians.  We’re particularly attracted to collections that are made in Europe, are trying to make eyewear as sustainable as possible and are trying to do something a bit different – be that with the shape, colour or both!

Design made in Barcelona

Woodys have been in business for 10 years and are known for their clever blending of structures, transparencies and translucent colours – mixing metals with acetates to create shapes and styles that suit a wide range of people.

When we saw their strapline “Designed for unique people” we were hooked.  When we found out they bake each frame for 2 weeks to create the strength and durability we want in a frame – and that all their metals are hypoallergenic, well… the deal was almost done!

Making eyewear sustainable

It’s hard to make eyewear sustainable.  We know that people are keen to pass on their glasses to those who may need them, trying to pair an exact prescription with someone else with exactly the same requirements is almost impossible.

Woodys have started looking at sustainability from the beginning of the creative process.  40% of their collection is made from bio-acetate with a higher percentage of cotton and wood in it and they use natural pigments free from toxic chemicals and plastics.

They’re working on the technology to reuse the leftover acetates from their frames to turn them into truly unique pieces full of colour.

The sample lenses that our new Woodys collection arrived with are all biodegradable, the entire shipment came in plastic free shipping (even what look like the ‘plastic’ bags are recyclable), they use recycled paper and 100% recyclable packaging.  The cases that come with the frames are made from 70% recycled materials which is a considerably higher percentage than some of the brands that you might find on the high street.

Style that rocks

Woodys have made quite an impression in their first decade on the market.  Worn by Oscar winners Reece Witherspoon and Natalie Portman, and singers Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift amongst others, their frames look great with both clear, prescription and tinted lenses.  Their collection of sunglasses sells out fast every year – and they even have a limited-edition Christmas collection!

We think they’re the perfect addition to our offer at EYES – you can find them in one of the middle display cabinets and, as ever, if you need any help deciding which pair is for you, Jez will be more than happy to help!