What a year it's been, we've had an absolute blast and achieved way more than we thought possible thanks to our flock. 'Business as usual’ looked very different in 2022, with global disruptions, turbulent economies and the growing effects of climate change. This helped push us into new ways of thinking, and knowing that we could change the outcomes for our partners, stakeholders and team spurred us on.
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What a year it's been, we've had an absolute blast and achieved way more than we thought possible thanks to our flock.
'Business as usual’ looked very different in 2022, with global disruptions, turbulent economies and the growing effects of climate change. This helped push us into new ways of thinking, and knowing that we could change the outcomes for our partners, stakeholders and team spurred us on.
Fashion is often said to both reflect and lead culture — we believe the industry we’re in has a once-in-history opportunity to demonstrate that creativity and respect for nature can lead to sustainability.
Our goal is to make better eyewear for a better world (which means less BS and more action).
There’s a reason we’re based in the greenest city in the UK; nature is at the heart of what we do and we aim to reflect this in every pair of Birds and the positive impact they have, whether that’s creating innovative materials, planting our own forest, or helping our flock reframe their world (literally and metaphorically).
So, as we leave this year's slightly prickly nest and flap our way into 2023, from our Bird family to yours, thank you for flying alongside us and for all the love and support you’ve given. We hope the year to come is filled with the best humanity has to offer.
Peace and Love
Ed & Lawrence
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1. What does being an artist mean to you?
When I was young, I used to worry that I was a bit different to some of my friends because my memory was always better for images than words - my study notes always a jumble of drawings and doodles as that was how I could best process information.
Now I see these traits as a gift - the artistic persona is just one of many that make up the diversity of human expression and I embrace it as something I can fully inhabit and a place I can speak from as I filter and reflect on the world around me though my work.
2. What challenges did you need to overcome as an artist (or personally) to reach the level you're at?
There are many challenges in developing a creative practice - not just in art, but in music, dance or any creative expression. For me, the primary challenge was developing the skills necessary to represent my subject with integrity, showing respect for both the medium and the message. Before becoming a professional painter, I had a 20 year career as an art director, working with some of the worlds top models and photographers, capturing the beauty of the human form - but mostly from a fashion perspective.
When I swapped the camera for a paint brush, I instinctively drew on the experience of working with models and found someone who was prepared to pose in my studio every week for about a year whilst I created a series of canvasses out of sight. It was a real struggle, but at the end of the year I felt brave enough to show the work. I sold some paintings - it was a step in the right direction and a real confidence builder.
Fast forward a few years… and today, with work in many collections, having appeared on two seasons of Sky Arts Artist of the Year Show and recently being elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, I can honestly say that success has always come as a result of having the right skills and a determination to keep going even when the path might not be clear.
3. Has producing art changed or altered your outlook on life?
Using art as a way of intentionally processing what is in front of me, be it a figure, a landscape or a collection of objects is fascinating - making choices about what to celebrate and highlight and what to leave out and how to construct that into a narrative. These are skills not just for art but for living as well, how we process the world, create our own highlights and make our own individual statements.
In fact, one of the things I love most about being an artist is where it takes you. I was privileged to be invited to spend a month in a remote hilltop town in Italy, which had been tragically hit by an earthquake, with multiple fatalities. Working from an earthquake damaged studio, my focus was to visually explore and capture the ‘rebirth’ of the town and community through a series of paintings.
I paint because there is something that moves me to do it, the process of intense observation and putting paint to canvas helps me feel grounded. It’s an incredibly personal experience, however, I’m always conscious that ultimately there will be a viewer - I’m framing something for another person to see. My paintings act as an invitation to take a moment, to look at things from my perspective. I’m always fascinated by reactions to my paintings and the differing narratives that people attach to my work. In turn these responses show me something in my own work that I was unaware of, giving it deeper meaning.
4. How are you reframing your world through art?
Currently I’m reframing my life in another country as I’ve moved to Mallorca. I’m getting used to a different culture and also, through my painting, I’m experiencing a different type of light, different colours and moods. So I’ve brought my BIRDS to the Mediterranean and they are helping me focus on what’s important.
I'm also making new connections as new clients find my work speaking to them about the hidden narrative of this special island. From the vast mountains to the stunning coastline, to the back streets of ancient towns… there’s an endless supply of inspiration and probably not enough time to capture it all.
Gregory's Blackcap painting is available to purchase as:
Join the team. The Business Development Manager role includes expanding our distributor base of high street opticians and fashion boutiques, maintaining relations and supporting them to present Bird Eyewear in a way that grows our brand equity and achieves high rates of sale.
If you're up for the challenge, let us know.
The Brand:
Bird is a fast growing, award winning, B Corp certified, fashion brand. For us it’s about reframing what really matters; people and planet. Seeking out the best sustainable materials for our frames, including certified woods, bio-based acetate, renewable cork and recycled aluminium, we create exceptional designs and focus obsessively on quality.
Every pair of Birds gives back through our Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid. Helping to distribute solar light to families in Zambia and Malawi, replacing the use of fossil fuel burning lamps.
We became the first B Corp Certified eyewear brand in the UK, and continue to pioneer change in the eyewear industry.
The Role:
Business Development Manager
Expanding our distributor base of high street opticians and fashion boutiques, maintaining relations and supporting them to present Bird Eyewear in a way that grows our brand equity and achieves high rates of sale.
Main Responsibilities
Our ideal candidate would be:
If you are interested in joining the team, please send an email and CV to us at hello@findyourbirds.com
Closing date: 5th August
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How did it start? Evie wants to be a vet when she grows up, but at aged 6 she began to notice the impact rubbish was having on her local wildlife, and like a true hero Evie didn't waste any time jumping into action. Fast forward three years and Evie has collected hundreds and hundreds of bags of rubbish - probably more than most people collect in a lifetime.
We loved getting to work with Evie, and our future somehow feels safer in the hands of this generation.
As divided as the worlds opinions can get, I think we can agree to be inspired by the motion of the younger generation. Their hearts are set in the right place and values held way above many.
Evie explains environmental issues as if they’re common sense… which they are. Cleaning Fistral beach with her today was not only fun but incredibly inspiring. We can’t wait to see what this girl gets up to in life, she’s on to something good.
Oh, and Evie rocks our Tawny Honey's like a true flock hero!
Watch our interview here:
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Steve McCracken aka 'NONE HERE' is a gifted artist from Devon, who spends much of his time filling the streets with colour; painting and pasting wherever he goes. His birds offer an escape to passers-by, with the intention to brighten up their day. Steve achieves this by his instantly recognisable expressive painting style and use of colour offering a sense of freedom, movement and hope.
Steve's iconic cloth design brings a chaotic energy using his signature bird head symbol. The single bird head coloured in represents the individual whilst the others stand for the issues and challenges we face day to day. At the same time it expresses the idea that everyone has something special about them. You have something special about you, as does the person next to you and the person next to them.
It means i have the opportunity to explore and express my ideas, feelings, emotions and observations through creativity in my case the use of colour, line and text.
Not giving up is the main one. Listening to yourself and not others and doing what you want to do. Everything presents challenges and you have to find ways to overcome them. Being an artist is a way of life...
It adds a romantic element to it, you become more aware of life and your surroundings, you find out about yourself and what inspires you giving you the opportunity to explore, be free and get lost in your work.
I intend to make art accessible for everyone so I create little flashes of colour to brighten up the days of passers by. Pasting my birds in the streets for all to see with the intention to offer people space, or a little moment to put a smile on their face. It's my way of spreading and sharing the positive vibes I get from being a surfer in the ocean into the urban environment.
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Designed to be virtually indestructible, they’re bendable, throwable, and come with impact and shatter-resistant lenses. Oh, and best of all, they are made from plants. Available as Sunglasses with 100% UV protection or with Blue Light Blocking lenses for screen time.
Birdies are made from processed castor beans, a new (and old) natural polymer that is lighter than aluminium and strong enough to be used in vehicles. These frames are virtually indestructible. Designed to withstand
rough treatment, they’re bendable, throwable, and come with impact and shatter-resistant lenses. The low-density material is 10 times stronger than the plastics in car bumpers, and 13 times stronger than common bioplastics. The perfect material for inquisitive minds.
Castor plants grow extremely fast and do not require pesticides or chemicals to thrive. Just like children.
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Wouldn’t it be great if your packaging could be harmlessly dissolved into non-toxic biomass. Meet Ecowrap, our very own water soluble, biodegradable mailer bag.
Single-use plastics have created a pollution problem in our world - something that affects us all. To help combat this we have teamed up with Aquapak to create an earth-friendly mailer bag.
Whilst eyewear is our focus, we don’t stop there when it comes to developing better materials. Every part of our product gets the same love and attention. Just another step to keep your Birds safe whilst going one extra for the planet.
Our Ecowrap mailer bags are made by pioneering packaging company, Aquapak, whose mission has been to develop a modern packaging solution; not only fit for purpose while in use but 100% water soluble, recyclable, compostable and biodegradable.
Ecowrap is made from a specially formulated polymer called Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). This sounds like a mouthful, but the simple truth is that unlike traditional polymers PVOH is hydrophilic, meaning it loves water (much like we do) and can break down harmlessly into biomass.
This material has undergone rigorous testing and is certified non-toxic to marine species.
Ecowrap is robust at standard temperatures, meaning it performs well in storage and transporting your Birds around the world. But by its nature Aquapak’s base polymers, Hydropol™, are inherently biodegradable and above 70°C+ they readily dissolve. This means every bag can be safely dissolved at the end of its life. However, should you wish, you may also recycle it directly, use it as a waste food bag, or simply reuse it.
Traditional plastics are so robust that they persist in the environment, have the potential to amalgamate with each other, draw other toxins to themselves, and leach chemicals to their surroundings.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) is a water-soluble polymer. Polymers are common and found in nature in things like rubber, starch or protein, as well as man-made plastics. Polymers are simply larger molecules made up of smaller molecules called monomers.
What’s special about a hydrophilic polymer like PVOH is that given the right conditions, it will simply dissolve and break down without the formation of toxins or the subsequent absorption of toxins associated with traditional plastics.
Ecowrap (made from Hydropol™) is marine safe and non-toxic to marine fauna. Being hydrophilic (water liking) it has no propensity to attract toxins or form toxic micro plastics.
By its nature Hydropol™ is inherently biodegradable as microorganisms will breakdown the polymer in various conditions.
The term microplastics was defined in 2009 as, “plastic particles smaller than 5mm in size”.
When in solution Hydropol™ cannot form microplastics. Depending on the environment, Hydropol™ in solid form may break down to minute particles - but importantly it does so without the formation of toxins or the subsequent absorption of toxins associated with traditional plastics.
Unlike conventional plastics - whose long lasting hydrophobic micro-particles absorb and concentrate toxins - these small particles of Hydropol will not persist in the environment, are non-toxic and marine-safe.
Whilst eyewear is our speciality, we totally geek out on all things material. Being on a mission to make the planet a better and safer place, means not only focusing on our frames, but the whole package (the whole company in fact).
Have your Birds seen better days?
Did you know we have a recycling scheme? In our quest for a circular fashion model, you can claim 40% off a new pair by trading in your old Birds.* If your frame have seen better days just send them back to us and we'll refurbish or recycle them.
If you have a pair of Birds that are broken we can help ease your pain. Follow the steps below to recycle your old frames and receive 40% off your next pair.
1) Download and print our returns form below.
2) Send this to us along with your old frames.
3) We'll recycle your old frames & email you an exclusive 40% off code*.
40% discount is only available for recycling Bird Eyewear frames. Prescription lenses are not included in the 40% off deal, however we can re-fit existing lenses free of charge.
Our goal is to open this scheme out to recycle any frames (from any brand) in 2022, helping to turn more waste into reusable materials.
Humanitarian, environmental activist and professional model.
Over 35 million plastic bottles are used every single day in the UK alone. Just over half of these make their way into the recycling, So it’s scary to think where the other 15 million end up. Stroll down any beach and you’ll realise that not all the rest make their way into the bin either.
Plastic bottles are incredibly dangerous to our marine life and land-dwelling animals; whether whole or braking down as micro-plastics.
We love innovating, which is why our cleaning cloths are created entirely from old recycled plastic bottles. It’s like magic, but even better.
We aren’t producing something new, but creating something beautiful from an object otherwise destined for the bin, or worse, the sea.
So, how does it work? Luckily PET plastics (*polyethylene terephthalate), are easily recognisable as they have a code stamped on them; for example, the base of a plastic bottle will read PET or PETE, with the recycling symbol above it.
Used plastic bottles are referred to as “post-consumer PET”. These are widely recycled throughout the world, and go through a lengthy process of cleaning, melting and drying before becoming useable again, such as our cleaning cloths.
Literally made of rubbish.
Combine this with our 100% recycled and compostable packaging, and our hand-made eco-cork case, and the only brand new thing you’ll be receiving are your Bird specs themselves, which are created to last you a last time.
*try saying that out loud.
We have some incredible news to share from our Share Your Sun project.
Because of you, we've been able to do some serious work on our world-changing goals. You've helped thousands of people and racked up some pretty impressive statistics. That deserves a pat on the back.
Take a look.
The impact of solar light in rural communities is huge and can transform lives. Alongside our partners at SolarAid, you've helped get these solar lights to where they are needed most.
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Families tell us that solar lights are predominantly used by children to do their homework after dark. With access to this bright, safe, clean and free light, children are doing an extra hour of homework each day.
When children do well at school, they are likely to stay there longer and gain a higher level of education benefiting themselves, their families and their communities.
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Candles, kerosene and poor quality batteries are expensive. Families have to buy these alternatives to electricity because they have no choice. Solar lights lower the affordability barrier for even the poorest families to bring light to every home.
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Each solar results in the elimination of the use of one kerosene lamp and this means there is less indoor air pollution and a reduction in coughing, chest problems, eye irritation, and other illness. During the COVID19 outbreak, solar lights have provided a lifeline to many clinics and health workers.
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For the 600 million living without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, there is little choice in using fossil fuels to create light. Every time a family transitions to solar light it has a cumulative impact on CO2 emissions.
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Bird ambassador Max Campbell and his friends are on a sustainable journey across the world, on board their 30 year old wooden sailing boat, Elixir. They are on a mission to discover secret surf spots, explore paths less travelled, and circumnavigate the globe, all with as little ecological impact as possible.
We caught up with Max to see where they are now, how lockdown affected the journey and what their plans are for the future…
How does it feel to be back on the water?
It feels great to be back on Elixir again! Luckily, we managed to escape to the Canary Islands a week before the second lockdown in the UK. We spent four weeks exploring the smaller islands in the Canaries. We almost couldn’t believe our luck, surfing empty waves and hiking around striking landscapes; we timed our return perfectly.
Now we’re taking a bit of time to prepare ourselves and the boat for the transatlantic voyage. We have loaded Elixir with food, books and all the other bits we’ll need during three weeks at sea.
The crew is essentially the same, me, Harry and Lily. The thought of spending three weeks at sea is very exciting for all of us, and spending new years on the water is going to make it even more special.
What happened for you and the crew during COVID-19?
The outbreak of Coronavirus caught us at a really strange time. The day we planned to leave to sail across the Atlantic was the first day of the Spanish lockdown. Instead of spending weeks at sea, we were forced into a surreal quarantine inside the harbour. We couldn’t leave the boat for two weeks, as much as we wanted to turn our back on it all and sail off into the Atlantic. Almost every country had closed borders, so there was nowhere for us to sail to.
Instead we left Elixir in a marina in Tenerife for seven months, and came back to the UK. Although it’s easy to romanticise being on a boat, it was a really tough time to be sailing around. There was a lot of uncertainty, and crossing borders instantly became a nightmare. Additionally, we thought it was a little irresponsible imposing ourselves on fragile island nations in a time of crisis. It was hard to put something we had worked so hard for on pause, but we knew could come back to continue the journey when the time was right.
The Spanish lockdown was very militant, we were literally not allowed off the boat. We managed to exercise a little bit by going for sneaky swims off the boat, underneath the pontoons where nobody could see us. We also made friends with a duck and a barracuda, and I think that helped to keep us sane.
I’m an advocate of the mental and physical benefits that come with swimming in cold sea-water. For me, swimming in the sea also carries a lot of personal importance. During my first transatlantic, a brutal sailing accident almost cost me my life (link to this https://www.wildswimmingcornwall.co.uk/blog/why-i-swim-max-campbell).
After barely making it to the Caribbean, I spent five days in hospital before flying back to the UK to recover. For months I struggled with PTSD, and I’m certain that regularly getting in the water helped massively with my recovery. A year later, I returned to the Caribbean, and sailed my boat back to the UK.
Max's choice of frame is the Wren.
Was there any doubt in your mind that the trip wouldn’t go ahead? Or were you just itching to get back on the boat the whole time you were on land?
I never thought that COVID would permanently put a stop to the trip. Although, it was frustrating for us to have something we worked so hard on, postponed indefinitely. The uncertainty of it all taught us a very valuable lesson about sailing; to be flexible and fluid to changes outside of your control.
It feels so good to be back on Elixir after seven months in the UK. I almost forgot how happy sailing makes me, and now I’m even more appreciative of the opportunity to travel on a sailing boat. For a period of time, sailing became a lesser part of life, and it feels so good to have it back again.
How do you feel about being away from home for the Christmas period?
We planned to spend Christmas in the Atlantic, however the forecast didn’t let us. A period of south west winds pushed our departure back a few days. Now, we are going to spend Christmas in the Canary Islands, and then set off on the transatlantic before new years.
I feel like this year is the perfect year to spend Christmas/New Year on a boat somewhere sunny. We’re all excited to begin 2021 with a few weeks at sea, and only hope that things don’t change too much, and we still are allowed into the Caribbean when we get there.
Harry and Lily also brought over a six pack of mince pies and a few Terry‘s Chocolate Oranges, so there is some resemblance of a Christmas at home.
Have your perspectives or dreams been changed at all by the unpredictable events of this year?
If it wasn’t for COVID, then I would have never had the chance to write a book with two of my friends. I would also never have had the chance to explore the Canary Islands, and it’s helped me slow down with the journey and enjoy and appreciate the locations that we visit.
Now we’re back, almost at the same place we were a year ago, preparing to set off across the Atlantic. The goal is still the same, but I think only the timescale has changed. I also think that COVID has made sailing more of an attractive option for travel. Suddenly airports have become more stressful, and sailing allows a way to avoid the cramped aeroplanes and mask wearing. The crossing is also three weeks, so there’s no need to quarantine on arrival.
What's your reflection on 2020?
2020 taught me a lot, and I think the main thing is to not get affected or upset by situations outside of our control. We’re very grateful to be sharing this experience. The main lesson is to ‘loosen our grip’ on the things we can't change, and stop trying to control everything, and focus on enjoying the present moment.
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- The Bird bros
]]>win over £360 worth of sustainable gear
Two sustainable focused brands who care deeply about how things are made, the people who make them, and the impact they have on the world. This bundle is for people who want to change the world and look good whilst doing it.
Here's your chance to win two pairs of Bird sunglasses and a clothing package from TOBEFRANK consisting of their recycled & reclaimed Fleece Pullover and Fleece Jogger.
So, if you fancy strutting your stuff in clothes literally made from rubbish, or catching the sun's rays in a brand new pair of beautifully repurposed aluminium frames, then this amazing giveaway is for you.
.LET’S BE FRANK. If all we cared about was the environment then we should all stop wearing clothes all together. No production is 100% good for the environment. At some point in the production, no matter how good our intentions are, we are taking from the earth. If we want the pollution to stop and the trees to keep growing we should stop all development and just let the earth do its thing.
But we don’t just care about the environment, we care about people too. We care that people are happy and healthy, that they are warm and earning money, and we care that they are treated well and thriving. We can figure out how to get a massive metal thing to fly in the sky and how to get a picture to travel through the air to our friend’s phone, so we’re clearly intelligent buggers. We will never be content to just sit and look at the clouds - it’s in our nature to create.
Read more about TOBEFRANK ethos Here
Terms and conditions
The competition is only open to those who live in the United Kingdom. Bird Sunglasses and TOBEFRANK. assumes that by entering the competition you live in the United Kingdom and agree to these terms and conditions.
How to enter
Fill out the form above for a chance to win the prize. All entries received by 11.59pm on Sunday 1st November will be automatically entered into the prize draw. The winner will be chosen and contacted via the phone number or email address provided on the form. If the prize winner is not contactable, or they fail to respond to our notification within the time stated on our reply, they will lose their entitlement to the prize, which will then be awarded to the next eligible entrant.
The prize
The prize includes two pair of Bird Sunglasses from the Satellite range (Apollo & Luna) and a complete outfit from the TOBEFRANK Rubbish Range.
The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and no cash alternative will be offered. Both Bird Sunglasses and TOBEFRANK. reserve the right to substitute the prizes for another of equal or greater value should the need arise.
Data capture
Your registered details will be used by TOBEFRANK and Bird Sunglasses for the purpose of managing the competition only. You will not be contacted with any form of marketing communication by TOBEFRANK or Bird Sunglasses, unless you have indicated your wish to do so via opt-in on the form above.
Your personal information will only be used in accordance with TOBEFRANK’s and Bird Sunglasses' privacy policies, and will not be disclosed to any third party.
The winner, if required, agrees to have his/ her name published on social media or the website, and photographed for promotional purposes if requested.
]]>Steph Rogers has always been environmentally conscious, with a keen interest in the negative effects of fast fashion, but since moving to Cornwall and joining the sustainable crew at Finisterre, her values have expanded to our oceans and leading a more plastic-free lifestyle in order to protect them further. We chatted to Steph about the way surfing has changed her mindset, the people she admires who are pioneering a cleaner, greener world, and the accessible ways in which she leads a more eco-friendly existence.
Steph wears the Vega in Gold
I guess I’ve always admired surfing but I grew up in Somerset so surfing wasn’t really an accessible sport for me when I was younger. I would give it a go when we visited Devon or Cornwall but those were quite frustrating sessions because you never saw any improvement.
I properly started surfing two years ago when I moved to Cornwall to start an internship with sustainable outdoor brand, Finisterre, who are based in St Agnes. Once I started getting in the water consistently and seeing improvement, I was addicted.
Fast forward two years on, surfing has become a major part of my lifestyle. Surfing is unlike any other sport I’ve done before, once you’re in the water, your life on land almost becomes non-existent, I’m not thinking about anything other than being in the water, any problems are left on the land.
I’m unbelievably lucky to have a strong circle of female friends and surfing is what connected us and made us so close, it’s because of them I love surfing so much. There’s nothing like getting an amazing wave and seeing your best friends waving and cheering you on as you paddle back into the line up.
I think most people local to a coastline are really aware of the environment we live in and that it needs to be protected. But there needs to be more education in other parts of the country that might not have such an immediate connection to the ocean, particularly those that come to visit the ocean during tourist season. The amount of rubbish, bodyboards and cheap wetsuits that get thrown away or left on the beach is unbelievable and I genuinely believe that a reason this happens is that some just don’t realise where that rubbish will end up and how catastrophic this pollution is for our oceans.
I was quite environmentally aware before I started surfing but I was definitely more interested in fast fashion and the negative effects that was having on the environment.
However, since surfing became a part of my life I’m definitely more aware of ocean plastics and more passionate about protecting the ocean.
The biggest shock for me was when I was surfing in Morocco and we were just paddling out and with every stroke, a new piece of plastic would somehow end up attached to me. I ended up with this small mountain of plastic on top of my board and no idea what to do with it. One of the local surfers paddled over to me and said that he always carries bin bags with him whenever he comes for a surf so that he can take some of the plastic back out of the ocean and I could put my rubbish into one of his bags. I think he saw that I was getting really overwhelmed and a little bit emotional and he just said “you can’t let this ruin your surf otherwise you’ll never have a good time, you just have to enjoy the waves and then collect what you can on your way out, otherwise you’ll be here forever!” By this point my mind was just imploding and I asked him where it came from, he said just behind the hills where we were surfing, there’s a huge collection of landfill because their country just doesn’t have the facilities to cope with the amount of waste they were producing, the rubbish usually stays put but when there’s a large rainfall or a lot of wind, it all flushes straight back into the ocean. I think my heart broke a little bit then and there.
It was the same in Sri Lanka, the amount of plastic pollution was just like nothing I have ever seen before. I asked a friend who lives out there why nothing is done and it was pretty much the same reason as Morocco – these countries just don’t have the facilities to deal with this amount of waste. The alternative that some locals were choosing was to burn the plastic on bonfires which is horrendous because the local community were inhaling these toxic fumes and this will affect their lives later down the line with serious illnesses.
So, I guess in the UK we’re lucky that we do have facilities to dispose of our waste. However, I still think there’s a lot of work to be done and it’s really important to be super aware of how much you’re throwing away. It’s now known that the UK were exporting a lot of waste to China and some other countries like Sri Lanka and Morocco that cannot deal with that amount of rubbish and it ends up being dumped in oceans and rivers.
I try really hard to reduce my plastic footprint. I’ll go to the local greengrocers to buy my fruit and veg because it’s nearly all package free, I’m really into refill stores too and doing these small actions just makes me feel good.
I’m also really hot on recycling and I try to make it as easy as possible for the collectors and for when the waste gets to recycling centres. I think a lot of people are under the illusion that all plastics can just be chucked into the plastic recycle bins and it will be dealt with but it’s so much more complex than that. Crisp packets, chocolate bar wrappers and the film plastic that often covers fruit and veg is really hard to recycle and a lot of people chuck this into their plastic recycling thinking that it’s fine – when it’s really not and actually causes a lot of issues in recycling centres when they finally get there. Some of those types of plastics have special deposit centres which need to be sought out rather than just chucking them in with your regular recycling.
I work in sustainable fashion so I’m also really conscious with what I buy, what fabrics its made of and who made it. A really good rule of thumb before you make a new purchase is “am I going to wear this 30 times?” so I always ask myself that before I buy new items.
Easkey Britton is another amazing example of an eco-conscious woman in surfing and she’s one of the only surfers that has been actively working to make surfing more diverse and accessible to women in more conservative countries.
They’re not necessarily environmental but when it comes to female surfers in general, Steph Gilmore really inspires me, she’s such a powerhouse and her style is just so effortlessly beautiful. I also really love Lola Mignot and Honolua Blomfield and the next level that they’re taking female longboarding, they really inspire me to get in the ocean more and to always try and improve my surfing.
I think Venetia LaManna is a great person to follow on social media. She’s really switched on when it comes to sustainable fashion and she has lots of great tips for alternatives to fast fashion. Her husband (Max LaManna) is also a zero waste chef and she occasionally posts some of their amazing vegan recipes too!
eXXpedition (led by Emily Penn) are AMAZING. They’re an all female crew that go out into the field to try and find out more about plastic pollution. They’ve done some shocking research on how microplastics are affecting the human body too, particularly in women.
I think that there are a lot of small companies that are on the way to moving mountains towards a plastic-free world. Bower Collective is one of my all-time favourites – you can purchase everything from natural package free skincare to bin bags to reusable dispensers but I think my favourite feature is that you can purchase laundry detergent and washing up liquid which is sent to you in a plastic pouch but they provide you with a free post returns envelope so you can send that pouch back to them and they reuse it!
I know I work for them but I have to say Finisterre too. I admired their stance on the environment before I worked for them but since being a part of the company that admiration has only grown. I’ve seen first hand how much everyone within the company cares that we do what we can to make our impact on the environment as minimal as possible and being part of that is really special.
Too many!! I really enjoy surfing different spots and I don’t really have a spot that I go back to religiously but recently, I have been enjoying the banks at Gwithian the past couple of weeks.
Photos By:
@brahmastudios
@clarejamesphotography
@jackjohns
@soulsnapss
Whether you need to calm or cool down, energise yourself or simply clear your mind - we don’t think there’s anything that quite matches the feeling of taking the plunge. Is there anything that a cold dip can’t cure?
]]>Finding the right pair of sunglasses can feel like a never ending struggle, whether your browsing in store with a limited selection, or sifting through the endless selections of shades online. We decided to change the way people buy sunglasses by making the whole process a little easier.
The launch of our new augmented reality try-on service means you now have the ability to check out which style of sunglasses suits your face shape, without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. This unique innovation allows you to try the frames using either your phone or computer, and all you need to do is make sure the lighting is good, scoop your hair back and relax your jaw (this reveals your true face shape) before virtually trying on whichever pair of Birds takes your fancy.
The best part of all? It’s super simple. Whilst you’re browsing our website full of ethical, eco-friendly sunglasses, keep an eye out for the ‘try-on’ button. When you find a pair you like, just click the button, and once you’ve allowed Bird to access your camera, you’ll be able to view the frames on your face. Try turning your head, see how they sit and admire the sunnies from all angles. You can save an image for future reference too.
This simple yet effective method not only allows our customers to see what suits their face shape, but reduces the carbon footprint of both us and our flock. Trying before you buy adds a power of certainty to your shopping as you already know the sunglasses suit you, therefore minimising on exchanges and returns through the postal service, thus reducing emissions and extra packaging - and saving you time.
Virtual Try-On displays your eyewear options on your face like a mirror, helping you to choose your new frames. Virtual Try-On helps by showing you how you look like whilst wearing your selected frames, allowing you to try out different shapes from the comfort of your own home.
When you want to try new colours, when you want to share with friends, when you have options to compare.
If you’d like a little more insight into which frames might suit for different face shapes, we’ve put together a list of our favourite sunglasses for each face shape.
Circumnavigating the world on the hunt for unexplored shores and perfect waves in a sailing boat from the 70’s; it sounds like an adventure only read about in old novels or the plot to a wanderlust-provoking film, but for Max, Harry, Chloe and Lily, life onboard their beloved Elixir is a reality.
We thought a little inspiration was due in order to rekindle the flames of adventure within us once again.
Bird caught up with avid water-man Max Campbell, to discover the ins and outs of his surf-and-soul-searching trip around the world onboard their wooden boat.
I was born in Bristol and spent most of my early years in the city. I started sailing at the age of four, in Bristol Harbour, and instantly became completely obsessed with it. Something about the simplicity of it all — as well as the seemingly endless possibility of adventure — made it incredibly exciting for me. My stepdad gave me a small wooden dingy with yellow sails, and I would sail it up and down in front of the SS Great Britain. The water was a sickly brown, and there was concrete everywhere, yet I remember those days as the first time I connected with the ocean.
Later, my family moved down to Cornwall. We lived in Falmouth, and I quickly fell in love with the ocean. I was amazed by sailing on salt water and started to surf too; all of my free time was spent doing one or the other. I had a string of sailing boats, which evolved from a 16’ day sailer, to a 19’ cabin cruiser, and eventually a 22’ wooden sloop called Flying Cloud.
"I had a burning desire to travel, as well as an affinity for the ocean, and as a result dreamt up plans to sail away."
The boat when Max first found it.
There was something special about Flying Cloud, she was elegant yet seaworthy, and had already been on adventures to Ireland and France with her previous owners.
A month after finishing uni, I watched Falmouth melt into the horizon. Along with my best friend Harry, we left Falmouth with no intention of returning. We were unprepared — our food consisted of a bag of pasties, and we knew nothing about offshore sailing. We were naïve, wide-eyed and open to the world. 24 hours later we arrived in France.
We spent that summer cruising south, surfing Europe’s best waves and chasing adventure all the way down to Lisbon. Harry fell in love and left to do a ski season in the Alps, and I carried on sailing by myself.
Over the following two years, I sailed Flying Cloud single-handed to the Caribbean and back. The journey was incredible, with unbelievable highs and devastating lows. On the return transatlantic crossing I spent 50 days by myself. It’s amazing to take a step back from society for a prolonged time, I had found a simplified existence without the artificial pressures of life on land, and it was addictive. I arrived back in Falmouth at the age of 23, with 10,000 blue water miles under my belt. I never forgot the fleeting emotion that I had found in the middle of the Atlantic, and after a few months back on land I began to crave it again.
I wanted to share that ephemeral feeling I had found at sea with my closest friends. My voyage in Flying Cloud had given me an intimate relationship with the ocean, and I wanted them to experience the same aquatic bliss. I sold Flying Cloud and took on a new project — Elixir, a 1970 Swan 37.
Elixir was green, covered in moss and leaves. It took us almost a year to get her sailing, which would never have been possible without the many extra hands that came to help. I’m so grateful for my friends, it was amazing to see so many people get involved in a collective passion project.
It makes me happy to know that we’ve restored a boat, that otherwise may have never been saved. So much hard work has gone into getting her back on the water, and I know she’ll serve us well in return.
In November 2019, we launched Elixir for the first time in six years. We spent two months sailing around the coast of Cornwall, before setting off to cross the Bay of Biscay on January the 20th.
Our aim is to circumnavigate the planet. The route will take us across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal (or possibly through Patagonia if we can find sponsorship), and then across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Finally, we will round the Cape of Good Hope, before returning to the UK.
The idea is to seek out perfect waves, but also to do it in a way that’s sustainable and non-polluting. A sailing boat provides the perfect platform to do that.
After leaving Falmouth, we managed two months of sailing before the onset of coronavirus in Europe. We had made it to the Canary Islands, and we were just about to set off on the transatlantic, before getting caught up in the strict Spanish lockdown. Luckily, Elixir was full of provisions for the two weeks we spent quarantined in a sleepy harbour in the north of Tenerife.
The core crew is currently Me, Harry, Chloë and Lily. Harry remained my best mate, even though he ditched me for a girl in Lisbon. We still hang out every day and I’m so happy to be sharing this adventure with him. Chloë is another one of my closest friends. We share the same passion for the ocean, and she’s probably the coolest person I’ve met. Lily is a photographer and maker, she’s our creative inspiration and an amazing cook too. She’s hilarious and brings an air of light heartedness to the boat.
I know that many other people will experience other parts of the journey, the idea is to share it with as many people as possible. Elixir sleeps eight people, but I think that four is the perfect amount, otherwise the cabin gets a little cramped.
The year running up to our departure was very busy. The trip became an obsession, and we all invested a lot of time to make it happen; we sketched out routes and constantly added to the jobs list.
We’ve guessed that it will probably take around 4-5 years to completely circumnavigate the planet. So far, we’ve had a little sponsorship, but mostly we’ve funded the trip off our own backs. The idea is to sustain the journey through our combined writing, photography and film-making work.
We are flexible on time and location, and I think that’s part of the beauty of sailing. It’s almost impossible to stick to a schedule, and you must be content with surrendering to forces beyond your control.
Only a few... take it in turns to cook and wash up, don’t turn up late to your watch, and never tease Harry about his funny belly-button.
We stopped off in Peniche and had a few fun surfs around the harbour. We also managed to hitch a lift to Nazare to watch the World Surf League competition, which was completely insane.
There are great waves in the Canaries too! I’m very excited to get through to the Pacific, I think that’s where we’ll really score.
Yes!
In all seriousness, we are always looking for other creatives to collaborate on ocean related projects. Elixir is a unique platform to view the world, and I think our story can be told in a compelling way.
I also believe that our story plays into a much larger cultural shift - one of our generation making the conscious decision to travel in a non-polluting way. Sailing has brought us both the excitement of adventure, as well as peace of mind when arriving in a new place without the burden of air miles. We’ve witnessed the extent of plastic pollution, which reinforces our beliefs further.
It’s been an incredible, life-changing journey so far, and we can’t wait to share the rest of it with you.
If, like us, you’ve been left feeling overwhelmingly inspired, you can follow the Untide journey of Max and his crew onboard Elixir by checking out their website, or following them on Instagram or Facebook.
Photos by Untide, Matt Mario Photography and Clare James Photography.
Matthew and Emily Malone took a break from their everyday lives and embarked on this mind-blowing journey with no idea of what to expect - with their trusty (tiny) van Buzzy. We followed their progress and caught up with them afterwards, eager to find out how our sunglasses had done, or if they'd even survived?
Why did you want to take Bird sunglasses on this adventure?
Emily:
"This is the first time that we have done something on such a scale, and partnering ourselves with the right gear was so important to us. Our partnership with Bird was one of those glorious things in life that feels like it is just meant to be, where the stars align and it just feels right. Bird ticked every box. Sustainable, ethical, fashionable, lightweight AND already backing the charity we were fundraising for (SolarAid)."
Buzzy the van in Kyrgyzstan
What did you like best about our sunnies?
Emily:
"Oh my goodness where to start… I’m cursed with the kind of face that just doesn’t look good with sunnies. It’s a never ending battle to find something that doesn’t make me look ridiculous. When Bird sent us a little selection of sunnies to choose from I couldn’t believe it when not one, but two pairs suited me down to the ground. Apart from loving the look of my new sunnies they were unbelievably lightweight and unobtrusive. It wasn’t just that they were comfy - you could honestly forget that you were wearing them."
Matt tells us:
"I was really happy when Bird Sunglasses wanted to partner up with us. We really like the classic styling of all the sunglasses, with each design having an individual twist. Details like the feather engraving really set the sunglasses apart from the crowd. I went for the Jay with Blue Tint along with the Apollo Aviator in silver, both based on an iconic style, yet set far apart from the plastic masses."
How did the glasses cope on such a long and difficult journey?
Emily:
"Anyone who knows me knows that handing me a pair of sunglasses is basically signing them over for destruction testing. Full transparency - I actually lost one of my pairs of sunglasses while we were in Iran, which I was absolutely heartbroken about. Until that point they had done very, very well, with not a single mark on them. The remaining pair took a double beating, as from that point on I basically never took them off. They were either on my face or on my head pretty much every waking hour for the next 5 weeks, sometimes even during sleeping hours...
That said, they still look pretty damn good. I’ll always remember the time I nearly gave myself a black eye with the camera, but was saved by my lovely sunnies. The scratch on the corner of the arm is from the time in Bulgaria that a toilet paper dispenser mounted ridiculously high up fell off the wall and smacked me on the head. All said and done though, Bird sunglasses are definitely robust. I gave them my worst for over 7 weeks and they came out triumphant."
Watching the sunset in Kazakhstan
Matt:
"I tend to look after my sunglasses much better than Emily. Like Emily’s, they were worn either on my face or on my head for every waking moment of the Mongol Rally. In fact, you will struggle to find a photo or video of my without me wearing them. They travelled from the UK to the finish line in Ulan Ude in Siberian Russia and back home again, a trip totalling just over 16,000 miles and 23 countries.
I’m reasonably tall, so the main issue my glasses had were when I hit my head on low doorways or on the door of the van, and of course they had the odd drop! They coped perfectly, and I don’t think either of my sunglasses have a scratch!! I treated the Jay sunglasses as the everyday sunglasses, and the Apollo Aviator as the smart sunglasses. The polarised lenses really do make a difference when driving and the sprung hinges were a god send. At one point driving through Kazakhstan I forgot I was wearing my Jay sunglasses and stuck my head out of the window to check the rear tire while driving reasonably fast! If it wasn’t for the sprung hinges of the sunglasses keeping them comfortably secure against my head, the wind would have blown them off instantly."
Arriving in the Mongolian mountains
What's your next adventure?
Matt:
"I want to conquer the world. Although as is often the case, real life and lack of money may get in the way of that! I travelled through Finland on my way back from the Mongol Rally finish line and really want to go back there with Emily and Buzzy. It’s a truly beautiful country with some amazing wildlife and so close to home. I also quite fancy driving down to through Europe to North Africa at some point. Everyone thinks that to travel the world by car it has to be some beefed up 4x4 with winches and snorkels. I don’t believe that’s true at all and I like the idea showing the world that Buzzy can go anywhere!"
Emily:
"We’re still trying to decide… there’s a new adventure that the Adventurists, the organisers of the Mongol Rally have just launched that I quite fancy. It’s a race through Romania on Monkey Bikes (tiny little 50cc motorbikes) on some of the most epic roads in Europe. It’s either that or do some more adventuring, just the two of us, in Buzzy our Mongol Rally car. Lots of people scrapped their cars after the rally, but there was no way we were going to part with Buzzy. He needs a lot of love and TLC before running up any more miles, but we’d love to go exploring around Scandinavia in him. Who knows, maybe we can even go and visit one of the Solar Aid projects one day."
Thanks guys!
Follow Matt and Emily's complete adventure here: https://www.instagram.com/team_beesolar/
"I gave them my worst for over 7 weeks and they came out triumphant"
In April 2020 Bird Eyewear became the first UK eyewear company to become a certified B Corp, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to sustainable and ethical business. Bird make beautiful, design-led eyewear using high quality and sustainable materials, and for every pair sold they distribute solar light to remote communities in Africa through their Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid.
]]>In April 2020 Bird Eyewear became the first UK eyewear company to become a certified B Corp, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to sustainable and ethical business.
Bird make beautiful, design-led eyewear using high quality and sustainable materials, and for every pair sold they distribute solar light to remote communities in Africa through their Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid.
Certified B Corporations are businesses that balance purpose and profit, and are committed to prioritising the environment and society in the way they do business. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. The rigorous certification process is third party verified. There are currently over 2,500 Certified B Corporations in more than 50 countries. They include well known brands such as Patagonia, Finisterre & Ben & Jerry's. Bird is one of only three B Corp eyewear brands in the world.
Founder Ed Bird says “For us, B Corp Certification is a stamp of approval from a trusted source. The demanding application process was an opportunity to re-examine the business we’re creating and hold it up against the gold standards of ethical business. We’re delighted to have achieved B-Corp status and will continue to build on this firm foundation as we grow. It’s great to be part of a global movement of companies using business as a force for good.”
More than just a rubber stamp - being a B Corp is legally binding and publicly transparent.
For those who are new to our story, Bird was launched in March 2017 by three brothers from Devon who share a love of design and adventure. We founded the business to combine our skills in creativity, business and social purpose, and have built in a commitment to people and planet to every part of our business.
We aim to drive change in the eyewear industry by designing beautiful frames that both look good and do good. In contrast to most eyewear companies, which use cheaper plastic injection moulded frames, which are produced cheaply and contribute to a fast fashion, throwaway culture, Bird’s premium frames use materials including certified woods, bio-based acetate and repurposed aerospace aluminium.
“We put the utmost care and attention into every aspect of our products. We want to create eyewear that people love to wear and own – pieces to treasure, not trash. Our ethos is slow fashion.”
For us, committing to sustainability does not mean compromising on design. In 2019, Bird won Frame of the Year with our Blackcap frame at the Opticians Awards, beating huge international competition, and we’ve been nominated for Frame of the Year again in 2020.
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and non-profits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.
Bird’s Share Your Sun partnership is more than a token corporate responsibility afterthought. After hearing about SolarAid’s work and excellent track record, we knew they would be the perfect organisation to develop a long-term partnership with, with common values and goals. The Share Your Sun partnership harnesses the undeniable cultural associations between sunglasses, sunshine and feeling good. We hope it inspire our customers about the power of solar energy to make a difference in poorer communities.
Solar light is needed now more than ever.
With each pair of Bird frames purchased, families in Africa benefit from solar light. These solar lamps replace the standard kerosene lamps that are in most households. By eliminating dirty kerosene lamps, families benefit from better health, leading to better mental wellbeing, fewer hours of work and school missed and enabling people to be more productive, as well as saving CO2.
“Looking good is one thing – but doing good is so much more important. Share Your Sun is a way to connect with the bigger picture and contribute to a more sustainable world. That’s the power of #shareyoursun”. - Ed Bird
THE B CORP DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE
“We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good.
This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation - the B Corporation –
Which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
As a B Corporation we believe:
Words Lottie Lewis & Sarah Bird
16 April 2020
4 minute read (you can do it)
Practically overnight, everyone went home. Suitcases were packed and planes were boarded. Vans loaded and ferry tickets booked. Schools closed and jobs were put on hold. Everyone suddenly found themselves in the same position on an otherwise uneventful morning - at home. The government announced that the only way to ‘Protect the National Health Service and Save Lives’ was to STAY HOME.
In a time when we take travel and constant movement for granted, home can sometimes be more concept than concrete. When you were suddenly told to stay at home, where did you go?
For some, we were already there - surrounded by our family; parents with children whose schools were no longer open, university students whose dissertations are now being written from their childhood bedrooms, grandparents being practically bubble-wrapped, getting fresh air through open kitchen windows. Others returned on long-haul flights from tropical islands, seasonnaires packed up and left resorts, city office workers sought refuge in their flats or with family members in the countryside.
"Woof woof woof"
You’ll hear people half-joking; “it’s taken a global pandemic to get us all back together!” - and whilst this may be said as a throwaway comment, for some families, it’s the truth. Rushing around, constantly working, travelling, bettering ourselves - have we forgotten that home is more than just a place to lay our heads, but also a sanctuary where we gather with people we love when the world gets a little rough? Across the UK, at 8.30pm on Monday 23rd March, if people weren’t already at home, they were making arrangements to head back to their roots, rejoin their families, and stand in solidarity against Coronavirus.
What does home mean to you? Perhaps now, it represents safety, comfort, peace, love. It might also represent boredom, constraint, nagging anxiety. Perhaps it means different things at different times.
"Rushing around, constantly working, training, bettering ourselves - have we forgotten that home is more than just a place to lay our heads"
For some people, home is not a safe place – it is a place of very real danger and fear. This article is not meant to undermine the very real need to provide practical refuge and help to people at risk of harm at home – whether children, women or men. And many, many people are facing severe stress and anxiety over loss of livelihood, reduced income. Not to mention the thousands who have been affected by the virus, and the care workers who tirelessly put others before themselves.
During this strange time, we can choose to see the constraints placed upon us as positive, not negative. The idea of positive constraints is that unlimited freedom is not as attractive as it sounds. It can lead to overwhelm, paralysis and dissatisfaction.
A time for learning new skills like baking sourdough
“Infinite options equals ultimate prison, in many circumstances. You end up with this paradox of choice issue. It’s like standing in front of shelving at a Safeway with 300 brands of toothpaste and just wasting 15 minutes of your life trying to pick a toothpaste. You don’t need that kind of cognitive burden and decision fatigue.”
~ Tim Ferriss
The current situation has imposed constraints on us that would have seemed unimaginable a few months ago. But what if these were positive constraints? What if these are constraints that force us into new kinds of creativity and connection? Who do you want to become through this experience? Who do you want to be on the other side?
Nelson Mandela was asked how he survived his time in prison (27 years) He answered “I wasn’t surviving, I was preparing.”
Most of us are not experiencing the same material and sensory deprivation that Mandela lived through. But sometimes we put ourselves in a prison of our own making. It can take a little practice to look around and choose gratitude and perspective over complaining and negativity. What would that mindset shift look like for you – if you went from surviving – to preparing?
It doesn’t have to be about going into overdrive – learning an instrument, Kondo-ing every cupboard, starting a side hustle. But it’s also not about watching Netflix and eating family-size packs of Easter eggs all day. It’s somewhere in the middle - being curious about the everyday moments of our experience – our experience of home, ourselves and of the wider world in this new phase. Being kind to ourselves and others. Inner worlds expanding as the outer world fades for a time. A conscious intention and choice to see this time at home as fertile and full of opportunity, rather than wasted.
And this choice, this choosing to reorient towards the positive – will not be a one off. We will choose – and then we will be overwhelmed. We will choose – and then anxiety will creep in again after we spend just that bit too long on the news. But that is the practice. Choosing again, and again, and again – to reorient towards the sun.
The expression ‘charity starts at home’, has never been more applicable. Home-schooled kids are learning from their parents that a small community gesture can go a big way. Neighbourhood windows are dotted with hand drawn, colourful signs thanking the health service for everything they are doing for us, and the country is united in wanting to help in any means possible to bring about the best possible outcome. The amount of charity that we’ve seen happening throughout our country, in just these few weeks alone, has been a testament to human nature. A global pandemic has highlighted the millions of homes at the heart of our little country and it’s brought meaning back to the word.
We hope you are staying healthy, staying happy and staying home.
You can #shareyoursun wherever you are.
With the new year bringing clarity, fresh ideas and new projects for the Bird flock, we wanted to take a look back on how our Share Your Sun movement has impacted lives for good.
We are enormously proud of our partnership with SolarAid, a charity that replaces dirty and expensive kerosene lamps with solar powered light for families in Africa. Why solely sell sunglasses, when we can do so much more?
With each pair of Bird sunglasses purchased, a family in Africa benefits from a solar lamp. These solar lamps take the place of the standard kerosene lamps that are in most households. By eliminating these dirty kerosene lamps, families will benefit from better health; reducing chest problems, eye irritation and illness. This improvement in health results in better mental wellbeing, fewer hours of work and school missed and enables people to be more productive.
Most of these lights are used by children to complete their homework after dark, meaning better grades, leading young people towards higher education and brighter futures.
Stats from our friends @ Solar Aid
Since the beginning of our partnership with SolarAir we have reached 3598 people and provided over 670,000 extra hours of study time! Solar lamps also mean that families save on buying fuel for their kerosene lamps - 40% of families will never have to spend money on lighting ever again!
"With each pair of Bird sunglasses purchased, a family in Africa benefits from a solar lamp. "
Not only do solar lamps save the health and money of African families, but they also save the planet. In the past 3 years we have averted over 708 tonnes of CO2 from polluting the atmosphere. Looking good is one thing, but doing good is a whole different ball game and we strive to help Mother Earth as well as people in need.
Follow @shareyoursun for more stories and share the love by tagging #shareyoursun
]]>January is a time for resolutions. People everywhere promising to better themselves; eating healthily, hitting the gym and no more nail biting. We see the arrival of the New Year as a perfect time to bring the best version of yourself into focus. Now, more than ever, our world needs us to live more ethically and sustainably, not only for the sake of Mother Earth but also for the people who live here. By pledging to live cleaner, greener and more eco lifestyles, we’re stepping into the best version of ourselves – and the best version of our planet.
Bird Sunglasses are made from sustainable materials and created ethically, and each pair purchased guarantees solar powered light for families in Africa, through our affiliated charity SolarAid. If you look after your Birds, they will last a lifetime, meaning no more rubbish plastic sunnies in landfill, and more looking great for a long time to come.
Here at Bird HQ we’re busy making plans and creating our ‘2020 Vision’ for this year. We want to keep growing – as a company, as a team, and as individuals, in every sense of the word. And a cold, wet winter has got us itching for travels and exploration so we’ll be planning some adventures for the year.
So whatever you’re planning for this year, whether trips to warmer climes and mountainous horizons, or simply pledging to hop on a bike instead of driving to work, the act of getting outside, breathing in fresh air, stretching wintery limbs and welcoming every day is a sure fire way to set ourselves up for a good year ahead.
From our family to yours, we’d like to wish you a Happy New Year.
We hope your 2020 brings clarity, happiness and sunshine!
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]]>Our Blackcap frame is continuing its journey to stardom. Not only has this model won Frame of the Year in this year’s Optician Awards, alongside some huge names, but the London Museum of Optometry have asked us if they can feature our Blackcap frame as part of their highly curated collection.
]]>Not only has this model won Frame of the Year in this year’s Optician Awards, alongside some huge names, but the London Museum of Optometry have asked us if they can feature our Blackcap frame as part of their highly curated collection.
The Museum of Optometry is located in the centre of London and was founded in 1901. It’s recognised as the oldest optical museum in the world and their remarkable collection comprises over twenty-seven thousand outstanding items. So we’re absolutely thrilled that Bird is now a part of this great legacy.
The museum collects objects and archival items relating to the history of optics, the human eye and visual aids, as well as the representation of these subjects in art. The museum’s collection is an internationally important resource for studying the development of the various sight-related occupations, from Medieval spectacle makers to today's highly skilled optics, as well as for the history of design, fashion and sensory impairment.
The Blackcap is a sophisticated and unique frame, named after the Blackcap bird which features similar colours in the wild, and is one of our best sellers. The frame itself has been highly engineered using multiple layers of sustainable ash, bamboo and beechwood, plus two core layers of aluminium for strength. The wooden nose-pads are soft and tactile and the temples feature sprung hinges with adjustable ends to enable the best fit for the wearer.
Our pioneering layering technology has allowed us to create a strong thin frame with a unique shape and distinctive colour palette – giving a design nod to the classic cat-eye and retro-round shapes.
Another reason the museum wanted to feature our frame was the social impact we have through our Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid, where every pair sold brings the gift of solar light to families in Malawi, Zambia and Uganda. This social impact is a new addition in the history of eyewear, adding to the uniqueness of the frame and their collection.
Our frame now sits alongside some of the most important frames in the world, including many celebrity frames, including Harry Potter’s glasses as worn in the film, and other famous frames worn by Mel Gibson, Agatha Cristie, Matthew Bellamy, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.
Frames in the 18th century were made from real turtle shell, and the crest of the opticians was also a turtle. This is why many modern acetate frames have the ‘tortoiseshell’ look (we’re glad real turtles are no longer used!).
Stand out this summer with this bold Limited Edition Petrel frame. Featuring an azure blue beechwood layer to brighten up your day. Feather etching along the temples completes this unique pair of sunnies.
These wooden sunglasses are handmade, and features a 100% beechwood frame. Our azure blue pigment featured on the inside is mixed and applied by hand during the wood laminating process.
Our traditional wood laminating methods create a distinctive colour contrast and give greater overall strength while still being lightweight. This frame comes with either polarised charcoal or mirrored gold lenses, plus our soft eco-cork case.