Local eyewear retailers will be able to offer something new to eco-conscious consumers when Gucci's 'sustainable' designs land here in September.
Local manufacturer and distributor for Gucci eyewear, Safilo Australia, will oversee the sale of the six new 'eco' designs to Gucci's 480 local stockists.
Four of the eyewear models have been made from an acetate that contains “a much higher percentage of material from natural origins” than traditional acetate. Gucci will offer the acetate eyewear in both red and green.
Also being released in Australia are two “bio-based” sunglasses. Part of the Gucci Eyeweb collection, the sunglasses are made from a material derived from castor-oil seeds.
“These models feature the same comfort and quality of the best plastic currently employed in the eyewear industry, but contain a large component from natural origins, which in turn helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the production process of the material itself,” Gucci said.
Australian price points for the designs are yet to be released.
Bolstering Gucci's eco-credentials is the announcement the new eyewear designs will be complemented by new packaging from early 2012. The packaging has been designed to simplify production processes and reduce environmental impact.
Safilo Australia is based in Taren Point, NSW and is part of the Italian-headquartered Safilo Group. The latter oversees eyewear production for licensed brands including Armani Exchange, Dior and Giorgio Armani. Safilo Group also has its own house brands including Oxydo, Blue Bay and Smith Optics.