Australian-born eyewear brand Oscar Wylee has expanded its eco-friendly range with the addition of 139 bio-acetate frames.
Bio-acetate is a material primarily crafted from plant-based sources, such as wood pulp and cotton.
Head of product and fashion creative Laetitia Touyeras said the move has been in the works for over a year, adding that the biggest challenge was the intensive and time-intensive process of ensuring colour consistency across the transition from regular to bio-acetate.
“We individually colour-matched over 137 shades to guarantee no variation for our customers,” Touyeras said. “This dedication to maintaining our renowned aesthetic while embracing sustainability was paramount.
“Additionally, we've increased the percentage of bio-acetate in our collections over the past year, with our recent Autumn Petal collection (launched in April) featuring 85 per cent bio-acetate frames and the Double Take collection (February) boasting 90 per cent.”
According to Touyeras, Bio-acetate retains the strength, flexibility, hypoallergenic properties, and vibrant colour options that make standard acetate a premium eyewear material.
Touyeras said this expansion is a significant step in Oscar Wylee’s ongoing sustainability journey.
“We have also introduced initiatives to enhance product longevity through improved metal plating and the increased use of recycled stainless steel,” she added.
“We aim to continue exploring and implementing more sustainable materials and practices across our entire product lifecycle, from sourcing and manufacturing to packaging and beyond.
“We’re really excited to see how our customers respond to these bio-acetate frames and are prepared to ramp up our sustainable efforts accordingly.”
Oscar Wylee manages over 140 optometry stores across Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with more than 100 in Australia.