WESTWARD LEANING | Voyager, 30 Matte Tortoise

The idea was simple enough. Design sunglasses that are greater than the sum of their parts; to look beyond the status quo and into a future where socially conscious eyewear that universally fits and flatters is the standard, not the exception. What the fashion industry might consider a fantasy, Westward Leaning considered an inevitability.

“We are committed to being as ethical, sustainable, fair, and socially- conscious as possible. We have never gendered our products, and everything we make is suitable for any ethnicity, face shape, age and size. “

The Westward Leaning founders make a point of visiting every location where our product is manufactured – choosing production facilities on the basis of quality and cost, but also because they can ‘feel good knowing that’s where they’re made’. The team is on a first-name basis with the people who work at the family-owned factory that makes most of their products. All of their overseas manufacturing facilities are carefully vetted by Westward Leaning and subject to third party audits to make sure that workers at all stages of production are fairly paid and have a safe work environment.

Sourcing reclaimed redwood and various locally occuring metals from their home state of California, beautiful created gemstones from Europe, as well as using recycled paper in packaging where possible, WL makes sure to apply their concern for quality and sustainability at the material level as well.  Additionally, they pledge to never use any animal products that are not the byproduct of a natural event (like shedding) in the making of their glasses. Antler is the only animal product used, and the antlers were purchased are collected by Boy Scouts and sold at auction for the benefit of the National Parks. Using the latest and greatest animal- alternatives (such as NovoSuede used in their cases), Westward leaning rounds out their thoughtful approach to design. Each piece is carefully hand finished and undergoes final assembly by highly trained artists and craftsmen in their San Francisco studio and Japanese atelier.

‘We have no illusions: sunglasses are not going to save the world. Our prime directive is to make people happy: you should feel cool and awesome in our shades. For us, this means ensuring that the design is amazing, the fit and intended audience is always universal, and that the product is manufactured in a way that at worst does no harm, and at best improves the lives of the people involved in its creation. We want a future that’s bright… not least of all because it means people will have to buy shades.‘