# Blindness Fighting Socks This Startup is Taking on Preventable Blindness with Mismatched Socks By Alyson Wyers | Published 2014-09-17 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/preventable-blindness References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2014/09/preventable-blindness-awareness-mismatched-socks.html) & [indiegogo](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/swap-socks-mismatched-socks-for-the-world-to-see) One startup is using [mismatched socks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnetic-couples-socks) to raise awareness about and bring aid to preventable blindness and visual impairment. Based out of San Francisco, SWAP Socks is currently seeking finances via crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. One $32 pack of SWAP Socks contains four different but complementary sock patterns for the wearer to mix and match as he or she pleases. The social enterprise donates 50% of its profits to the Seva Foundation, an eye care charitable organization. Founders Cole Page, [Match du Toit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/match-masters) and Roger Nahum intend to make a difference by creating a fashion statement to combat preventable blindness. While approximately 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, SWAP Socks states about 80% of that accounts for preventable blindness and 90% occurs in developing countries without access to optometrical care. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.0/10 - Popularity: 73% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: South America, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Mismatched Socks:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a line of mismatched socks that raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes. - **Preventable Blindness:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a technology or solution that helps detect and prevent preventable blindness in developing countries. - **Social Enterprises:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establish more social enterprises that combine fashion or lifestyle products with a charitable cause to create positive social impact. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate charitable initiatives into fashion brands and leverage consumer interest to support worthy causes. - **Healthcare:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative technologies and accessible healthcare solutions to tackle preventable blindness on a global scale. - **E-commerce:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build e-commerce platforms that connect consumers with fashion products that contribute to charitable organizations, promoting social consciousness in online shopping. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Breast Cancer Awareness-Supporting Socks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/power-in-pink.md) - [Awareness-Raising Shoe Store Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soles4souls-canada.md) - [Vison Loss Research Fundraisers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fighting-blindness-canada.md) - [Magnetic Hand-Holding Socks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handholding-socks.md) - [Empowering Educational Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sight-school.md) - [Magnetic Couples Socks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnetic-couples-socks.md) - [Luxury Eco-Conscious Socks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/madmia.md) - [Playful Children-Focused Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soap-pen.md) - [Youth Vision Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vons-vision-day.md)