Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 459,692 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,208 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 459,692 cutting edge ideas.

Sharp Socially-Aware Glasses

Warby Parker Distributes Eyewear Using a One-for-One Model

— June 15, 2011 — Social Good
Before TOMS Eyewear, there was Warby Parker. Warby Parker is a New York-based one-for-one eyeglasses company -- meaning that for every pair sold, Warby Parker will donate one pair of glasses to someone in need.

In the international development arena, access to eyewear has been underestimated as a tool to alleviate poverty worldwide. According to the Warby Parker website, one billion people don't have access to glasses. Manifestly, this lack of access to eye care has effects on learning and working, which in turn has ramifications on the ability of many to sustain their livelihoods. Interestingly, having a pair of functioning eyeglasses will increase someone's income by 20%. Thus, the possibility for impacting lives is untold. Indeed, since its launch last year, Warby Parker has distributed over 50,000 pairs of glasses in over 36 countries across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the USA.

Founded by a foursome (Neil Blumenthal, David Gilboa, Andrew Hunt and Jeffrey Raider) that met at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, Warby Parker has a few crucial partnerships that helps the company along. Firstly, Warby Parker is partnered with VisionSpring, which is an innovative social enterprise that provides eye care to people in low-income countries, as well as integrates local women entrepreneurs into the mix so that they themselves are able to set up their own businesses to sell glasses. When eyeglasses are sold, Warby Parker donates both funds and glasses to VisionSpring.

By handing over the distribution of glasses -- and more importantly, limiting dependency for local communities -- the Warby Parker VisionSpring collaboration is a sustainable solution, especially when compared to charity and donation-driven initiatives that focus on short-term results.

Secondly, Warby Parker has recently released a limited edition pair of sunglasses with Invisible Children, a non-profit that uses storytelling as a method to help end the military use of children in Uganda. For each pair of sunnies sold, $30 will be donated to Invisible Children, and like all of Warby Parker's products, a pair of eyeglasses will be donated to someone in need.

Having been featured in Vogue, GQ and the New York Times, it's not Warby Parker's social mission alone, though, that sets it apart in the eyewear industry. Warby Parker's vintage-inspired frames and prescription lenses look like they could set you back $400, but in reality, they're all currently capped at a price of $95. Warby Parker is one of many social businesses that are appealing to young urbanites who are dissatisfied with their run-of-the-mill designer brand and are looking for businesses that deliver more than just fashion.

Contact Information:
Warby Parker Website
13 E 16th Street, 6th Floor
New York, New York
10003
USA
Telephone: 1-888-492-7297
Trend Themes
1. Socially-aware Eyewear - The rise of socially-aware eyewear presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion and eyewear industries by merging style with a charitable mission.
2. One-for-one Model - The adoption of the one-for-one model for eyeglasses distribution opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the social enterprise sector and the global eyewear industry by addressing the lack of access to eye care.
3. Partnerships for Social Impact - The strategic partnerships between eyewear companies like Warby Parker and social enterprises such as VisionSpring create opportunities for disruptive innovation in the eyewear industry by empowering local communities and providing sustainable solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - The fashion industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating socially-aware eyewear as a new trend, appealing to consumers who value both style and social impact.
2. Social Enterprise Sector - The social enterprise sector can leverage the one-for-one model in the eyewear industry to create disruptive innovations that address social issues and promote sustainable solutions.
3. Eyewear Industry - The eyewear industry has the opportunity to embrace disruptive innovation by forming strategic partnerships with social enterprises, allowing for increased access to eye care and addressing a global need.
5.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness