These 'Woodzee' wooden sunglasses are made out of upcycled oak whiskey barrels.
Woodzee -- the company that makes sunglasses out of recycled or certified sustainable wood and plants one tree for every pair sold -- recently moved part of its manufacturing chain to founder Luke Winter's hometown of Chico, California. To celebrate the opening of the new factory, Woodzee launched a pair of wooden sunglasses to be specially manufactured there. The American-made eyewear will be made from upcycled Maker's Mark whiskey barrels. Woodzee's philanthropic format will also start to focus on more local issues with the opening of its American factory, seeking to partner with Chico and California-based charities.
These whiskey barrel sunglasses satisfy a consumer desire to purchase products that contribute to recycling or environmentalism in some way. There's an even bigger draw when the item can be linked back to a unique or quirky source -- like wood recycled from Maker's Mark whiskey barrels.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Upcycling
- The trend of upcycling materials to create new products presents disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses looking to tap into the growing consumer desire for sustainable and eco-friendly options.
- Local Philanthropy
- The trend of focusing philanthropic efforts on local issues provides disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses to create partnerships with local charities and align their brand with community causes.
- Unique Sourcing
- The trend of using unique or quirky materials, such as wood from Maker's Mark whiskey barrels, offers disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses to create products that stand out and appeal to consumers seeking novel and interesting items.
Where This Applies
- Fashion Accessories
- The fashion accessories industry can capitalize on the upcycling trend by creating innovative products, like wooden sunglasses made from upcycled materials, to meet the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly options.
- Manufacturing
- The manufacturing industry can seize disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating upcycled materials into their production processes, reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability.
- Eyewear
- The eyewear industry can leverage the unique sourcing trend by using unconventional materials, such as wood from whiskey barrels, to create distinctive and environmentally conscious sunglasses that appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
