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Sustainable Sunglasses Which Do Good | Introducing Bambooka*

By April 3, 2018 Ethical

The snow has melted, I’m packing my coat just in case and I’m slowly cutting down on thick layers, all of which can only mean one thing; it’s the beginning of the sunglasses season.

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka


WHAT I WORE: Denim Jacket (G-STAR RAW)* // Super Crop Top (ASOS – Old) // Recycled Denim Choker (Yours Again)* // Carleen Anderson Special Edition Sunglasses £25.00 (Bambooka)*


Although I may not be too up-to-speed with the latest trends (who needs them, right?), it’s fairly clear from a quick look on Instagram that a sharp, killer pair of sunglasses is what a lot of us are pining for right now.

I even picked up on this last summer, when I found a blue-lensed vintage pair in a charity shop (see them styled here) and wore them almost every day until their eventual death (the sound of my foot accidentally crunching on the glass still haunts me).

Since then, I’ve been on the hunt, contemplating whether to just screw my morals and buy a cheap plastic pair or to wait around until I find something more sustainable.

What I didn’t expect to be so drawn to, was a pair made of a natural material – bamboo. Bambooka is the brand behind this striking pair of special edition glasses, inspired by the American singer, Carleen Anderson.

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka


Bambooka is at the forefront of fashion, in a way almost no other brand can be. We’re a progressive, non-profit organisation taking on traditional business practices, traditional fashion trends, and traditional ideas on how we think about charity, all at the same time. We’re also taking on poverty in some of the world’s most deprived societies – and with a growing number of famous faces behind the glasses, we’re going from strength to strength.

When we started Bambooka, bamboo eye-wear simply didn’t exist. We were in awe when we saw them and wore our first pair, and immediately saw it as an opportunity.

Baz, Founder of Bambooka

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about plastic, especially in the many forms in which it works its way into our lives. Not only did these thoughts come from my obvious interest in sustainability but it also came from a documentary I recently watched on Netflix – A Plastic Ocean – which delved into the issues, from how it affects our seas to how even marked-as-safe items like baby bottles, can actually still be extremely harmful.

This led me to thinking about my sunglasses and the fact that every single pair I own – excluding my new Bambooka addition – are made of plastic. Most of us don’t have a real grasp on how that plastic is produced and even more so, how it eventually affects us. I’m unaware of what it’s doing to my body as it sits against my delicate skin in temperatures of up to 40 degrees (104f), in the heat of European summers.

Very simply, wearing a pair made of a natural material, which are equally as stylish as any other I own, just seems like the better, more obvious choice.

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka


Our sunglasses are made in China. The reason for this is that they are made of giant bamboo, in our case Moso bamboo, aka Mao bamboo or Phyllostachys edulis. Bamboo is technically speaking a grass (and not wood), as such it is hollow.

So unlike wood, from which you can carve any shape from a solid piece, to make something of bamboo, one needs to have sufficient wall thickness in order to have enough “wood” to be able to carve out the shape of a pair of glasses.

This bamboo grows in abundance in the Chinese mountains, and is replaced naturally by phenomenally fast natural re-growth, eliminating any concerns regarding deforestation etc.

Whereabouts are Bambooka items manufactured?

Bamboo is sustainable in many ways; it doesn’t require irrigation, it doesn’t need replanting and it can be grown without pesticides or fertilisers, but when it comes to Bambooka specifically, they’re more than just that – they’re also a non-profit brand, supporting charities such as Vision Aid (who are fighting poverty and providing eye care to those in need) and PEPE who help ordinary people in South Africa escape poverty.

Where to Buy Sustainable Sunglasses - Bambooka


In this day and age it is unacceptable that more than 1 Billion people worldwide can’t see properly, and that 80% of all visual impairment can easily be cured or solved, often with a simple pair of glasses.

As you’d expect, many of these people can be found in Africa. Really, restoring vision is a ‘low hanging fruit’, and eyewear is one obvious route to start solving some of these issues.

Why did you decide to focus on eyewear, specifically?

So – in answer to the question you never asked but have always been subconsciously curious about; can sunglasses be sustainable and stylish? Yes. Absolutely. And they can do good for others at the same time. 


What do you think of bamboo sunglasses? Would you ever buy a pair? Let me know in the comments!

(This post was sponsored by Bambooka, however, all thoughts and opinions are mine. Read my full PR disclaimer here.)

 

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ZooBug Children’s Eyewear Review*

By June 3, 2013 Fashion, My Style

If you know me, I love sunglasses. I have a notice board where you are meant to slip pictures in, designated to them. So when Zoobug children’s eyewear contacted me I just couldn’t resist saying yes to receiving some of their gorgeous goodies in the post. *Adds 2 more pairs to the collection* Warning: Picture heavy post!

Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear ReviewAV Orange €55.00 (ZooBug)* & Limited Edition Frames (Zoobug)*

The pairs I received are gorgeous! When I was told I was going to receive some, I actually looked at these Aviators, and by chance, I got them! I never wear these styles, but I think they are actually okay! My favourite have got to be the AVs, as they are bright and perfect for summer! I also LOVE the pop of blue on the ears! The purple pair have got silk in them apparently?! How cool is that?! I really like the print, and with the jacket I wore to the Style Blogger Awards, they go perfectly!

Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear ReviewThe lenses in both of the pairs are really good quality. I usually wear cheap bargain pairs from Primark, and I can sort of see the difference, but I would have to say they aren’t quite as good as, say, Ray Ban lenses. They are both polarised, with 100% UV protection just like adult sunglasses, so I’m safe from the sun! I like the colour of the lenses though, they are a nice grey/purple colour, so it doesn’t make anything too dark. The purple pair are probably most comfortable, but that may just be on me, as I do tend to find AVs quite uncomfortable. I was surprised by the sizing, as to me ‘Children’s’ sunglasses, sound too small for the used-to-adult-sized Tolly, so that’s a plus! After using them on an odd couple of hot days last week, I found they got more comfortable and they didn’t look so weird on me!

Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear ReviewAs you can see the packaging is very nice! I like how sleek it is, and how sturdy it feels. I am definitely going to be able to keep them safe! The cases are also very light weight so for any of you mummies, you don’t have to worry about any extra weight when carrying around little Benny’s glasses! I have no idea who Benny is! You also get a nice wipe which means you don’t have to fear scratches from wiping them with the edge of a t-shirt!

Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear ReviewWhat I Wore: White Jacket €1.00 (Jumble Sale – DIY), Floral Tie Up Top €1.00 (Jumble Sale), Floral Broach (Vintage), Grey ZARA Shorts €1.00 (Jumble Sale), Floral Keds (ASOS) & AV Orange €55.00 (ZooBug)*

Zoobug Children's Eyewear Review Zoobug Children's Eyewear ReviewMay we just applaud my editing skills? I said in my latest OOTD that I am really enjoying editing, and it may seem vain, but I am really proud of myself! As a blogger, not having a fancy camera can be quite annoying, but I think I am making it work quite well!

If you don’t know already, the nominating has OPENED for the Posh Fashion Awards! Click this link for more information, or click here to get nominating! Good Luck!

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DIY Embellished Sunglasses

By May 22, 2013 DIY & Lifestyle, Fashion, My Style

A massive trend which was first introduced by designers such as Chanel, is Embellished Sunglasses. Whether you want studs poking out of your brows, or want a few daisies bordering your eyes, there is something for everyone! Some of these sunglasses cost a BOMB, so I’ve decided to show you how I made some for less than £3.00!! Enjoy 🙂

DSC07413Wayfarer Sunglasses – 99p (eBay)//Floral Cabochons – £1.04 (eBay)

The Sunglasses in which I bought are just plain white. I went for this style as it suits me best, but I think any style would do for this DIY, as long as it has room to fit the flowers. You must get ‘Cabochons’ and NOT buttons, as they have flat backs which makes it super easy to stick on. I went for one colour as it was a bit cheaper. You could also use different things, like studs or perhaps little stars, or animals. Mix it up! It is best to use a Hot Glue Gun as it means you can take off any mistakes(?!) as the glue can come off quite easily, but still holds things down for a good amount of time.

DSC07415First of all you want to heat up the Hot Glue Gun and get it so it is dripping out the end on it’s own, because it will be easier to use. Whilst you wait, think about how you will put the Cabochons on. Put a book underneath so they don’t slip off. The best designs are either across the whole brow, or just in the corners, but you could also do the sides or ‘arms’ of the Sunglasses too.

Secondly, when the Glue has melted fully, add one small dot the place you want to stick the Cabochon onto. DO NOT put the Glue on the Cabochon itself as you could burn yourself, and it may spread out and make the Glue visible when pressing it down. When pulling the Hot Glue Gun away from the glasses, pull them away from the lenses to avoid any glue going onto them. You could put a sticky note over the lenses too to make sure this doesn’t happen. Repeat this process until you have finished the design, and leave them to cool.

DSC07428 DSC07430The complete design! Pretty cool, huh? 🙂 Make sure to be careful with them!

In total these cost me £2.03, as I already had the Glue, so at the most it will cost you £5.00! It’s super easy, and you can experiment with different designs. I think these will look great for summer, and will be a great statement to add to any outfit. This is a great thing to try out as some cost £15.00, and for £2.00, I think we all know which is the better deal! I hope you enjoyed this ‘DIY Embellished Sunglasses’ tutorial and do make sure to tweet me if you give it a whirl! Or Instagram a picture using #TDPSunnies

Will you be trying this DIY out or will you buy a more expensive pair? Have you already tried this DIY out? Make sure to leave a comment below!

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New Purchase: Clear & Neon Sunglasses

By August 11, 2012 My Style

Yesterday I was browsing in Primark for some cheap bargains (like anyone would do), and found a pair of amazing sunglasses for £1! If you live in Cheltenham, or you have visited the store in Cheltenham before, you will know that there is usually 2 stands by the door with £1 items. I am so glad that I passed the exact stand that I got the shades from, because I love them! Below are a few pictures of them, and also a short review of them. They were basically in the sale, so I would be quick if you would like to grab yourself a pair.

I really like these because they have Yellow reflective lenses, which mean they look very funky, and also very contrasting to the Clear frames, which make them look very vintage. You can hopefully you can see that the ‘arms’ of the sunglasses, are Yellow, and I love that. For £1 they are an amazing by, and I think they are better than my Yellow ones I got from Claire’s for £7.

Price: 10/10 – Amazing price for what they are.

Colour & Look: 10/10 – Really nice, vintage kind of colour and style.

Make: 8.5/10 – Made ‘Primark’ style, but no faults or loose parts.

Overall: 10/10 – Really happy I bought them, and they go with most things.

 

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Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Sunglasses Collection

By May 11, 2012 Fashion

For you Sunglass lovers, including me, here’s a post I found via the Telegraph, so I thought you might like to see it. It’s Louis Vuitton’s new Sunglass Collection. Some of them are quite cool actually, take a look….

Langley Hemingway models the Viola, £345. Pretty cool, to be honest 🙂

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Tolly Dolly Posh: Instagram

By April 21, 2012 My Style

As, I have been doing a few Photography posts, I thought I would share the fact, that you can follow me on Instagram! I haven’t got many followers, so it would be great if you guys could get me more! Follow me at, TollyDollyPosh.

My Instagram works of ART. Follow @TollyDollyPosh


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New Trend: Cat Eye Sunglasses

By April 7, 2012 Fashion

As hopefully you saw in my last post, Cat Eye Sunglasses are very in trend at the moment. So, I thought I would show you some of my favourite ones out there at the moment.

Cat Eye Sunglasses with Cut Away £12.00 (ASOS), Studded Cat Eye Sunglasses £7.99 (New Look), Contessa Cat-Eye Sunglasses £14.00 (Urban Outfitters), Metal Half Frame Cat Eye Sunglasses £15.00 (ASOS).


P.S You probably think that I use ASOS a lot, the reason being, is because it’s best for cheaper things, and of course the higher priced things. Also… my sister, Saskia’s (who has helped in the making of this blog), music from her band, ‘Saskia Says‘ is currently starring on the Catwalk Previews of any Women’s Clothing, so take a look!


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