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Plant-based eyewear
By : ROLF, Roland Wolf, Bernhard Wolf, Johannes Wacker
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 15th edition
Discipline : Product : Grand Winner, Grand Winner
Categories : Special Awards / Sustainable & Environmental Design : Platinum Winner, Gold Certification
Categories : Industrial Design / Product - Consumer Goods : Gold Certification, Platinum Winner
The substance collection of glasses by ROLF brings the power of plants to the fore. The starting point for the latest collection is a powder derived from a very specific plant. It brings with it a whole array of sustainable and functional properties that have enabled the tech- and design-driven company to develop innovative, plant-based eyewear.
Working with plants is nothing new for the masters of wooden glasses. Their latest natural material is taken from a species of the Euphorbiaceae family and has proved itself to be a competent all-rounder. It has opened up a wealth of new possibilities for ROLF and as a material, its sustainability credentials are particularly impressive.
“The plants are grown in hot climates without any kind of genetic engineering, they don’t compete with food crops, and they can grow very tall, very quickly: where a spruce or a beech will only grow a few centimeters taller every year, this remarkable plant will shoot up six meters in just four months, and it comes back every year,” explains company founder and visionary Roland Wolf. This makes the new material more sustainable and kinder to the environment than ever and meet the current demand for more climate-considerate products.
ROLF’s patented Flexlock hinge has proven itself the ideal component. It can be printed at the same time as the frame using 3D printing technology, meaning ROLF can make its new glasses all at once and therefore keep the number of external suppliers to a minimum. In addition to the high performance of the screwless and patented Flexlock hinge, glasses wearers will also benefit from the flexible, natural, and skin-friendly properties of the plant-based frame.
The eyewear designer’s approach is to combine his love of nature with timeless styles and innovative technology. The creative company continues to manufacture in the home of the brand, by hand, and using natural resources, thereby remaining faithful to the guiding principle of the business: creating products that respect yesterday, work for today, and prepare for tomorrow.
“Our home country of Austria, the Tyrolean mountains, and our natural Alpine surroundings have always been an important influence for ROLF. Their organic shapes are now being reflected in the substance collection,” explains Roland Wolf, founder of ROLF.
about ROLF
Glasses manufacturer ROLF was founded in 2009 in the heart of Austria’s Tyrolean Alps. The family company has become known for its unique wooden glasses, and has now supplemented its offering with eyewear made out of titanium, stone, horn, and plant-based materials – all without using any screws, thereby eliminating the need for any maintenance. Founder and visionary Roland Wolf has already surprised the international eyewear market with several innovations related to his core product, starting with materials and moving on to production technology and design. The eyewear designer’s approach is to combine his love of nature with timeless styles and innovative technology.
Collaboration
