Ochis (pronounced o-tjiez) is a Ukrainian brand that makes the world's first coffee-based glasses. Used coffee grounds are mixed with natural oils to create a new plant material that is waterproof, has a matte texture and retains the coffee aroma for months. Thanks to the unique production technology, each frame is a combination of functionality, design and green innovation, making all Ochis environmentally conscious, ergonomic and universal – a sustainable head accessory and a new word in the optics sphere.
Sustainability is a core value for this young, independent eyewear brand from Ukraine. They make their frames from used coffee grounds and natural oils in the hope that this innovative material can become an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic in the eyewear world. The innovative glasses indeed smell like coffee as soon as you put them on for the first time. After two years of experimenting and another two years of improving the quality of the new material, it was presented at SILMO, the largest eyewear fair in Europe.
Ochis has invented the technology that helps upcycle coffee waste and convert it into a waterproof material that is completely plant-based and chemical-free. Its production produces zero carbon emissions and aims to reduce its carbon footprint by using locally sourced materials for its coffee-based glasses and cases. The end product has adjustable springs and is suitable for use with both optical and sun protection glasses.
The latest collection from Ochis embodies Ukrainian nature. The capsule was born as a way to preserve the beauty of their native land by combining used coffee grounds and Ukrainian wild flowers into one frame. Ochis Tsvit (which means 'flourishing' in Ukrainian) is dedicated to Ukraine's resilience in the face of a brutal war against its freedom and identity.
“We created the world's first coffee-based glasses in Ukraine, and we have always been inspired by the richness of nature around us, feeling deeply connected to the earth as a source of life and beauty. As we, like all Ukrainians, fight for our independence and freedom, we see our unity blooming with renewed vigor and the new Ukrainian national identity growing from a closed bud into full bloom.
In an attempt to capture this transformation, we have incorporated into each frame the petals of plants that commonly grow in Ukrainian fields. They appear in our folklore, in our songs and poems; they bloom in our wreaths and on our traditional embroidered shirts. From now on, they will also flourish in eyeglass frames and portray our indigenous roots.”
The yellow sunflower represents the unwavering will (“volya” in Ukrainian). Red marigolds represent infinite power (syla). The blue cornflowers symbolize beauty (krasa). Other materials Ochis uses to add color to the frame's surface include flax, turmeric and coconut powder, making each pair unique thanks to the unpredictable ways the patterns reveal themselves during polishing.
Source: Eyeline-magazine.nl
