20/20 magazine, September 2004

Eco-Eyes

Eyewear can be good for the environment. Just ask Allyn Scura, owner of Allyn Scura Eyewear, a California-based eyewear company that carries vintage and original eyewear. Last May, Scura was invited to showcase her vintage eyewear at the LOHAS 8 forum, an event that brought together environment-friendly businesses.

“Ironically, while we strive to use ‘green’ business practices and work with an environmental consulting group, Eco-Resolutions, we’ve never thought of our vintage product as being a ‘green’ product,” Scura says. “LOHAS approached us and said, ‘what a great idea; hip glasses that don’t impact the environment through manufacturing.’”

LOHAS stands for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability and describes businesses and consumers who are concerned with sustainable business practices and social consciousness.

While Allyn Scura Eyewear doesn’t promote itself as a ‘green’ business, they do keep the environment in mind. “We are just trying to do what we can,” remarks Scott Iseyama, Scura’s business partner. In addition to selling vintage eyewear, the company also uses recycled shipping packages and has recently traded in the corporate SUV for a hybrid car.

With over 60,000 pieces of unused vintage eyewear, Allyn Scura Eyewear boasts one of the largest vintage collections in the world. The company refers to their collection as a “new-old stock.” However, in light of the environmental benefits of wearing vintage frames, it could be said that wearing vintage is not only a nod to the past, but also to the future.

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