Supporting eye care projects in Africa.

The Sunglasses

Asha is modern and nostalgic all at once. With a full-bodied frame that is part preppy, part peppy, this popular style suits a wide range of faces. Finished in a stunning sunflower tortoiseshell acetate these unisex frames will be a great companion for your adventures.

• Can be used with prescription lenses through your local optician
• Pala gives £5 for every pair of sunglasses sold, providing grants directly to eye care projects in Africa
• Sustainable case woven from recycled plastic bags and waste
• CR39 lenses with 100% UVA/UVB protection

The Story of PALA

PALA's Mission

"640 million people are unable to access eye care." - PALA Eyewear

PALA is on a mission to change that. A pair of spectacles is an effective poverty alleviating tool, enabling the wearer to read, write and work. With each pair of sunglasses sold, PALA gives £5 to provide grants directly to eye care projects in Africa

Projects might include building a new Vision Centre; or dispensary, purchasing equipment or supporting an outreach programme – all sustainable, long term solutions that facilitate eye care, eye tests and provision of spectacles.

They’re also on a mission to be the most sustainable eyewear brand in the world.

The Sunglasses Case

Their sunglass cases are made from recycled plastic and weaved in communities in Ghana, where they provide a fair wage to their workers. As PALA grows they have created job opportunities where workers have been taught to weave and earn an income.

Materials

PALA have started to incorporate bio-acetate and recycled acetate into their collection. The bio-acetate uses less harmful chemicals than conventional acetate and the recycled acetate is made from offcuts from the factory.

The Factory

The factory PALA uses to make their premium eyewear is in China. It is independently SMETA audited and corrective action plans are given to help improve conditions in the factory. This is aimed to be done every 2 years. PALA have direct contact with the factory and follow up with them on their corrective action plans to help ensure these have been completed. 

Packaging

They’ve thought about packaging as well and that is all recycled or FSC certified.

Carbon Offsetting

And if that wasn’t enough, they also carbon offset delivery of products and carbon offset the teams flights. They do this by providing cooking pots in Nigeria and Rwanda which hold heat for much longer than normal pots, reducing the need for extra fuel, therefore reducing CO2 emissions.

Eco-Age Brandmark

PALA has been awarded The Eco-Age Brandmark, which is given to brands who meet Eco-Age’s principles for sustainable excellence. Eco-Age will be supporting PALA to further improve their ethical and sustainable practice.

Ethical Developments

Everyone at PALA’s make factory earns above a minimum wage, however we’d also like to see this further improved with the implementation of a living wage. Furthermore, we’d like to know more about the working conditions of the factory. It is positive that the factory is independently audited using SMETA as this helps to ensure good working conditions, however SMETA is not a certification so does not guarantee this.