For those looking for a little defense from the sun’s mighty rays during the warmer months, cool shades are a must. Even under the gloomier skies of winter, sunglasses remain essential—that diffuse light can sneak up on you. But luxury sunglasses have also become associated with free-for-all spending, and lousy retail mark-ups.
So when Robert Denning and Karlygash Burkitbayeva, who met as students at Stanford Business School, realized their shared interest in social progress and their mutual love for fashionable eyewear, they began conceptualizing ways that retail could engage with contemporary social issues. With backgrounds in business, design, and culture, the pair teamed up to create Westward Leaning, a luxury—yet socially responsible—collection of sunglasses featuring one universally flattering shape based off of the classic Wayfarer design.
Available in nine models, each pair features a unique material in honor of a person, place, or organization that has contributed to social progress. The Teddy Roosevelt model features material from naturally-shed antlers collected by Boy Scouts at the National Elk Refuge. The Children of California model celebrates the Golden State and its achievements with reclaimed Californian redwood. And for every pair of sunglasses sold, Westward Leaning donates ten dollars to education programs related to the specific achievements its sunglasses celebrate. With an obvious focus on celebrating the triumphs of humanity and sending a message of hopefulness into the world, Westward Leaning believes investing in a pair of these shades won’t feel entirely self-indulgent.