Denmark’s first sustainable opticians opens

Denmark is a world leader when it comes to sustainability, but one thing it hasn’t had until now is a sustainable opticians. Step forward the newly-opened Monkeyglasses flagship store in Copenhagen…

Complete with sustainable frames, eco-friendly contact lenses and cozy recycled furniture, the store’s mission statement is: reduce, reuse, recycle.

“Monkeyglasses has been producing spectacle frames made of cotton fibres for 10 years now,” said Morten Seaton, Monkeyglasses CEO. “We have talented and committed retailers in 12 countries, and we are so excited to see sustainability become far more central to consumers. But we also know that both design and price are still equally important factors for the consumer who is looking for a new pair of glasses.”

The Monkeyglasses store is decorated in line with the design of the eco brand’s glasses: beautiful, personal and sustainable.

“We have not expanded our office to compete with the many skilled dealers who already have Monkeyglasses in their range,” explained Mai-britt Seaton, CEO and designer. “We have created a flagship store where we can show the full potential of the market for sustainable products.

“Our guests can experience a wide sustainable selection, both displaying all of our frame designs in all the available colours, but also our Zero Waste accessories made from surplus materials from our production and our luxurious eyeglass washing kit with organic coconut soap and hand-tied washing brush. We offer a complete universe where environmental concerns are a given, so the customer can focus on finding their new pair of favourite glasses.”

All furniture in the store is either thrifted or built by hand by the Monkeyglasses team. Owners Morten and Mai-britt have two sons who are a carpenter and electrician respectively. With the help of their children and a pair of close friends who own an antiques shop, they have been able to avoid buying any furniture from new. Even the many green plants are cuttings from friends’ plants. A palm tree that had outgrown its first home was donated to the new shop that boasts a ceiling height of four metres.

The style is highly inspired by a retrospective to classic Danish mid-century modern with dark woods and sturdy metals, all with a high level of craftsmanship. The modern touches come in the form of up-cycled materials such as the scrap iron used for the counter, and the former gate to the back yard. It has now been promoted to guard the design office, and has been left with the patina of many years of Danish weather.

Photo credits: Robertsosis.dk