I (Laine) found a pair of funky vintage sunglasses while on vacation with my family. They were big round purple frames with silver chains instead of hard plastic arms. I bought them and I quickly fell in love. As a migraine sufferer, I adored the comfortable design that prevented tension along my temples. And as a fan of vintage fashion, I swooned over the iconic mod silhouette.

I dropped my sunglasses and the vintage plastic cracked in two. I went online to look for a new pair but vintage resellers had them priced above what I could afford. But it gave me an idea: What if I made my own sunglasses?

It began with research. Lots and lots of it. As an environmental educator by trade, sustainable production was my top priority. I wanted to make a product that did not add to the growing waste problem our planet faces, so I partnered with a company that turns trash into treasure. Visual Gumbo became partners with Tide Ocean SA, the Swiss company behind #tide ocean material®. They put us in contact with their long-time business development partner, Isaac Ma, who oversees the sustainable production of goods in Asia using the recycled ocean-bound plastic.

Over the next two years we make and test small batches. Friends and family wear the sunnies around town, while working and running errands. I wear many versions of the sunnies. Version one comes with me on daily dog walks for a year. Version two makes its way to Alaska. Version three rides in a homemade coffin-shaped derby car during my bachelorette party and sits on my face as I marry my best friend in Las Vegas. We fine tune the details, work out the kinks and launch our first line of Sunnies.

Catch us selling Sunnies and vintage goods at art markets and festivals in New Orleans and surrounding cities. Or pick out a pair on the website! Follow us on Instagram @visual.gumbo to find out where the future will take us.