As sustainability and circular design gain more traction within the design space, greenwashing is also on the rise. Brands are riding the hype of new materials, with a head-in-the-sand approach to the unfortunate consequences of using new materials. Not so with CYKLO, an eyewear line from Vinylize that takes reclaimed bike cables and transforms them into eyeglasses and sunglasses. Breathing new life into material previously discarded (and notoriously hard to recycle), this line provokes welcome conversation around where things go when we’re done with them.
The lineup of dynamic designs keeps CYKLO feeling modern and fresh. The temples are created with the bike cables and fitted with lightweight cellulose acetate fronts made from old vinyl records, offering cohesion within styles. With multiple finishes, including a delightfully striped variant, each offers adornment while also offering prescription and UV protection as well. Since the cables are reclaimed, this means no two pairs can be the same, offering a one-of-a-kind, luxury product that also does good for the earth in tandem.
The Bowden cable brake, first invented in 1896, enabled a burgeoning cycling industry to really take off, providing reliability and much-needed handling navigating rocky terrains or city streets. It is ingenious in its simplicity, with a simple three-layered design, yet has had a huge impact on design at large, quickly lending itself to multiple industries, including transportation, manufacturing, and industrial design. This somewhat humble invention has touched an unquantifiable amount of products and processes, enabling freedom and innovation.
Because of their ubiquity, an incredible amount of brake cables are made and discarded every year, difficult to recycle due to their layered design. A slender steel wire sits at the core, coiled tightly for tensile strength. A helically wound layer of flat steel wraps around the wire, while a layer of polyethylene holds the entire structure together. Instead of breaking down these components, using a lot of energy to do so, Vinylize takes another route: all discarded cables from local bicycle shops are sorted, cleaned, cut to size, and laser engraved before assembly. This process takes an often forgotten invention and brings this legacy of innovation full circle, reminding us that even modest inventions can have incredible impact.
The results are stylish eyeglasses that are comfortable to wear, long-lasting, hypoallergenic, and easily adjustable. The collection consists of six models, including three designs named after key members of the band Queen – Mercury, May, and Deacon – which are available in five colors. The other three styles are named for famed cyclists – Bottechia, Franzt, and Aimo – and come in three colors each.
Vinylize is an eyewear brand creating unique and innovative designs to adorn and inspire. The first Vinylize frame was carved by hand from a 12″ Creedence Clearwater Revival album and held together with cigar box hinges. From this first prototype crafted in 2000, co-founder Zachary Tipton set out to find a way to produce frames from records. In 2004, he teamed up with his brother, Zoltan, and established their first factory in the EU. Since then, they have reclaimed tons of records from landfills, working to create a link between fans of sound and sight.
To learn more about CYKLO by Vinylize, please visit vinylize.com.
Photography courtesy of Vinylize.
