A better way to do business: DIFF eyewear

When it comes to combining practicality with personal expression, glasses are one of those accessories that do both, but what about social impact? Can they accomplish all three? DIFF eyewear is trying to.

In the case of prescription glasses, not only are they necessary for your vision, but they are a fun way to spice up your look and express your personal style, and sunglasses are a fun way to add a little extra something to your outfit while staying safe in the sun.

Now, wouldn’t it be great to purchase your glasses from a company whose social mission is great as well? DIFF Eyewear is an eyewear brand with a high social accountability track record, that I thought you should know about. It is impressive what they are doing, and you know that I love to highlight social enterprises!

DIFF Eyewear

DIFF Eyewear was founded in 2014 and from the onset, had some ambitious social impact goals. All three co-founders, Zach Gordan, Chad Jernigan, and Chad Dime had already been working in the eyewear industry before they teamed up together to create their own brand. The glasses they sell are stylish and also provide social benefits in a variety of ways.

Making a DIFF-erence

How exactly does DIFF Eyewear make social change? Since their inception, DIFF’s message has been clear. They want to make a positive change in the world and do so by giving back. For their first four years of business, DIFF pledged that for every pair of sunglasses purchased, they would donate a pair of eyeglasses or fund an eye exam for someone in need.

Within these four years, DIFF was able to provide over 1.6 million people with the eyeglasses that they needed. DIFF Eyewear has now partnered with Sightsavers, an international charity that works to prevent avoidable blindness, support equality for people with disabilities, and advocate for change.

Now, with every pair of DIFF eyeglasses or sunglasses sold, someone in need is provided with the gift of sight through eye exams, surgeries, glasses, medicine and more. After all, eyesight is much more than needing glasses.

For example, eye surgeries can treat cataracts, while medicinal treatments can prevent eye diseases like River Blindness and Trachoma.

Project DIFF

Project DIFF is made up of worldwide programs connecting with local suppliers to support empowerment and education of women.

Through their Pouch Program, DIFF provides female artisans with dependable incomes, vocational skills, as well as money management training, health lessons and peer-to-peer mentorship.

These glasses pouches are handmade out of East African Textiles purchases from local markets in Uganda. Up-cycled mattresses are used to provide the pouches with a protective padding to keep the sunglasses safe.

The proceeds from the pouches go to Little Angels School in order to create a safe and resource-abundant learning environment for children.

Project DIFF also has a partnership with Tribe Alive, a group of women artisans located in Honduras in order to create beautiful glasses chains made with beads and tassels.

Each woman is provided with a sustainable living wage that will help her support her family.

Support change-making companies

We need businesses like DIFF Eyewear in order to make the world a more environmentally and socially sustainable place! They allow us to purchase the items that we need and want while making positive contributions through our purchases. Isn’t this the way that business should be done?