Take Pride

June 02, 2023

Pride 2023 edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative

In honor of Pride Month in June, five independent CFDA eyewear designers are uniting to launch the second annual edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative. The designers of Blake Kuwahara Eyewear, Christian Roth Eyewear, Krewe Eyewear, l.a.Eyeworks and Selima Optique, will each offer a limited edition sunglass design, with a portion of proceeds collectively benefiting the TransLatin@ Coalition. Accompanying the limited edition eyewear designs is a dedicated lens cleaning cloth created exclusively for the initiative by New York-based artist Pedro Silva.

The “edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative” is an annual charitable venture driven by independent eyewear designers of the CFDA to target and highlight specific needs within the broad spectrum of the LGBT+ and gender non-conforming community.

"What started out as a modest idea led to our first collective launch in June 2022 which raised nearly $50,000 for the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Building on that momentum and enthusiastic reception from our retail partners and the end consumers, we hope to raise even more awareness and funds for the TransLatin@ Coalition” says Blake Kuwahara.

Collective proceeds from this year’s effort will benefit the TransLatin@ Coalition, whose members are TransLatin@ leaders from different parts of the U.S. who organize and advocate for the issues and needs of TransLatin@ individuals residing in the United States. translatinacoalition.org

Selima Optique Pride Eyewear Initiative 2023

“Vision and visibility must walk hand in hand to be freeing,” notes l.a.Eyeworks co-founder/designer Gai Gherardi, “and the edCFDA Pride Initiative seeks to amplify both ideas in a responsive and emphatic way.”

The designers – Blake Kuwahara (Blake Kuwahara Eyewear), Christian Roth (Christian Roth Eyewear), Gai Gherardi (l.a.Eyeworks), Selima Salaun (Selima Optique), Stirling Barrett (Krewe Eyewear) – are members of the Eyewear Designers of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (edCFDA), a working group of the CFDA that seeks to expand the understanding and presence of designer eyewear as a vital component of contemporary fashion.

This article was written by a state-licensed optical professional. At The Optical. Co, we believe in filling the internet with news and information from trusted professional sources. If you agree with this mission, please consider sharing this article on any and all of your favorite social sites.