Bamboo Glasses

Although it is not, strictly speaking, a tree, bamboo is nevertheless used like other woods. Many designers have choose this plant for its exceptional strength, flexibility, and, of course, its natural aesthetic.

Bamboo’s environmental impact is much lower than that of most woods. As a plant of tropical origin, it needs sun and water to grow, but it’s extremely resistant to cold and adapts to many climates. If it is irrigated regularly and the soil is properly fertilized, bamboo can grow more than one meter a day! This incredible growth rate, combined with its ability to be grown almost anywhere, makes bamboo a very popular material for woodworkers.

Because it’s so easy to work with, bamboo is the ideal wood for many eyeglasses designers. The bamboo bends but does not break. This suppleness makes virtually any shape possible—the only limit is the designers’ imagination.

© Time for Wood

© Waiting for the Sun

Time for Wood, a Dutch brand of wooden glasses, regularly chooses bamboo for its frames. The bamboo is sourced in the province of Zheijang in China.

In the workshops of the French brand Waiting for the Sun, craftsmen also create bamboo glasses from the Jura. Black, tinted, or natural, the material is worked with great care to achieve the desired result: athletic-inspired frames, with thick and smooth lines.

The use of bamboo creates a host of possibilities. With its different shades, its resilience, and its solidity, it is one of the materials most prized by wooden eyeglass designers.