AKILA

AKILA is an independent eyewear brand based in downtown Los Angeles, making handmade unisex sunglasses at what it calls anti-industry pricing. Frames come in small batches, cut from plant-based cellulose acetate, with stainless-steel cores for structure, and there are titanium options too. The shapes are thick retro cuts in classic black and tortoiseshell, plus tinted or translucent finishes, and the Apollo is a favourite at END. The branding is minimal. Lenses block 100% UVA/UVB, and some styles use recycled content. Packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable, and AKILA gives one percent of every sale to environmental causes as a member of 1% for the Planet. There is a one-year warranty, and you get 30% off your next pair if you send old frames back.