Swell Combines Cool Shades with Environmentally Friendly Materials for One Hot Pair of Sunglasses

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC – Who hasn’t lost a pair of sunglasses at the beach? One minute you’re having a blast with your friends. Next minute you’ve burned your retinas out in the glaring sun…not to mention burned 100 bucks or more on a new pair of shades that now are lost at sea. Or, you’ve been down that road so many times that you bow to the inevitable and get a cheap pair of shades “just for the beach” that may or may not offer the protection – or style – you’re looking for. Who needs that hassle?

At Swell, we felt your pain…so we wanted to find a way to provide stylish sunglasses, that looked good, provided great protection and, of course, floated. And being conscious of our environment, we wanted something that was friendly to the planet. What we created was a line of sunglasses with bamboo frames – stylish, floatable and environmentally sustainable.

“Growing up near the water, and raised with a respect for the environment, I wanted to find a way to solve two problems at once,” said Mitchell Saum, founder of Swell and a student at Wofford College. “Bamboo fit all of our requirements, giving us sustainability and style that floated.”

Taking the company’s commitment to sustainability one step further, Mitchell became a sponsor of Green School Bali in Indonesia. The mission of Green School is to create a natural, holistic, student-centered learning environment that empowers and inspires students to be creative, innovative, green leaders, educating students in global citizenship.

“At Swell, we believe that real change in environmental practices must be developed from the bottom up through the education of kids from around the world to lead the world,” Mitchell added. “Green School is a perfect partner for us, as its mission fits perfectly with our ‘sustainable vision.’ Our sustainable vision is at the core of our products. To us this means fostering sustainability – through education programs like Green School – thought leadership and social entrepreneurs for our future.”

Swell supports Green School by contributing a portion of each sale to their scholarship programs. Green School aims to allocate up to twenty percent of its student placement to local scholars from Bali and other Indonesian islands. These children are essential members of the Green School community. Providing the opportunity for a Green School education not only gives each local scholar an educational experience they can receive nowhere else, it also enhances and enriches the fabric of our entire community.

“The mission of Green School contributes to Swell’s vision by pioneering sustainability within education,” added Mitchell. “It’s pushing boundaries in schooling at a time when the world must review whether more of the same is acceptable. It’s preparing students to be critical and creative thinkers who are confident to champion the sustainability of the world and its environment. It’s inspiring their thirst to know more, equipping them with appropriate and relevant knowledge, and nurturing their passion to influence change in the way we are managing this planet.”

“Swell Shades is a fantastic concept using the most sustainable material in the world: bamboo,” said Chris Thompson, the Head of Development at Green School. “Our entire school is made of bamboo and it is a model of sustainability. Small differences make all the difference in the world. We’d love to see everyone wearing bamboo sunglasses instead of plastic ones. This is a fine example of corporate and social responsibility built into the fabric of the company.”

Currently, Swell offers environmentally friendly, floating sunglasses made from bamboo. Bamboo watches and other sustainable products will be available soon.

A portion of all Swell sales goes to support the Green School.

For more information about Swell shades and accessories, or our commitment to sustainability, visit our website at www.swellvision.com. Want to stay up to date on the latest Swell happenings? Follow us on Facebook, and Twitter.

About Swell

Growing up in Pawleys Island, S.C., losing sunglasses was a constant hassle – especially as we began to invest more in our sunglasses. Countless pairs of plastic and metal sunglasses adorn the bottom of the Atlantic and the Waccamaw River. After losing yet another pair of expensive glasses, we knew there had to be a better way – and there was. Sustainable bamboo is the perfect material for creating floating sunglasses. From these beginnings, we created sunglasses that were not only stylish and floated, but were also sustainable. We invite you to try a pair. Swell Shades are only $99 with free domestic shipping, and if you aren’t absolutely in love with them, you can return them to us within THIRTY days of delivery. Now isn’t that just swell?+

About Green School

Green School is an international school in Bali, Indonesia whose mission is to be the #1 model of sustainability education in the world. Awarded the “2012 Greenest School on Earth” by the Center for Green Schools at the United States Green Building Council, this “destination school” has attracted over 400 preschool through high school students from more than 30 countries seeking a unique, nature-based, student-centered education. The school believes in three simple values underlying every decision: be local, let your environment be your guide and envisage how your grandchildren will be affected by your actions.

Green School was founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy who recognized a unique opportunity to create something truly inspiring and outside of the structural, conceptual, and physical limitations of most traditional schools. Its curriculum combines the academic rigor expected of schools and institutions of higher learning with hands-on experiential learning.