Wear Your Inner Animal

The still young brand ZOO EYEWEAR comes from the heart of Swabia and offers a wide range of design features and concepts. You can tell from the glasses that the team behind the brand with the “Z” can draw on decades of experience in the industry. An interview with Adam Smith, International Marketing.

Hello Adam, ZOO EYEWEAR is still a young brand. How long have you been around?

After a delayed start due to the Covid-19 virus and the lockdown, ZOO EYEWEAR has been on the market since 2022 and has had an exciting journey since then.

How did you come up with the name ZOO?

It mainly has a visual background. Our ZOO logo shows two temples and two lenses, i.e. a complete frame. But we also take a semantic approach, so each of our collections has a “Z” in its name.

Where does ZOO EYEWEAR come from?

Part of the ZOO team has been working in eyewear design and production for decades and has its roots near Stuttgart.

Is the location in Baden-Württemberg an advantage?

Since each of our collections is produced where the technical requirements are met and our ideas are implemented with high quality and precision, the location is of secondary importance.

What is the philosophy behind the brand?

Our credo is to implement technical and material features in eyewear frames that are lightweight and fit well.

Which materials meet these requirements?

We generally work with the following materials in our collections: titanium, stainless steel, BioZ and TXZ.

The positive properties of stainless steel and especially titanium as a high-quality material are generally known in eyewear manufacturing. What is TXZ and what advantages does it offer?

TXZ is a recyclable material made from transparent polyamide that was developed by the Swiss company EMS-Chemie, from whom we also source the material. The material is produced by injection molding and generates significantly less waste during production than acetate frames, for example.

And what is behind BioZ?

BioZ is based on a bioplastic made from renewable raw materials. The main component is lignin, also known as “liquid wood”, a waste product from paper production. Together with starch, cellulose, organic additives, minerals, polyester, natural waxes and fibers, the material BioZ is created, which can also be processed into sturdy glasses using the injection molding process.

In addition to the materials, you also strive for environmentally conscious production processes. How, for example?

We focus on energy-efficient production processes, waste recycling and the use of environmentally friendly packaging materials.

Are there any styles that we see particularly often in your collections and that are typical of your brand?

No, we are open to all styles in our collections as long as they fit in with the ZOO concept.

How many collections are there at ZOO EYEWEAR?

We currently have five collections, which are regularly refreshed with new designs.

There are also innovative design features in your collections, some of which are inspired by nature. What are they?

The animal world as a synonym for ZOO knows no boundaries. Here is an overview of our five collections: The models in the holZbiene collection are made from sustainable BioZ and colored with food dyes. The oZelot collection features two different shapes in one frame. gaZelle and Zebu – the design feature of these two sub-collections is a clasp that connects the upper part to the lower edge of the frame and is reminiscent of the horns of a gazelle or a zebu. In the Zwerggecko collection the nose pads and temple tips are covered with a gecko material. The gecko material, which we source from near Stuttgart, prevents the frame from slipping.

ZOO EYEWEAR sounds “colorful”. Does that also apply to your colorways?

We like to play with colors and offer a wide range of color options in our collections.

What is the relationship between prescription frames and sunglasses?

Our collections mainly consist of prescription frames. In the Zebu collection, we have opted for a sun or fun version for some models.

Who do you particularly appeal to with your products? What does the typical ZOO EYEWEAR customer look like?

We address all people who value modern, wearable, lightweight and well-fitting glasses.

Thank you very much.

photos RAPHAEL SCHMITZ