Defining moments since 1946
Like any story, ours starts ‘once upon a time’.
It all began in Germany...Annaberg-Bucholz to be precise in former East Germany.
A workshop was established, in 1946 making handcrafted frames using durable materials and lenses. During this period, East German goods weren't considered fashionable, but they lasted longer.
Matthias Haase, an eyewear craftsman and optometrist worked in the same workshop since in 1981.
He was then a young man with the vision to make beautifully hand-crafted eyewear using the finest local materials in a post war country when things looked bleak.
Matthias was determined to bring some sunshine into those dark times and what started then is the soul of COCO LENI.
Today we are determined to bring a positive impact to our world. How we do this, is the difference which makes COCO LENI a friend of the world.
Then one day, when Arjun Sagar, was trawling the world of eyewear he met the legend, Matthias, who became his mentor.
It was an instant connection of values and the two decided the journey needed to move on – to Goa, where today, each pair of glasses is made by hand.
Made by hands
And what special hands are these.
The hands that make your glasses, go beyond what anyone else's in India does.
Each pair is tailor made to fit your face.
We recognise you are unique, the contours on your face, make you, You.
So rather than mass producing pairs, we tailor make each pair.
So, no two pairs are ever the same. Just like you.
Our workshop is full of strong, bright-eyed women who have trained with Arjun and now make this wonderful nature inspired spectacles.
Why women, you ask? Well Coco Leni’s mission is to make a positive impact at every step it takes.
We employ women to ensure we create financial independence, and a skill that can be taken wherever they may find themselves.
As they say, "Teach a man to read and you change the man. Teach a woman to read and you change a nation."
Our path is determined by what nature shows us, and here is where we find our clarity in every step and action we take.
Made with love
Before we begin to make your glasses, we start with a prayer or mantra to bless our hands, the work they will do and the ethical materials we use.
We ask for the artisan & the product to benefit mankind and provide them both with happiness and balance.
Our materials are strictly from sustainable and ethical sources.
We ask the questions, (most wouldn’t even consider) do the inspections and ensure the entire supply chain is clean.
Clean to us, means natural, sustainable, ethical and no one or nothing has been exploited in any way along the way.
This all takes time and our due diligence ensures you can rest assured your money is going to make a difference. A big difference!
Beyond the product. What we do is one thing and what others do is another.
We can see how some people don’t care, so we decided we had to lead by example, if we wanted to bring about change.
Like cleaning beaches and the countryside of plastics, or our sponsorship of reforestation.
Training generations of crafts people (paid), we are dedicated to doing it with all our hearts.
In fact so much so, that if you, our lovely customers have an idea where we can make an impact we’d love to hear! (or join in the fun and belong to our community of people who care).