Covry is Helping You See Through the Lens of Inclusivity
It’s been said that to walk a mile in someone else's shoes is to understand that person’s perspective. Some perspectives, however, are granted such sparse visibility that they don’t get a true chance at being universally understood. For Athina and Florence, the shared experience of trying on pair after pair of glasses and finding that none of them fit comfortably was all too familiar. But before they decided to embark on a journey of creating one of the first fully inclusive eyewear brands, they wanted to make sure that this struggle wasn’t solely their own.
After collecting the public’s opinions and raising money through crowdfunding, Athina and Florence decided that this endeavor was well worth pursuing. It turns out that many individuals have faced this eyewear obstacle, especially people of the BIPOC community and AAPI descent, who may have diverse face shapes that traditional eyewear does not account for. Covry was born out of this journey, and Athina and Florence plan to continue restructuring the way we think about inclusivity and accessibility in the design industry, frame by frame.
Take a look through their unique lens by reading PhotoBook’s exclusive interview with them below.
What are each of your personal definitions of inclusivity?
Athina: Being intentionally open and considerate of everyone’s diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Florence: Embracing and celebrating everyone’s multi-faceted and unique qualities.
At what moment did you both realize that the traditional eyewear industry is not fully inclusive or fully considerate of all individuals’ face shapes?
We have worn glasses since elementary school, so we’ve struggled with ill-fitting eyewear most of our lives. As women of color and of Asian descent, we rarely saw ourselves being represented in brands. We wanted to create Covry to celebrate our beautiful, diverse face shapes through eyewear that empowers its wearer.
Why did you take the approach of building the company from a crowdfunding campaign?
As first-time entrepreneurs with a new approach to the eyewear industry, crowdfunding was vital. It not only allowed us to prove product market fit and raise initial funds, but it also helped us to create a strong community of users before we launched.
Who are your products' desired audience, and how do you assure an inclusive and comfortable fit with each pair?
Most fashion items come in a range of sizes, but eyewear has been one-size-fits-all for too long. Our Elevated Fit® is designed to provide a more comfortable fit for those with diverse face shapes, including, but not limited to, small or low nose bridges, high cheekbones, and long lashes.
How does your production process differ from traditional eyewear since you incorporate real people’s measurements and preferences into your designs?
Our product development process is highly focused on fit, testing each prototype on a wide range of faces before it is approved for production. In the past, we would try on twenty frames in a store with the expectation that one frame would actually fit. Because of this experience, a comfort-focused fit is at the core of our designs, and our Elevated Fit® is found across every single one of our products.
What is one other fashion trend or product that you would like to see change to become more welcoming for BIPOC or AAPI wearers?
I think more can be done in the beauty tools market. Lashes, eyelash curlers, makeup brushes; these items could definitely be made available in a wider range of sizes..
How do you continue championing the AAPI and BIPOC experience through your brand ethos?
We never saw ourselves being represented in media or in brands so it’s important for us to work with AAPI and BIPOC partners across all platforms, whether it’s the models and creators we’re working with, vendors we partner with, or the non-profit organizations we sponsor. Together, we work towards the goal of amplifying voices and creating more opportunities for representation.
What is each of your favorite COVRY styles, and why?
Athina: I love being able to change styles based on my outfit or mood. Recently I've found myself reaching for the Rana. It’s a classic style that works with everything.
Florence: The Prima is always in my bag. It’s a sweet, yet bold cat eye that works really well for any occasion.
Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributing Sustainable Editor PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Design Coordinator, PhotoBook Magazine
*Images courtesy of Covry
