September is a good time to rethink the way we shop.
Oxfam's Second Hand September campaign encourages people to choose second hand for 30 days, giving existing clothes and accessories a longer life instead of automatically buying new.
And while second-hand fashion is now firmly established, one part of our wardrobe is still often overlooked: our glasses.
At Retrospecced, we think eyewear deserves to be part of the conversation too.
Why Choose Second-Hand Glasses?
Glasses are often replaced long before the frame itself has reached the end of its useful life.
A prescription changes, our style moves on or we simply fancy something different, and a perfectly good frame can quickly end up forgotten in a drawer.
Yet a quality frame can often be professionally cleaned, checked, refurbished and fitted with completely new lenses. At Retrospecced, our refurbished frames are professionally prepared by our qualified Dispensing Optician before being offered for sale.
Second-hand eyewear can also offer something you won't always find in current collections.
Discontinued designer models, unusual colourways, retro shapes and older styles all become available again, often at considerably less than their original retail price.
And because many pre-owned frames are one-offs, choosing second hand can be just as much about individuality as sustainability.
So whether you've found a designer bargain, a discontinued model or simply a shape you love, the existing prescription doesn't have to matter.
If you already own a pair of glasses you love, a change in prescription doesn't automatically mean the frame needs replacing.
Rather than throwing them away, consider whether they could still be useful.
Buying pre-owned can mean discovering discontinued designer frames, unusual styles and affordable eyewear while making better use of frames that already exist.
And sometimes, the best choice is simply keeping the glasses you already own in use for longer.
That's what sustainable eyewear means to us at Retrospecced: making the most of good frames rather than automatically replacing them with something new.
Shop our latest refurbished and pre-owned glasses and sunglasses, or explore our reglazing service to give your existing frames a new lease of life.