Shwood Eyewear

Shwood Eyewear is an American eyewear brand based in Portland, Oregon, producing sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses with frames made from wood and a range of other materials. The brand grew from an experimental handmade prototype into a small-scale eyewear manufacturer and retail brand distinguished by material experimentation, artisanal construction, and a strong connection to Pacific Northwest design culture. The concept originated in 2005, when Eric Singer made an early pair of wooden glasses from madrone wood, rusty cabinet hinges, and salvaged lenses obtained from a thrift store. Singer wore the prototype at a skatepark, where it attracted immediate interest and led to initial orders at approximately $20 per frame. The idea was subsequently shared with Ryan Kirkpatrick, Daniel Genco, Taylor Murray, and Philip Peterson. The name Shwood came from a fictitious sponsor invented by one of Singer's friends to enable entry into a snowboarding competition, and was later adopted as the brand name. Shwood formally launched in 2009. It began in a very small workspace measuring approximately 7 by 15 feet before moving into a larger 30 by 50-foot shop as production expanded. In 2010, the company moved to a 6,000-square-foot facility in Portland. By 2011, it was reportedly producing about 125 frames per day and distributing through approximately 80 retail stores. Production later reached around 300 frames per day by 2013, indicating a transition from an experimental workshop to a more structured manufacturing operation while retaining a handmade and material-led identity. Wood remained central to the brand, but Shwood broadened its material vocabulary over time. Its frames have used wood, stone, acetate, titanium, and brass. In 2015, the company introduced a veneer made entirely from old newspapers, extending its focus on unusual surfaces and reclaimed or repurposed materials. In 2016, it introduced frames incorporating feathers and flowers and described ongoing experimentation with additional materials. These developments positioned Shwood less as a conventional mass-market eyewear label and more as a design-oriented accessories brand whose differentiation comes from the visible character of its frame materials. The brand's principal product categories are sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses. Its products combine functional eyewear construction with a distinctive material story, appealing to customers seeking alternatives to standard plastic frames. Publicly available reference material identifies Portland as its base and documents its early growth, retail distribution, production expansion, and product experimentation, but does not establish current ownership, executive leadership, financial performance, listing status, or present operating scale.

Shwood's origins date to 2005, when Eric Singer developed a wooden glasses prototype from madrone wood, rusty cabinet hinges, and salvaged lenses from a thrift store. The prototype was initially a personal experiment rather than a fully formed commercial product. After Singer wore the glasses at a skatepark, however, other people expressed interest and placed early orders. The reported price for those first frames was about $20, demonstrating that the object could attract customers even before the company had formal production systems or retail infrastructure. Singer shared the idea with Ryan Kirkpatrick, Daniel Genco, Taylor Murray, and Philip Peterson, who became associated with the early development of the concept. The Shwood name originated from a fictional sponsor created by a friend of Singer for a snowboarding competition. Although the name began as a practical invention, it became the identity of the eyewear brand. Shwood formally launched in 2009. Its earliest operations occupied a 7-by-15-foot workspace. As demand and production requirements increased, the business moved into a 30-by-50-foot shop. In 2010, it relocated again, this time to a 6,000-square-foot Portland facility. The expansion reflected a move from an improvised workshop toward a more capable manufacturing operation while preserving a small-batch, craft-oriented image. By 2011, Shwood was reportedly making approximately 125 frames per day and selling through about 80 retail stores. By 2013, daily production had increased to approximately 300 frames. These milestones mark the brand's early commercial scaling: it developed from a local handmade product into an eyewear label with a broader retail presence. The available historical account does not provide detailed information about revenue, employee numbers, ownership changes, or international sales. Product development remained centered on material experimentation. While wood was the signature material, Shwood also produced frames using stone, acetate, titanium, and brass. In 2015, it introduced a veneer made entirely from old newspapers, extending the brand's interest in unusual and potentially reclaimed materials. In 2016, it introduced frames made with feathers and flowers and indicated that it was continuing to test other materials. These launches reinforced the brand's design-led identity and differentiated it from eyewear companies focused primarily on standardized acetate or metal collections. Shwood's documented product scope consists of sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses. Its frames combine conventional eyewear functions with highly visible material characteristics, including grain, texture, embedded organic matter, or unconventional surface treatments. The brand is associated with Portland and with a product-development approach that treats eyewear as both a wearable object and a material-design project. Current status, ownership, leadership, website, and operating scale are not established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2016Feather and flower frames introduced

   The brand introduced frames incorporating feathers and flowers while continuing to experiment with new frame materials.

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2. 2015Newspaper veneer frames introduced

   Shwood introduced a frame-cover material made entirely from old newspapers, broadening its use of reclaimed and unusual materials.

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3. 2013Reported production reaches 300 frames per day

   The company’s documented production capacity grew to approximately 300 frames daily.

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4. 2011Production and retail distribution expand

   Reported output reached approximately 125 frames per day, with distribution through about 80 retail stores.

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5. 2010Move to a 6,000-square-foot Portland facility

   After starting in compact workshop spaces, Shwood expanded into a substantially larger Portland facility.

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6. 2009Shwood formally launches

   The eyewear concept became a formal brand and began operating as a commercial producer of distinctive frames.

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7. 2005First wooden eyewear prototype developed

   Eric Singer created an early pair of wooden glasses from madrone wood, salvaged lenses, and improvised hardware. The prototype generated initial customer interest when Singer wore it at a skatepark.

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Design-led, artisanal eyewear emphasizing natural, reclaimed, and unconventional frame materials.

• Wooden sunglassesSunglasses2009

  Shwood's signature sunglasses use wood as a principal frame material. The category reflects the company's origins in handmade wooden eyewear and its emphasis on visible grain, natural variation, and craft-oriented construction. The frames are positioned as design objects as well as functional sun protection.

• Prescription eyeglassesPrescription eyewear

  The brand's prescription eyeglasses extend its material-led design approach into everyday corrective eyewear. Available reference material identifies prescription glasses as a core product category, although it does not specify individual model names, lens suppliers, or current collection details.

• Newspaper veneer framesExperimental-material eyewear2015

  Introduced in 2015, these frames used a veneer made entirely from old newspapers. The product demonstrated Shwood's interest in transforming discarded or unexpected materials into visible eyewear surfaces rather than relying only on conventional frame plastics or metals.

• Feather and flower framesExperimental-material eyewear2016

  Introduced in 2016, these frames incorporated feathers and flowers. They formed part of Shwood's continuing experiments with organic materials and reinforced the brand's reputation for unconventional, decorative frame construction.

• Stone, acetate, titanium, and brass framesEyewear frames

  Beyond wood, Shwood has used stone, acetate, titanium, and brass in its frame production. These materials allow the brand to vary weight, texture, durability, and visual character across its eyewear range.

1. Shwood Eyewear