Our customers often ask us why we use wood instead of other more conventional material for our glasses. Why do you not use plant-based acetate, or bio-resin. It is a question that goes straight to the heart of ·33·, and that leads us to think beyond the material of our eyeware frames.
First of all, with wood, and in particular with the very high quality wood we use in the construction of our eyeglasses, there is a potential for creating objects of great beauty that are also unique. Each tree has a pigmentation and a grain pattern that distinguishes it from the rest; no two pieces of wood have identical grain and colors. This extraordinary quality was already highly appreciated by ancient civilizations: there are records of the use of wood for the creation of fine jewelry and luxury items in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It is a tradition that continues to this day and that is still based on the work of the craftsman, who, through the exploratory nature of their work, reveal the latent beauty that is present in each piece of wood.
There is something sensuos that is inherent to wood. The softness that ebony transmits to the touch, the way it reacts to body temperature, its aroma, make working with it an immersive experience: there comes a moment when the artisan is the wood. That sensation lives in our glasses and is transferred to those who wear them. The contact of perfectly worked wood with the skin makes wearing a ·33· an experience that is pleasant and feels natural. Something closer to an extension of one's own body.
Finally, the wood we use at ·33· is sustainable, not only because of its origin and organic nature, but because it is a material of great longevity. This is at the heart of the ·33· project: we want to create beautiful and elegant eyeware that will accompany their owners for many years, and that do not harm or violate the world from which they come and in which they live. We have created a production process focused on wood and aimed at achieving high-quality products, with a focus on sustainability that implies controlled and responsible use of supplies and raw materials, minimal generation of waste, and a fraternal and productive bond with our community.
Wood is at the core of the ·33· project: a living material, which lends us its beauty while connecting us to the elemental, bringing us closer to a sensitive bond with nature and allowing us to explore the possibilities of artisanal and creative work, bringing us back to the roots of the world in which we live and the need to treat it with responsibility and respect.
