All Eyes on Warby Parker

Miami, FL – June 5, 2015 – Although this town is known for its ever changing streets, various characters and diversity, there is one thing that always remains constant in South Florida: the need for sunglasses. Just in time for summer, Warby Parker decided to nestle themselves into the heart of Wynwood with their first stand-alone location in Miami.

Currently, the eyewear industry runs under a monopoly that produces the majority of designer eyewear worn today. Unfortunately, due to this domination, that company is able to keep prices of eyewear artificially high; reaping major profits from consumers who really have no other options. Warby Parker was created with one main goal in mind: to offer designer eyewear at an affordable price. The problem was simple; eyewear is expensive and many are left without the proper wear due to high costs. By circumventing traditional channels, designing glasses in-house, and engaging with customers directly, Warby Parker has developed a way to provide higher-quality, better-looking prescription (and non-prescription) eyewear at a fraction of the average retail price.

In true Wynwood fashion, a mural created by DALeast and Cryptik during Art Basel wraps around the side of the store.

Though this is the first stand-alone location in Miami, Warby Parker has been selling glasses, slinging vintage reads, and offering art-themed bikes rides at The Readery (inside the Standard Spa, Miami Beach) since 2012. Settling down in the Wynwood Art District seemed to be the perfect fit for the unique brand; great art, tasty restaurants, and a stable of other like-minded folks. Warby Parker has always had an appreciation for the arts— in the past, collaborating with Maira Kalman, Geoff McFetridge, and Jason Polan on original artwork.

The store itself reflects much of the Wynwood’s industrial vibe, but with an added dose of Miami’s poolside pizzazz thrown in. Think swimming pool-patterned floors, tropical plants, and an overhead photo booth that recreates your classic lounging-by-the-water moment.

In-store you’ll also find the Reference Desk, a one-stop-shop for pickups, adjustments, and more. Prescription glasses are shipped within 7-10 business days, while non prescription sunwear and optical frames are available for immediate takeaway. Seriously, who doesn’t love the instant gratification?

Too busy and can’t seem to make it into a shop? Warby Parker makes it easy to shop online and choose the best looking style to fit your face with their Home Try-On program. Customers are able to pick out five frames and they’ll ship them to you for free (with non-prescription, demo lenses) so you can try them on in the comfort of your own home.

Aside from selling trendy specs and shades, Warby Parker also believes that everyone has the right to see. There are millions of people worldwide that lack access to glasses, which means that a large percentage of the world’s population cannot effectively learn or work. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with non-profit organizations like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. This is called their “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program.

So get ready to #seesummerbetter and head right around the corner from The Wynwood Walls at 215 NW 25th Street to snag a new pair.