The No. 2 Eyewear won the 2021 Design Excellence Award for Tech and Innovation at the 2021 ACE Awards due to its cutting-edge products and sustainable nature. Each pair of The No. 2 Eyewear is made from Japanese stainless steel and has a no-screw design, making its products extremely durable at a weight of only 0.7 ounces each.
We had the opportunity to sit down with the founder and CEO of the eyewear company, Swin Huang, to learn more about what makes these eyewear products unique and how she began her journey in the fashion accessory business.
What led you to designing eyewear?
I wanted to solve problems. So, I leaned into eyewear because I’ve worn glasses since I was a kid, and I know all the pain points: “They’re so heavy;” “They hurt my ears;” “They keep sliding down my nose.” I broke many pairs of my glasses, and I noticed that not many brands address these problems. That’s why I started designing eyewear.
Can you tell us more about the screwless design and lightweight materials?
The whole idea is minimalist design with maximum durability and comfort. The glasses are made of Japanese stainless steel, which is extremely thin and lightweight. The thickness is thinner than a credit card, and at the same time, very durable.
In terms of the no-screw design, we cut out unnecessary components that traditional glasses have, such as barrel hinges and screws. For traditional glasses, after half a year of wearing them, the temple arms start to swing. That’s because the hinge screws get loose over time, and so the glasses can end up missing screws. When it comes to eyewear, other brands focus on the look but not necessarily on the user experience. Great user experience is our foundation when we develop The No. 2 Eyewear frames. Glasses can be comfortable and still look good and be fashionable.
What was your reaction to winning this year’s Design Excellence Award for Tech and Innovation?
I was actually very, very surprised because a lot of internationally known brands often win Accessories Council awards. My company just launched in February and is pretty new. I’m honored and surprised to be able to compete with so many great companies and brands.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision is to create an easy and enjoyable experience when it comes to shopping for glasses. Right now, purchasing glasses is a hassle. First, you have to go to the optometrist for your prescription, next you have to go to opticians for the lens replacement, and then you must wait a week to get your glasses. I want these things to happen under one roof within 30 minutes — and while customers are waiting for their glasses to be done, they can relax and chill in our cafe area.
Convenience is one of the foundations of designing eyewear, and I want [the experience to be convenient] when purchasing glasses in the future. It should be an enjoyable experience for customers, from buying to wearing.
Are you planning on introducing any new or updated designs?
Recently, we launched two new styles, the square and aviator, and we will keep developing new designs in the future. Right now, we have the metal material, and we hope to incorporate more plastic with the metal, but the goal will always be [for styles] to stay screwless and super lightweight, comfortable and durable.
Can you offer any advice to students hoping to make it in the fashion or accessory industry?
When you have an idea, you must execute it. So many people worry about if they’re ready or not, and they just think for years without executing anything, which means nothing. You have to take the first step when a problem comes up. You will start figuring out ways to solve it.
Be persistent. Being in business is really hard, and you have to be mentally prepared for that. You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Our experience interviewing Huang was not only educational, but it was exciting as well. In addition to answering our questions and sharing the story behind The No. 2 Eyewear, she allowed us to try on the award-winning glasses, showed off the brand’s interactive Instagram filter (@theno2eyewear) and indulged us as we took loads of pictures and selfies. We cannot wait to watch this amazing brand grow, continue to solve problems and excite its customers with innovative designs in the future.
