The Africa Sports Sunglasses- From the Beginning

Since our inception, we've been dedicated to the continuous improvement of our sunglasses, driven by valuable customer feedback. This commitment has led to our sunglasses being embraced by numerous international athletes.

Over the past decade, we've amassed substantial knowledge about sunglasses and their production. In 2023, we embarked on a new journey, determined to create a product entirely rooted in British craftsmanship. To achieve this vision, we collaborated with a skilled design engineer, striving to develop a product that we could take immense pride in—one that also exemplified our dedication to eco-friendliness.

Some of the original design ideas

I must confess, this journey has proven to be quite intricate, far more challenging than one might initially assume. It involved several pauses and restarts, as well as extensive discussions with a close friend who happens to be an aircraft parts engineer. His insights were instrumental in guiding our manufacturing decisions.

Initially, we contemplated using Titanium for our product, but after careful consideration, we ultimately chose to utilize Aviation-grade Aluminium, but now we are at the final stages of production we have decide on Polyamide the reasons are further down in this post.

The amount of time and effort this endeavour has demanded has been truly substantial. Countless discussions not only involving 3D printing getting the fixings correct for the lenses with our lens supplier, has taken a lot of time to get right. These sunglasses are being meticulously designed from the ground up so will also cater to prescription needs from day one

The Significance of the Name "The Africa"

I can't pinpoint the exact moment I decided on the name, but it occurred fairly early in the process. However, those familiar with ND:R's story understand its profound meaning. Ultimately, it became an undeniable choice to christen these sunglasses in honor of my daughter, who tragically lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 24.

She was an extraordinary individual with an unwavering commitment to aiding those less fortunate than many. In her memory, I embarked on a charity ride for MENCAP. In keeping with her spirit, we have decided to allocate a portion of our profits to support this charity, as well as a Brain Cancer charity. We are still in the process of coordinating the logistics for these charitable contributions.

Approaching the Culmination of the Design Journey

The inception of our journey, starting with the initial designs, progressed relatively swiftly. However, advancing from that stage to arrive at the final design has felt like an enduring odyssey. To put it into perspective, it took an astonishing four weeks just to reposition two screw holes within our design. This challenging expedition began in January 2023!

I'm thrilled to announce that we now stand at the cusp of completion. In fact, I was able to assemble a test pair using scissors, Loctite, and a handful of screws. Granted, their appearance may seem somewhat irregular due to the circumstances. Nevertheless, I can confirm that the comfort and weight distribution have both met our expectations.

I'm delighted to share that our lens supplier has recently fabricated a couple of lenses for a rigorous test. While the images of me wearing them may still appear slightly skewed, I've had the opportunity to experience their feel first-hand. I must admit, I am now brimming with excitement.

My thoughts so far

1. Very comfortable and with the thinner flat arms, have the lightest but secure touch, I can seeing this will be very comfortable with cyclists with their helmet straps.

2. Again do not slip or move and lightweight like the primary +

3. I am loving the unusual lens design, which we can edit if required, but they have excellent coverage but lift away from the cheeks to enable air flow to stop steaming up.

4. Again the lens shape I think is a great bridge between a full wrap cycling lens and a running 2 lens frame, to the point do I need a full wrap!

5. I am still waiting for one attachment test for the lenses, depending on this we will be ready for production

Update 02/11/2023

A recap of the benefits of the changes

I'm excited to share a significant shift in our approach, sparked by a remarkable development. Today, I received the final prototype of our Africa frame, produced using cutting-edge 3D technology and the same material as our lenses, Polyamide, a form of nylon.

The quality of this material, as seen in our frames, has prompted a re-evaluation of our manufacturing process and materials.

Initially, one of the primary reasons we explored aluminium as an option was the assumption that it would simplify the process of producing our sunglasses in the UK, offering greater control over design and the added environmental benefit of aluminium's recyclability.

Unfortunately, it has been disappointing to find that there are no UK-based companies willing or able to manufacture the necessary parts, leaving us dependent on overseas sources, primarily China.

After extensive research and witnessing the final product, it has become evident that utilizing 3D-printed parts makes more sense. This approach brings several key advantages, including rapid part production, the ability to purchase only what is needed, and significantly reduced shipping distances.

The proverbial "elephant in the castle" was whether printed nylon could match the quality of aluminium and compete with our primary + frames. I'm pleased to confirm that it not only matches but exceeds our expectations. This material is both flexible and robust, bending without snapping, and remarkably lightweight, weighing in at just 17.5 grams. This may position our Africa frames as the lightest sports sunglasses in the market.

Additionally, the most significant advantage is our ability to start shipping within 2-3 weeks, allowing us to meet demand more efficiently.

This exciting development marks a turning point in our journey, and I look forward to sharing more details as we move forward with our innovative Africa frame.

1. We now have a UK-based manufacturer capable of producing frame components in the quantities we need within a matter of days. This not only reduces waste but also cuts down on transport costs.

2. The ability to make design adjustments as needed for upgrades or custom fittings (More details on this with regard to lenses).

3. The material exhibits remarkable flexibility without compromising on robustness, ensuring that it won't snap easily.

4. One of the most significant advantages is the weight—our frames weigh in at a mere 17.4 grams, compared to our primary + frames, which weigh 22 grams.

5. Quality lenses are crucial, and we've continued our collaboration with a UK-based prescription lens supplier. They've designed lenses that offer exceptional coverage, excellent airflow, and ample depth to prevent those pesky eyelashes from touching the lens.

6. Our lab has also confirmed their ability to produce an Asian fit or bespoke lenses, within reasonable parameters. Another exciting aspect is the variety of colours we can offer.

7. While aluminium was considered for anodization, this new material allows us to provide a choice of up to 20 different colours.

More Updates 26/01/2024

Nose Pads, what a nightmare!

Nose pads turned out to be quite a challenge, defying our expectations as we neared completion. A myriad of issues, ranging from size and shape to material selection, complicated the process. Even when we believed we had the solution, it fell short of delivering the desired performance—specifically, a secure and adjustable grip.

After five attempts, frustration peaked, leading me to ponder the predicament into the early hours of the night. A breakthrough came at 3:30 am when I redirected my focus to the issue. Surprisingly, the solution was a relatively simple adjustment. We realized that redesigning the nose bridge to accommodate the Sol Invictus nose pads was the key. This modification resulted in the perfect finish, aligning seamlessly with our tried-and-tested nose pad design.

The Nose Pads that did not make it

Hinges and Not so final outcome

When we thought we were finished, we needed to re look at materials finish and most importantly and a tough problem the hinge.

In the end we looked at two main options, either a standard screw hinge or a hinge without a screw. It was a tough decision and I nearly went back to the original with a screw, but in the end we went for the screw less, where the disadvantage became a massive benefits and I am not talking about the screws falling out.

In the end it is a sort of safety feature to protect the lenses, particularly with a prescription version, as they are expensive. So if you fall off a bike or you sit on them, the arm will pop out to protect the lenses and frame.

In the case of the material, we found the front hige of the arm a little brittle, so again it has made sense to return to the original stronger material

Version 2 developed in collaboration with Manchester University