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The Idea. The idea began three years ago in November 2012. Our friend and cofounder Adam, always looking for the latest fashion trends, asked Soulaimen to make him a pair of personalized sunglasses. Soulaimen draws the Linebacker, our first design. VAKAY was born.
VAKAY. VAKAY. means in Vietnamese: "And the tree" Wood is essential for us. And we plan to use other materials with wood.
The Concept. VAKAY. is a new Eyewear brand and is the only company to be making wooden sunglasses by hand in Tunisia, from luxurious and sustainable wood species, with all manufacturing processes being completed here in Tunisia. Wooden Eyewear is now becoming the choice of eco-minded consumers and is trending fast all across the world. The passion for handmade products and the use of natural materials leads cofounders to an endless research and development process. Always in search of comfort and distinctive design, every little detail has required a great reflection of our designers and a higher handling from our very talented craftsmen.
Values. Our team is united around common values. We love our environment and we take careof it. Each product we use, every phase of the production and our waste management system is Eco-friendly.
We love our work and our handmade production. We give the best of ourselves to deal with natural materials and make eyewear to the greatest comfort and the best design.
We love our Tunisia and work for its development. Our neighborhood, our city ... our country is our first source of inspiration. Whenever we have the chance to sponsor associations to preserve nature, cultural sites and attractions we just do it.
Wood we use. To create a distinguished product, we take great care in choosing the best materials. Indeed, VAKAY, is the perfect combination of talent and high-quality wood selection. We put a great effort in the selection of wood species we use that not only fit with our innovative vision but also our desire to create something distinguished by the high-end quality and style ‌ because we do seek perfection.
Process. Each pair of glasses requires hours of painstaking work. We do this with great love and attention. Unlike logo brands, each VAKAY pair is followed from the first phase of wood selection, until released with leather holster, by our designers, which are also involved in some phases of production. By manual intervention, the production process requires the use of equipment and special tooling. We worked closely with local suppliers to contribute to our country development. Our Research and Development team is constantly working to test new natural materials and create original designs.
Wenge The Wenge wood is a rare wood from Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zaire). Its scientific name is Millettia laurentii. The Wenge is a tropical timber, very dark in color with a distinctive figure and a strong partridge wood pattern. The heartwood of the wenge is a very murky brown with black streaks making its amazing texture looking sharp and very classy on our sunglasses.
Padauk
Bubinga
The Padauk wood is a beautiful red wood coming from the tropical west Africa. Its scientific name is Pterocarpus soyauxii. The heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening substantially over time to a reddish/purplish brown. This color duality is the impressive part of this wood. Once you get sunglasses with Padauk wood, you are probably getting two woods at the same time.
The Bubinga wood is a very strong wood from Equatorial Africa. Its scientific name is Guibourtia spp. The heartwood of the Bubinga ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Bubinga is very frequently seen with a variety of figure, including: pommele, flamed, waterfall, quilted, mottled, etc. Bubinga’s grain is straight to interlocked. It has a uniform fine to medium texture and moderate natural luster.
Walnut
Oak
The African Walnut is a very classy wood from West tropical Africa. Its scientific name is Lovoa trichilioides. The heartwood of the Walnut is a golden yellow to reddish brown, sometimes with darker streaks and veins. Color tends to darken a little bit upon exposure and with age. African Walnut also displays a ribbonstripe figuring on quartersawn surfaces, similar to Sapele. The Grain of the Walnut is usually slightly interlocked, but is sometimes straight, medium, uniform texture, with a high level of natural luster.
The White Oak is a sophisticated wood coming from Eastern United States. Its scientific name is Quercus alba. The heartwood of the Oak is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quartersawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns. Oak’s grain is straight, with a coarse, uneven texture. Combined with other wood essences, the Oak can show its astonishing beauty.
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Collection. Each model of the VAKAY collection has its own character trait, because of its shape, its curves its colors, its prints, even its combination of materials. The name inspires us too. For example: Linebacker: Defender position in American football. Square and sturdy. Street Walker: The contemporary traveler in search of adventure. Meo: Cat Eye. Ong Ba Bosco and Bosco: Chic and classy, Mr. and Mrs. Bosco. In 2014 we released seven models. In the first quarter of 2015, ten other new models joined the collection and that makes VAKAY the first wooden sunglasses brand to exhibit numerous models in just one year. Every year, new designs will be created to meet with our innovative vision.
Special Editions & Limited Editions. In search of a new experience, a new world and a new material, Our designers continually extend their creativity to imagine and achieve exceptional eyewear. Collaborations with other designers and brands will also enhance our creations. Examples:
Collaboration with Citric Heart (eyewear designer in Spain) Collaboration with Zayn Special edition Miss Tunisia 2014 engraving from the Medina of Sfax. Save Mos Espa Limited Edition Freud, Erco and Lord V designs from VAKAY as a special engraved edition Carthage Edition, coming soon.
Cofounders. A young, dynamic, open-minded and dedicated for work and innovation team.
Soulaimen Ghorbel. Designer. Production Manager.
Majdi Ghorbel. Engineer. Projects Manager.
Adam Jabeur. Chartered Public Accountant. Sales Manager.
Ashref Chichini. Designer.
Retailers. VAKAY creations are available in our Authorized Dealers (opticians and fashion/concept stores). We share with our retailers the same values and the common goal to serve and advise our customers. VAKAY is distributed now in Tunisia, London, Geneva, Los Angeles and will be distributed among opticians in France starting in a first phase by Paris - Ile de France. We are currently negotiating agency and distribution contracts in Spain, Dubai, Qatar, Morocco, England, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany, Canada, Russia, and twenty other European countries.
The international football star Dani Alves Wearing VAKAY (Official FC Barcelona Photos)
Media.
Tounesna TV (Tunisian TV channel) Documentary on eyewear in Tunisia and
Channel 4 (UK) Makers Channel4: Makers celebrates a new order
an interview with Amira Fodha a famous
of creative young entrepreneurs around the
Tunisian optician (KIAVU) about VAKAY.
world
June 2014
who
are
attention-to-detail
passionate and
about
quality,
craftsmanship.
3 min Short Video. February 2015. Between 1 et 2 millions as an audience in UK. Sfax Radio Invited by the famous journalist Houda Kchaou
RTCI Radio Tuniscope Medi.
Covering
the
Official Laucnhing of VAKAY in 8 March 2014. Express
FM :
Announicing
the
creation of the new tunisian brand BrownBook Magazine (Dubaï). This article
can
be
found
Brownbook’s July/August
in
VAKAY. February 2014. Monocle Magazine and Monocle Radio in UK. 2015
2014 Issue. FFDesigner. June 2014 « Focus Optique » (Specialized
Many Other WebMedias : Huffpostmaghreb, Femme de Tunisie, Tunisie.co
Awards. * World Summit Award VAKAY has been nominated for the World Summit Award 2015 as the best and most innovative solution in Business & Commerce from Tunisia.