FUNK Eyewear

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Germany
• Italy 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

Handcrafted in their own eyewear factory in Kinsau, Bavaria, Funk eyewear are meticulously made, representing one of the last eyewear manufacturers in Germany. While most processes are completed in-house, Acetate granulate is sourced from Lombardy (Italy) for their frame production. With a commitment to ethical workplace practices, they proudly maintain a family-friendly and modern company ethos, ensuring every employee, regardless of gender, plays a crucial role in their success. 

The brand describes its site as a open workshop that welcomes visitors, signaling hands-on transparency around how glasses are made in 170 steps. The brand also highlights a family-run operation, training, and women’s empowerment within its story. FUNK does not publish wage figures, third-party social audits, or living-wage statements on the site.

MATERIALS 

• Acetate
• Metal (e.g. titanium)
• Cotton acetate
   

This brand prioritizes sustainability with natural cotton acetate frames and innovative recycled acetate, as well as some metals like titanium. The Sashee Schuster ​“Colours of Nature” collection features real, dried natural materials. Sustainable practices include district heating and solar-powered headquarters. While spectacle case materials are undisclosed, the emphasis on natural origin, mainly cotton, aligns with their commitment to recycling production leftovers.

PACKAGING 

The brand does not disclose what packaging materials are used for consumers or B2B components.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

FUNK focuses its environmental notes on energy and material circularity. The brand does not specify policies or release data on water use, wastewater treatment, chemical management, or chemical restrictions related to frame finishing.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Funk eyewear embraces circularity, repurposing cut-outs to craft new acetate plates and extend the lifecycle of their eyewear. Vintage editions utilize acetate plates over 20 years old. Their commitment to sustainability extends to repairs in workshops and optical stores, aiming to counter the throwaway culture. All their products are easily recyclable at the end of use. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

The brand explicitly offers repairs thanks to its own eyewear workshop; repairs can be arranged through FUNK’s optician stores and network. FUNK does not mention rental, resale, or a consumer take-back scheme for end-of-life frames on their website.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Germany
• Funk Eyewear HQ is located in Kinsau, Bavaria

This brand maintains a short supply chain by sourcing cotton acetate primarily from a Lombardy-based traditional company. The eyewear’s journey spans less than 200 meters from the manufactory to the flagship store in Kinsau, emphasizing local production. This approach not only minimizes transportation emissions but also contributes to preserving a dwindling craft and fostering regional growth. The finished frames are distributed to selected opticians worldwide and via FUNK’s own stores (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich, Kinsau, Vienna). Overall, this suggests a relatively simple, Europe-centered chain with global distribution.

TRANSPORTATION 

FUNK emphasizes an ​“everything under one roof” principle, but does not disclose specific transport modes for inbound materials from Italy or outbound shipments to opticians and stores. The brand states it does not sell online, instead purchases are made directly through opticians and FUNK flagship stores. 

The brand does not use any animal materials, hence can be called a vegan brand. We are unaware whether their chemicals used any animal derived products, however. 
 

PRODUCT DESIGN 

Funk eyewear embraces a slow fashion ethos, infusing each eyewear piece with a meticulous craftsmanship that involves up to 170 intricate work steps. They preserve old German eyewear making techniques by using the original technology such as the CNC milling machines. Reviving the art of eyewear making, FUNK prioritizes the human touch, investing time and effort into hand-polishing each piece to perfection. 

FUNK’s in-house ​“FUNK Recycling Acetate” process reuses acetate offcuts from production, regranulating them into new blocks and sheets which is described as ​“almost 100% closed-loop.” This closes material loops internally and reduces virgin acetate inputs for frames.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

The brand explicitly offers repairs thanks to its own eyewear workshop, where repairs can be arranged through FUNK’s optician stores and network. FUNK does not mention rental, resale, or a consumer take-back scheme for end-of-life frames on the site. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

The brand’s product pages are labelled with collection and material type (acetate, metal, titanium), however, there is no tracking to batch or raw material origin made available. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

This brand values transparency, but more information on case materials, packaging components, metal suppliers, and chemicals could be made available. The brand has made a commitment to offering a clearer perspective on its production processes.