01 · Collect
A different destination.
Fishing communities and collectors bring material into the collection system.
Eyewear Advice · Eyewear Brand Stories
Sea2see EyewearA second life
worth seeing.
You see a beautiful pair of glasses. Behind it is an extraordinary change of direction.
Discover how a different way of looking at marine waste became eyewear worth falling in love with.
Discover Sea2see at Bright Side
What Is Sea2see Eyewear?
A frame with
another chapter in it.
Sea2see makes optical frames and sunglasses using recycled plastic of marine origin. Its story connects waste collection, a new raw material, and Italian eyewear production.45 Bright Side Optical carries Sea2see glasses in Austin, with personal guidance on style, fit, and prescription lenses.
You may notice the shape or color first. Then you learn where the frame material began, and the pair becomes interesting in another way.
We love that moment. Something you enjoy wearing can also give you a story you enjoy telling.
The Founder’s Story
He needed glasses.
He saw a possibility.
François van den Abeele traces Sea2see’s mission to 2015. His first job was in the maritime industry, and his travels had brought him face to face with plastic pollution. Around the same time, he began needing prescription glasses.1
Those experiences met in an idea: could plastic of marine origin become the material for an object people would wear every day?
It is a compelling beginning because the question is so tangible. A discarded material and a personal need, brought together through a different way of seeing.
The finished frame makes that idea something you can hold, try on, and take into your own life.
The Story Begins with People
Before there is a frame,
there is a collection.
Sea2see describes collaboration with European fishing communities to collect marine waste and discarded plastic fishing nets.2 Its collection story includes ports in Spain and France.
A port is a practical place to begin. Fishing gear reaches the end of its useful life. Material needs somewhere to go. A collection system gives it another destination.
The Sea2see Foundation’s W-A-V-E-S approach extends the story to coastal communities. Waste collection, awareness, value, earnings, and solutions are connected parts of the program.3
The foundation describes collection work that creates an additional source of income for fishermen and coastal collectors.3 The material has value, and the people doing the collecting have a place in the story.
From Discarded Material to a New Resource
The change happens
before you see the glasses.
Sea2see’s process describes selecting and separating collected plastics, then transforming suitable material into its UPSEA™ polymer.4 Collection is the beginning of a material journey.
02 · Select
Give the material a role.
Different plastics are separated and selected for recycling.
03 · Transform
Begin the next chapter.
The brand’s UPSEA material becomes a resource for making frames.
That is what makes the idea so satisfying to explain. The frame material has a past, but it is being used for a future purpose.
When Sea2see describes 100% recycled marine plastic, we are talking about the frame material. Your finished glasses also include prescription lenses and other components. We help you understand the actual pair you choose.
Handmade in Italy
A meaningful material
still needs careful hands.
Sea2see describes its eyewear as handmade in Italy, working with a family of frame-makers. Its production story moves through molding, tumbling, polishing, and hand finishing.5
The details make the journey vivid. Tumbling smooths the pieces with moving wood chips. A craftsperson inspects and polishes them. Hand varnishing gives the finished frame its color and surface.5
This is where the story becomes something you can feel. The edges, the finish, the way a color moves across the frame—all deserve attention when you try a pair.
Meet the Finished Frames
The story can have
your kind of style.
A meaningful origin still needs a shape and color you love. Here are two visual examples from Sea2see’s official optical collection; availability is confirmed for the model and finish you want.
Levante
An outline with a little presence.
Sea2see lists Levante with a 56 mm lens width, 18 mm bridge, adjustable temples, and a frame weight of 13 grams. Its official specifications identify recycled marine plastic and Italian handmade production.7
We explore how that scale works on your face, and which color gives you the effect you want. A warm finish, a quieter dark outline, or a touch of blue can each change the expression.
The measurements are a starting point. How the bridge sits and how you feel wearing the frame are part of the decision.
Amalfi
A different proportion.
Another possibility.
Amalfi offers another scale to compare: Sea2see lists a 50 mm lens width, 19 mm bridge, adjustable temples, and a frame weight of 13 grams. Its specifications also identify recycled marine plastic and handmade Italian production.8
We enjoy comparing frames like these in person. A small change in scale can change where your eyes sit within the outline and how much of the frame you notice.
We also look at the color near your skin, your hair, and the clothes you enjoy wearing. The right choice should feel personal when you look in the mirror.
A Company with a Public Commitment
The purpose has
something behind it.
B Lab’s directory lists Sustainable Fashion Brands S.L / Sea2see as a Certified B Corporation, certified since December 2021.6
That is a company-level certification connected to social and environmental performance. It gives you a separate place to explore the business behind the story.
For us, the useful conversation stays specific: where the material comes from, how the frames are made, and how the pair works for you. A beautiful story becomes more compelling when you can understand its parts.
PETA-Approved Vegan
A commitment you
can wear.
Sea2see’s collection is PETA-Approved Vegan. The brand states that its entire collection carries the label and that it commits to using no products of animal origin.10
For someone who wants their everyday choices to reflect care for animals, that adds another meaningful connection to a pair they already love wearing.
Sea2see also publishes a Cradle to Cradle scorecard for its recycled UPSEA material: Platinum for material health, and Gold in the four other categories shown below.10 The scorecard gives you a closer look at the material behind the frames.
Sea2see’s Carbon-Negative Commitment
The material journey
is part of a wider ambition.
Sea2see describes its carbon-negative approach through avoided emissions from recycled material sourcing and carbon-credit projects. It reports removing or preventing more emissions than it produces across its value chain.11
The image below makes the material journey wonderfully easy to see: recovered marine waste, a new raw material, and a finished frame.
It is another reason we enjoy introducing this collection. You can appreciate a beautiful pair and follow the thinking behind it.
Why Bright Side Carries Sea2see
We want you to love
the pair and its story.
Sea2see gives us a wonderful introduction to make. We can put a finished frame in your hands, then tell you about the material’s earlier life and the people who helped change its direction.
We carry it because our collection should offer discoveries. You deserve to know what is interesting about a frame—and to have help finding the one that is interesting on you.
The mission brings meaning to the conversation. Our styling brings it back to your face, your coloring, your prescription, and your everyday life.
Our stylists receive no individual sales commission. You can take time to compare and ask questions. We want you to leave with glasses you are excited to wear, and a reason to smile when someone asks about them.
Explore our Sea2see brand page, or come meet the collection through Guided Eyewear Styling.
A Complete Pair, Planned for You
Your vision is part
of the finished story.
Your frame and lenses are connected decisions. We consider the bridge, width, lens dimensions, and position on your face alongside your prescription and visual needs.
Tell us about your reading, screens, driving, and time outside. We help plan the complete pair around the way you live.
For personalized progressive lenses, Bright Side uses Optikam measurements as part of the fitting process. Frame wrap, back vertex distance, and pantoscopic tilt inform personalization. Learn more in why some progressive lenses cost more than others.
The material’s second life is a lovely reason to become curious. A pair that fits and supports your daily vision is a reason to enjoy it every day.
Discover Sea2see in Austin
Come see what
a second life can look like.
Book complimentary Guided Eyewear Styling at Bright Side Optical. Bring your current prescription and tell us what you would love from your next pair. If a particular Sea2see model or color interests you, let us know so we can confirm availability.
If you are not local to Austin, start with a conversation about virtual styling. We determine whether the service is a good fit before moving forward. Austin clients are invited to explore the collection in person.
Book Guided Eyewear StylingSea2see Questions, Answered
What to know before choosing your pair.
Is Sea2see eyewear PETA-Approved Vegan?
Yes. Sea2see states that its entire collection carries the PETA-Approved Vegan label and that it commits to using no products of animal origin.
What does Sea2see’s Cradle to Cradle scorecard show?
Sea2see publishes a Cradle to Cradle scorecard for its recycled UPSEA material showing Platinum for material health and Gold for circular economy, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness. These are material ratings, rather than ratings for your complete prescription pair.
What does Sea2see mean by carbon negative?
Sea2see describes a carbon-negative commitment based on avoided emissions through recycled material sourcing and carbon-credit projects. The brand reports removing or preventing more emissions than it produces across its value chain. This describes its stated climate accounting, rather than emission-free manufacturing.
Where can I buy Sea2see glasses in Austin?
Bright Side Optical carries Sea2see eyewear in Austin. Book complimentary Guided Eyewear Styling to explore our curated selection and get help choosing shape, color, fit, and prescription lenses. Ask about a particular model or color so we can confirm availability.
What is Sea2see eyewear?
Sea2see is an eyewear brand founded by François van den Abeele, with a mission dating to 2015. It makes optical frames and sunglasses using recycled plastic of marine origin, connecting eyewear design with marine-waste collection and a circular-material approach.
Are Sea2see glasses really made from recycled fishing material?
Sea2see describes a collection and recycling system that includes discarded fishing nets and other marine-origin plastic. Selected material is transformed into its UPSEA polymer for frames. The recycled-material claim concerns the frame material; a complete pair also includes lenses and other components.
Where are Sea2see frames made?
Sea2see describes its eyewear as handmade in Italy. Its official production story includes molding, tumbling, polishing, and hand finishing. Bright Side helps you understand the specifications of the actual frame you select.
Who founded Sea2see?
François van den Abeele founded Sea2see. In his account of the beginning, his maritime background, awareness of plastic pollution, and need for prescription glasses helped inspire the idea of turning marine waste into eyewear.
How does Sea2see work with coastal communities?
The Sea2see Foundation describes programs that collect marine waste with fishing communities and coastal collectors. Its W-A-V-E-S approach connects waste collection, awareness, value, earnings, and solutions, giving collected plastic a role in a new supply chain.
Is Sea2see a Certified B Corporation?
Yes. B Lab’s directory lists Sustainable Fashion Brands S.L / Sea2see as a Certified B Corporation, certified since December 2021. This is a company-level certification; it is not a promise that each complete pair has no environmental impact.
Are Sea2see frames lightweight?
Weight depends on the model. Sea2see lists both Levante and Amalfi at 13 grams as frames. Prescription lenses add weight, and fit depends on more than a number. Bright Side helps you compare how the finished design is likely to feel on your face.
Can I get prescription or progressive lenses in Sea2see frames?
Yes, when the chosen frame is suitable for your prescription and lens design. Bright Side considers dimensions, fitting height, and the frame’s position on your face. We use Optikam measurements as part of planning personalized progressives.
Does buying one pair remove a specific amount of plastic from the ocean?
This article describes Sea2see’s collection and material system without assigning a cleanup quantity to a purchase. Any specific impact claim needs a current, clearly defined basis from the brand. We focus on the documented frame material and process when discussing your pair.
How much do Sea2see glasses cost at Bright Side?
Your complete-pair price depends on the selected frame, prescription lenses, and options. Contact Bright Side for a current quote. We explain your frame and lens choices before you commit.
Does Bright Side carry every Sea2see model pictured here?
We carry a curated selection. Official photographs illustrate the brand’s story and designs and do not guarantee local stock. Send us the model and color you like so we can confirm availability and discuss fit.
Can I explore Sea2see if I am not local to Austin?
If you are not local to Austin, start with a conversation about virtual styling. We determine whether the service is a good fit before moving forward; requesting it does not guarantee an appointment. Austin clients are invited to explore Sea2see through in-person Guided Eyewear Styling.
Behind This Story
Follow the journey further.
Brand history, material and production details come from Sea2see’s official website; community-program information comes from the Sea2see Foundation. B Corp status is checked against B Lab’s directory. Photography is credited to Sea2see and its foundation; the beach portrait, material scorecard, and carbon-negative graphic were supplied by Bright Side Optical. The images illustrate the story and do not guarantee current stock. Model details and complete-pair prices are confirmed for your selected frame. Bright Side’s styling perspective explains how we help you choose.
1. Sea2see’s founder and history2. European marine-waste collection3. The Sea2see Foundation’s collection programs4. From marine waste to UPSEA™ material5. Sea2see’s Italian eyewear-making process6. Sea2see’s current B Corp listing at B Lab7. Levante optical frame specifications10. Sea2see’s PETA-Approved Vegan label and material certifications11. Sea2see’s carbon-negative commitment9. Official African coastal collection photography8. Amalfi optical frame specifications