Pair Eyewear was founded by Nathan Kondamuri and Sophia Edelstein in 2017 with the vision of making glasses a form of personal expression and fun, rather than just a medical device. Nathan, a glasses wearer since age eight, often felt limited by the uninspiring and static nature of traditional children's eyewear. He and Sophia interviewed hundreds of kids and adults, discovering a shared sentiment: people desired eyewear that could adapt to their evolving styles and personalities. This insight became the foundation of Pair Eyewear, a direct-to-consumer brand focused on offering affordable, high-quality, and customizable glasses. Customers often face the challenge of wanting to express their individuality but are constrained by the high cost and static nature of traditional eyewear. Pair Eyewear addresses this by providing base frames and a wide variety of interchangeable 'Top Frames'. This innovative magnetic design allows wearers to effortlessly switch up their look to match their mood, outfit, or occasion without needing multiple expensive prescription glasses. The company initially focused on children's eyewear, recognizing that options in that market were particularly limited and overpriced.
After a successful appearance on ABC's Shark Tank in 2020, Pair Eyewear gained significant investor interest, enabling the brand to expand its offerings to include adult collections and secure licensing deals with major brands like Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Sesame Street for its Top Frame designs. This expansion allows customers of all ages to showcase their fandoms and interests through their eyewear. Pair Eyewear's business model, which includes in-house design and manufacturing, allows them to offer their base frames at an affordable $60, including prescription lenses, with Top Frames typically costing between $25 and $30. The company is committed to social impact as well, partnering with The Eyelliance to provide glasses and vision care to children in developing countries for every pair purchased. By putting consumers at the center of their innovation, Pair Eyewear aims to revolutionize the eyewear experience, offering continual customizability, freedom of choice, and affordability. They understand that life is dynamic and believe eyewear should be too, inviting customers to celebrate their evolving passions and daily spirit with glasses that are as versatile as they are.