PATRICIA FEEHAN

Founder

Pyewear is an Australian business started by me, Patricia Feehan, a mum who was frustrated with a lack of availability of good quality, affordable sport sunglasses for my three very active children.

I spent a lot of time researching the effects of the sun and UV rays on kids’ eyes and the statistics scared me. I asked myself the question, “When I take my kids to the park or to sport, how many adults are wearing sunglasses and how many children are wearing them?” The answer, “Almost every adult, virtually no children!” The hugely damaging effects of UV rays on kids’ eyes are not widely known or appreciated by most parents and at Pyewear we are hoping to educate and provide a solution to parents so our kids can enjoy the outdoors safely.

When looking to buy for my own kids, I found many cheap plastic sunglasses on the market, but nothing that they could wear playing tennis or cricket, that would not fall off, or were not heavy and uncomfortable. And forget about getting polarised sunglasses! Passionate about protecting children’s eyes, I spent 18 months researching and testing different products and eventually the pye (protect your eyes) range of sunglasses was born.

Made for children who love being outdoors, pye sunglasses are made with a focus on Performance, Comfort and Fashion.

I made a big effort to develop something that was different to what was on the market today focusing on three key elements: Performance, Comfort and Fashion. From the materials used, to the design, it was important that each of these elements were satisfied every time.

A big difference of pye sunglasses to most children’s sunglasses on the market today is that all pye sunglasses have polarised lenses for maximum sun glare reduction and improved vision quality, increasing comfort and reducing squinting and eye fatigue.

Another major difference to other sunglasses available today is that the lenses are all made from polycarbonate, a strong material similar to that used for aircraft windshields. Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight and impact-resistant making them perfect for sport or the rough and tumble of everyday living as a kid. They also offer a higher optical clarity than the cheaper acrylic lenses.

There are two styles of frames: pyeFLEX and pyeSPORT.

pyeFLEX frames are made from a flexible rubber with bendable arms that can fit snugly around the head or ears and also have name and phone labels for writing on, so no more lost property!

pyeSPORT frames are polycarbonate which are lightweight, durable and comfortable. The rubber nose pad offers comfort and stability on the face, which is especially important when your kids are wearing sunscreen!

I also made sure that each pair comes with a soft microfibre storage and cleaning bag with a space to write a name and phone number. Each pair also comes with a hard case with a metal clip that your child can hook onto their school or sport bag so they always have it handy.

Essentially I have tried to think of everything that I wanted as a parent as well as what the kids wanted and needed in a pair of sunglasses. Designed with, and tested on, many children (thank you to my three boys and their many friends and parents), I believe the range will have something to suit every boy and girl aged 6 -12 who love being outdoors.

Enjoy!

Patricia