Cover James Chu has specs appeal (Photography: Stephanie Killip)
James Chu has specs appeal (Photography: Stephanie Killip)
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Hong Kong-based entrepreneur James Chu is the founder of Paper Shades, a brand that makes eyewear from recycled paper
In 2017, designer and engineer James Chu and his sister Madi had a brilliant idea: to create a stylish pair of sunglasses using recycled paper. Though Madi is no longer with the company, Chu is continuing to lead the charge, designing eco-conscious eyewear in a variety of textures, colours and prints for brands as diverse as Red Bull, United Airlines, Wonderfruit and FWD.
Paper Shades was born out of the idea of making a product that was both fun and sustainable. And, as Chu says, for consumers to make sustainable choices, they first need to have sustainable options. “Consumers need to be able to identify, for themselves, whether a material is truly eco-friendly, and not just appearing ‘green’,” says the entrepreneur, who spoke to Tatler from New Zealand, where he is researching new sustainable materials to make the glasses with. “With Paper Shades, there’s no hiding the fact that we are using recycled paper.”
Above James Chu (Photography: Stephanie Killip)
James Chu (Photography: Stephanie Killip)
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Raised in Hong Kong, Chu had seen first-hand the waste of materials and resources that occurs in factories in his home city and neighbouring Shenzhen—and knew something needed to be done. “I’ve never been able to [come to terms with] the rate of [consumption] here. Last summer, I was in Stockholm; and right now I’m in New Zealand—it’s really cool to see that places do exist where the environment is respected,” he says. “The only waste that rolls up on beaches are kelp and natural sponge.”
As a former design manager for a Hong Kong-based telecommunications company, Chu drew on his network of suppliers to bring this concept to life, keeping the transparency of the production process top of mind. Paper Shades eyewear is made of thick sheets of compressed recycled paper and riveted together using hinges in a patented process. The hinges and rivets are made from decomposable steel, and the lenses are made of lightweight polycarbonate plastic that is readily accepted at recycling facilities in the city. The sustainability aspect wasn’t just a question of which eco-material
to use to make the sunglasses with, but about how to holistically approach the design process—from manufacturing to delivery—to ensure the greenest possible supply chain process. “The design had to be massively simplified so that the sunglasses could be easily manufactured, and in a way that would allow the business to scale quickly, while not hindering the creativity of new designs.”
The pandemic made access to factories difficult for Chu, and the business was put on pause in 2020. But with the easing of restrictions and revenge spending on the rise, Paper Shades is back in business. This year, it’s aiming to be stocked in stores around Hong Kong and Europe. The company is also looking to switch to a degradable plastic for its lenses—what Chu describes as a “major goal”, thanks to the minimal impact on the environment if the shades were discarded on beaches or went to landfill. In March, he travelled to Hawaii to explore coral reefs and marine animals with the hope of finding new ways to design his products.
“Paper Shades started on good faith and a shoestring budget,” Chu says. “I hope to apply [my lessons] to [my manufacturing process], and make my shades even more sustainable.”
Credits
Photography: Stephanie Killip
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and business leaders to designers. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she curates star-studded events and builds the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
