Zeal Optics and Pat Milbery have collaborated to create a sunglasses collection that celebrates getting outside in style. Milbery is a pro-snowboarder turned artist and mental health advocate. He says he draws inspiration for his imaginative, geometric landscapes and uplifting color palettes from Mother Nature herself.

“Nature — specifically the mountains — not only inspires my art, but it has been one of the most effective forms of therapy for me,” Milbery shares. “Getting outdoors and snowboarding with my friends is critical to my mental health, and I prioritize getting to the mountains more often.”

Milbery adds that modern science is showing that time spent in nature increases happiness, improves our relationships and can bring meaning to our lives.

Photos courtesy of Zeal Optics

“That is why I am so proud to be partnering with Zeal Optics and SOS Outreach to release the Open Hearts Collection,” he says. “SOS is doing important work to pair youth with mentors to create powerful outdoor experiences to empower kids in our communities.”

$5 from each Open Hearts Collection frame sold will be donated to SOS Outreach, a national nonprofit with programming for youth developing leadership skills, life skills and fostering mental health through the power of outdoor adventures.

“People and organizations coming together over shared values is how we build community and change lives,” says Seth Ehrlich, executive director of SOS Outreach. “It is so exciting to see this collaboration with Zeal Optics and Pat Milbery for the Open Hearts Collection come to life and bring awareness to the power of outdoor exploration. The donations we receive from each purchase will help us serve more than 3,000 youth, from the Cascades to the Rockies, through mentoring and shared experiences.”

The Open Hearts Collection includes four different colorways of Zeal Optics Windsor and Crowley styles. Thoughtful two-tone combinations and sophisticated frames are paired with a powerfully positive celebration of color, style and heart. Crowley is a plant-based polarized sunglass that combines round styling and smooth lines for a unique breed of fashion-meets-function. Windsor is also plant-based and polarized but features an unmistakable oval shape and keyhole bridge.

“This collaboration represents the mantra that with open hearts, we are better equipped to take care of our environment, ourselves and one another,” says Mike Lewis, senior director of global marketing at Zeal Optics. “Getting outside, spending time with nature and being part of a community that supports you can help improve so many aspects of our daily lives. We hope that’s what this collection helps you do both physically with the product but also mentally with that intention in mind.”

zealoptics.com

Originally published in Winter + Spring 2023-24 issue of Well.