The idea for Vakay eyewear came about at the end of 2012 when co-founder Adam Jabeur – having struggled to find a pair of wood-framed sunglasses – requested his friend Soulaiman Ghorbel to create a pair of personalised ones. Ghorbel drew the Linebacker, the brand’s inaugural design inspired by 3D glasses, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Combining wood and metal, Vakay uses different types of wood, including zebrawood and bubinga, to offer its customisable sunglasses. Focusing on Tunisian craftsmanship, the brand is the only company making wooden frames by hand in the country.

The collection is diverse with over 15 styles, catering for those looking for something simple and relevant to those who are more adventurous. Sixty is an oversized frame where the boldness of the frames present retro chic while Erco conventional shape is accentuated with a contrast line through the top of the frames.

The varnish is a blend of organic ingredients, specifically custom-made to feel comfortable on the skin. Aside from highest quality and handmade techniques, Jabeur, Gorbel and the other co-founders, Majdi Ghorbel and Ashref Chichini, also place great emphasis on waste management system and being eco-friendly.

Combine that with their desire to create something unique through quality and style, the designers also hope to expand into accessories such as wooden jewellery in the future. Vakay has successfully put their sunglasses and Tunisia on the map of well-crafted, handmade products.