Our Approach

LOCALLY & FRENCH-MADE PRODUCTION

  • A favored place of expression: the seaside.

  • A home port: Brittany – Morbihan – Auray, its Gulf, its bay, its wild coast, its rivers and sea spray.

  • Products exclusively made in France.

  • Limited production runs.

  • A collective of over 25 French partners.

  • An in-house workshop dedicated to our upcycling and valorization sectors.

 

AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH

  • A unique creative process inspired by nature.

  • Ongoing research and development programs fueling our creativity.

  • Innovations tailored to existing manufacturing tools and processes.

  • Shellfish by-product upcycling has been underway since 2016.

  • Four collections of optical and sunglasses, each with distinct manufacturing processes and materials derived from patented technologies.

  • Winner of the 2020 Morbihan Innovation Awards – Innovation Category.

  • Finalist for the SILMO 2024 CSR Award.




A CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPROACH

  • Friendly Frenchy is a socially responsible company recognized as an ESUS (Socially Useful Solidarity Enterprise).

  • Local and sustainable production guided by the principles of circular economy and eco-design.

  • Use of natural, bio-based, and recycled by-products derived from renewable resources.

  • Two recycling streams with an in-house workshop dedicated to the upcycling of shellfish and eyewear industry by-products.

  • Ongoing optimization to reduce and offset our environmental impact.

  • Support for coastal and ocean preservation initiatives.

TWO INTEGRATED RECYCLING WORKSHOPS / TWO SUPPLY CHAINS

  • A local circular economy program.

  • Development of two upcycling streams: eyewear and shellfish industry by-products.

  • A 230 m² workshop located in a business park, equipped with a 15 m³ rainwater reserve.

  • Shellfish by-products: collection, storage, cleaning, transformation, and upcycling of shells and crustaceans since 2018.

  • Eyewear by-products: collection, storage, sorting, and upcycling of cellulose acetate waste from French eyewear production since 2021.

  • Machinery deployment currently in progress.

A SOCIAL COMMITMENT

  • Ensuring optimal working conditions and fair employee compensation.

  • Supporting job creation and retention in our region through local and French manufacturing.

  • Working with social integration structures for people with disabilities, long-term unemployment, or reintegration programs.

  • For example, our natural wool felt cases are made in a prison workshop.

  • Contributing to the vocational training of future generations.

A BRAND

    A BRAND A Breton company operating within the social and solidarity economy and certified as an SESU (Socially Useful Solidarity Enterprise), Friendly Frenchy is based in Auray, near the Gulf of Morbihan and the Wild Coast of Quiberon.
    An obvious choice of location, considering that Morbihan is the second-largest shellfish-producing area in Brittany.

    HANDMADE EYEWEAR MADE FROM SEASHELLS

    "Behind our glasses lie people, places, and craftsmanship"

    • An original creation by FRIENDLY FRENCHY, launched in 2018 after two years of research and development.

    • An innovative approach combining circular economy, eco-design, and French manufacturing.

    • Our mission: To showcase our regions, our merroirs, their people, and their craftsmanship. Today, this represents eight years of work, creation, research, and adventure.

    • One ambition: To highlight the French coastline, its merroirs (How an oyster’s taste reflects the waters where it was raised), its natural resources, and above all, the men and women who preserve and enrich them.

    • Shells and seafood: A natural, available, and renewable resource, unique to our territory and its diversity. Oyster, mussel, scallop, clam… and even lobster shells!

    • Direct sourcing : Materials are collected directly from fishermen, oyster and mussel farmers, restaurateurs, and the agri-food industry.

    • A blend of excellence in French eyewear craftsmanship and the creativity of Friendly Frenchy, resulting in limited edition productions.

    • Unique, ocean-inspired, and committed creations

    • Each frame features full traceability of the shells and seafood used.

    • We also upcycle offcuts from eyewear production into our designs.
    Discover the Coquillage® collection

    BALIZH® GLASSES

    While handcrafted cellulose acetate eyewear is a symbol of expertise, creativity, and quality, it also generates over 80% material waste.

    As a certified social and solidarity economy enterprise, we are committed to upcycling these discarded materials in line with our broader circular economy approach.

    Just as we've done with shellfish co-products since 2018, in 2021 we launched a dedicated recycling initiative for waste generated by French eyewear manufacturers — with a dedicated workshop and exclusive eyewear collections.

    Following the first capsule collection Les Recyclées®, launched in 2022, Friendly Frenchy takes its commitment even further in 2024 with the new Balizh® collection.

    Rooted in a minimalist philosophy, this collection is designed by stripping back design and manufacturing processes to their essential core, while continuing to collect and repurpose waste materials.

    Crafted from 100% recycled material, featuring timeless designer shapes and handmade, comfortable frames, Les Recyclées® and Balizh® collections elevate the expertise of French eyewear artisans, refocusing with elegance on function and use.

    “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

    Discover the Balizh® collection.

    OUR SENTINELS

    “Women and men in daily connection with the natural world”

    • Les Parcs de Saint-Kerber – Brittany – Cancale.

    • Tarbouriech – Occitanie - Etang de Thau - Marseillan.

    • Tomy Journaux - free-diving fisherman – Brittany – Saint-Malo

    MEANINGFUL COLLABORATIONS

    New Account Register

    Already have an account?
    Log in instead Or Reset password