Images: Coco & Breezy
They've been in the game since 2009 and now they've launched their first kids eyewear line and it's affordable. Planet CB by Coco and Breezy is the name of the cool, futurisic and eccentric line created by the twin sisters in collaboration with Zenni. Not only does the products range from $25.95 - $32.95, together with Coco and Breezy, Zenni is donating a portion of proceeds from Planet CB purchases to the Child Mind Institute’s Healthy Brain Network to ensure that youth of Black communities have greater access to mental health services and resources. This initiative will contribute to a landmark study to understand mental health in children around the world.
With such a great initiative in play, I had the opportunity to chat with Coco & Breezy about their design history (I mean they worked with Prince, Hershey's, Ciroc and more yall), how Zenni was the perfect partner for launching their new line, their favorite styles and what's next for them this year.
“We have this rule that we do with our design process and we make sure we do 70% has a classic feel but still Coco & Breezy edge and then 30 percent is just straight Coco and Breezy edge.”
YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN DESIGNING SINCE 2009, HOW HAS YOUR APPROACH TO DESIGN CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?
When we first started designing what really got us into design was just self-expression and being extremely DIY, using things that were just around the house creating something cool. So when we first actually started Coco & Breezy Eyewear it started off as a DIY project where we bought some safety goggles and we were like, “Hey we should customize these glasses,” and we had some studded belts laying around and we took the studs off and glued them to our glasses and that was the start of Coco & Breezy. So now when we think about our design process as we grow. You know we want to design product that everyone can wear but still feel like they get a touch of Coco & Breezy.
When we first started, it was really eclectic and it still is eclectic but we weren't as educated in eyewear design specifically and we weren't as educated in how glasses should fit someone's face. So we had the big ideas with design and art in creativity but we had to take a lot of time to really understand how do we create and keep our brand design integrity but still you know make sure it fits someone's face well.
As we have grown. Now I can say that I am so proud.
We have this rule that we do with our design process and we make sure we do 70% has a classic feel but still Coco & Breezy edge and then 30 percent is just straight Coco and Breezy edge. And so now we're able to speak to multiple different customers from around the world.
WHAT MADE ZENNI THE PERFECT COLLABORATOR?
What made Zenni the perfect collaborator was that they are one of the top people in eyewear and they have a different demographic than us. And the whole point of collaborating is working together. Zenni was so open to all of our ideas. They were so easy and fun to collaborate with. It was such a perfect match. And for us it's really important you know for years people have been asking, “Coco & Breezy when are you gonna have kids glasses?” and finally you know we thought it would be the best idea to collaborate with Zenni to launch kids because having kids glasses that are affordable but still stylish means a lot to us because when we were younger we always want to be stylish but we always had the shop affordable.
“Having kids glasses that are affordable but still stylish means a lot to us because when we were younger we always want to be stylish but we always had the shop affordable.”
OUT OF THE FRAMES IN THIS COLLECTION WHICH DESIGNS ARE YOUR FAVORITES?
"I have to think about that. Let me see, my favorite frames... my favorite frame is the "I Am Powerful" said Coco. "I love them because they have this, kind of like vintage aviator style but still like really, they’re really hip and I love. Actually, I've been seeing kids wear them and I'm like "Oh my gosh I wish I had frames like this when I was younger.”"
My favorite frame is the “I Am Strong", said Breezy. "The reason why I like these is because they have a really cool reflection on the material and I love them because it’s a unisex frame is very artsy but it can be worn by boys and girls in the color ways like the iridescent one that is like one of my favorites."
I AM POWERFUL
I AM STRONG
IF YOU COULD TRANSFORM ANY OF THOSE STYLES INTO BEING AVAILABLE FOR ADULTS, YOU KNOW SO THEY CAN MATCH THEIR KID, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?
“I Am Brave” I think that “I Am Brave one.” The message behind the frame and this is from both Breezy and Coco. We will do the “I Am Brave” because the message behind the frame is “I am brave.” So as adults we have to remember that we're brave as kids, they have to remember that they're brave and if you know the parents and the kids can share this affirmation while wearing the same glasses.I think that that is just epic.
ON UPCOMING COLLABORATIONS
So right now if you think about eyewear right now we don't have any other collaborations on the horizon but we are dropping a new song in a few weeks which we have a feature and it's with somebody that we've collaborated with in the past. So I think everyone's gonna be really excited about this one.
You can shop the Planet CB by Coco & Breezy x Zenni below. Also, check out their latest release "Convo" until the new new drops.
