Screwless specs a crowdfunding fave

SINGAPORE - In just 16 days, Singapore-based eyewear start-up Nuke Optics has raised over US$19,400 (S$24,570) via global crowdfunding platform Indiegogo for its Nuke Venom - the world's first screwless and fully customisable eyewear design system.

Nuke in fact surpassed its US$15,000 crowdfunding goal on Dec 13, only eight days after it launched on Indiegogo.

And with 30 days of campaigning still to go and responses coming in strong, it looks set to become one of Singapore's top five crowdfunded campaigns. The current No. 5 campaign brought home US$32,161, while Singapore's top campaign Pirate3D snagged US$1.4 million.

Nuke Venom, a patent-pending eyewear system centred on a screwless hinge, allows users to interchange lenses, frames, side arms and colours to create a pair that fits their individual needs or simply tickles their fancy.

Users can even customise and see what their eyewear looks like on Nuke's website prior to purchase.

"There is quite simply no other brand in the world that allows users to choose from 108 parts and create over a million combinations of eyewear under a single system," Nuke founder M. Samy told The Business Times (BT).

"What we have done is bring the 'manufacturing' of the eyewear to the consumer and not sell them ready-made stocks usually based on a narrow product focus like safety, lifestyle or sports."

He added that, as a result, each user's pair is a unique reflection of his or her own personality and freedom of choice.

Mr Issac Gunawan, a health, safety and environment coordinator on Jurong Island, told BT that Nuke's Beast series - which comprises eyewear built for maximum toughness and protection - is a hit among his colleagues in the safety industry. "These are safety glasses that do not sacrifice style. The colours are amazing," he said.

Fellow Nuke user Mohamad Sufiyan Jamal first heard of the brand from his brother, who represented Singapore in a flowriding competition and was sponsored eyewear from Nuke.

Mr Sufiyan then became a dealer for Nuke, and finally joined the company as sales in-charge.

"To us, Nuke is a tool for freedom. When you can make every single person experience that freedom, that's limitless," Mr Samy said.

This article by The Business Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.